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The underlying message: innovation and speed are needed to bring change so that water is available to more and preserved for future generations
Researched, compiled and written by the Corporate Stakeholder Management Unit, Office of the Chief Executive, uMngeni-uThukela Water
National Water Week has begun. Its observance, from 20-26 March 2023, coincides with two major global events – World Water Day on 22 March 2023 and the United Nations-convened Water Conference from 22-24 March in New York.
As National Water Week events are organised and held, parallel to them the relentless struggle for access to water continues among communities who do not have it and for those who have it, or at least some of it, their quest for improved water services provision is far from over. These needs are different, yet they are founded on two common challenges: inadequate infrastructure and deficiencies in management of water resources arriving at the final point of distribution to consumers.
World Water Day 2023 theme, Seeds of Change: Innovative Solutions for a Water-Wise World, acknowledges the multitude and enormity of water delivery shortcomings the world and South Africa have to resolve or manage. In a somewhat different approach from previous years’ events, it calls for innovation in problem solving so that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 – universal access to safe and affordable drinking water by 2030 – is met and there is water adequacy to address the needs of those whose supply is intermittent and insufficient for basic daily domestic consumption of 50 litres to 100 litres per person per day, as stipulated by the World Health Organisation.
The overarching objective of the Water Conference is to value and manage water, sanitation and hygiene better and take effective action to achieve internationally agreed water, sanitation and health-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Speakers will include representatives of the governments of India, Ethiopia and France. The World Bank, WaterAid and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine will also participate. Commitments made at the conference will form the contents of the Water Action Agenda, which will drive transformation in the remainder of the decade.
South Africa’s delegates to the conference is led by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu.
The theme of National Water Week, Accelerating Change, dovetails neatly with underlying messages of World Water Day and the Water Conference. It is, however, emphatic that change has to be driven with vigour and speed. Change in this instance is a reference to reducing water backlogs, increasing access to proper sanitation and ensuring that there is adequate water available for consumers who receive it from municipal reticulation systems.
Importantly, it also promotes rapid change in consumer behaviour, to the point where consumers become water wise in how they treat and manage water.
In South Africa there is a peculiar and conflicting situation: on average, each person uses 237 litres of water per day. This is 64 litres more than the international average of 173 litres per person per day. This anomaly prevails although South Africa is a water scarce country and millions of people still do not have access to it.
The high consumption is partly attributed to high municipal non-revenue water. It is anomalies in their many manifestations and the need for behavioural change that National Water Week campaigns by uMngeni-uThukela Water and interested and affected groups will address and seek commitments that water will be respected and preserved for what it is, an essential and precious resource that is not infinite.
Public education initiatives will form the thrust of National Water Week campaigns. They will entail sharing information with the public about their responsibility in water conservation and the efficient use of water so that there is heightened awareness about its importance in our daily lives.
In this report reference is made to access to water infrastructure that makes provision of tap water possible. So, what is access to water infrastructure in South Africa?
It is defined as the provision of tapped water. This could be through a communal stand pipe located within 200 metres from a place of residence, water in the yard or water inside a residence. The concept entails physical availability of the infrastructure without consideration of the quality or the reliability of the service.
If this is not met, it is considered backlog.
Now, let’s take a look at the prevailing situation:
- An estimated 40% of the world population of 7, 94 billion people do not have easy access to clean water. This is despite access being critical to human health, a healthy environment, poverty reduction, a sustainable economy and to peace and security;
- In South Africa, an estimated 25% of the population of 60 million people still do not have easy access to safe drinking, although progress has been made since 1994 in reducing this backlog, and
- In KwaZulu-Natal, an estimated 26% of the Province’s population of 12 million people still do not receive treated water from municipal reticulation systems. In some instances, they walk long distances to rivers and streams to fetch water that has to be boiled before drinking it. This is despite access to water being a constitutional right in South Africa
Let’s discuss briefly the status of water resources in uMngeni-uThukela Water’s supply area where seven municipalities receive water and that is treated and supplied by uMngeni-uThukela Water. These municipalities are:
- eThekwini Metro
- Msunduzi Local Municipality
- uMgungundlovu District Municipality
- iLembe District Municipality
- Harry Gwala Harry District Municipality
- Ugu District Municipality, and
- King Cetshwayo District Municipality
The largest system in uMngeni-uThukela Water’s service area is the Mgeni, which supplies drinking water to eThekwini, uMgungundlovu and Msunduzi. There are six dams in it and all are currently overflowing. The amount of water in this system collectively is at 101%.
This is good news as we head towards the dry season of winter months. What this means is that we should have no concerns about water shortages occurring in the short-term. This is because of the good rains that were received in spring and summer of 2022-2023 and effective management of bulk water resources.
In the Middle South Coast, water availability to supply Umzinto, Scottburgh and inland is also in a healthy state. This also because of good rains that were received in the third quarter of 2022 and in early 2023.
The Hazelmere Dam, outside Verulam, also has adequate water resources to meet demands in the north of Durban and parts of iLembe.
It must be remembered that the present situation could potentially change negatively if the effects of climate change and unrestrained use of water continue unabated.
Floods and droughts are the consequence of climate change: while drought causes water scarcity, floods can severely damage water infrastructure which results in failure to supply potable water or failure to supply full contracted volumes of potable water, as had occurred in Durban immediately after the April 2022 floods.
Municipalities’ increasing demand for water, consumers’ excessive use of it and lack of efficiency in use of water all impact negatively on water availability. uMngeni-uThukela Water’s plants are designed to produce a certain amount of drinking water per day and some of them are already operating above this design capacity.
uMngeni-uThukela Water is unable to supply an unlimited amount of water. There are contracts (Bulk Supply Agreements) with the seven municipalities that stipulate how much water each municipality will receive from uMngeni-uThukela Water. That means the water received must be managed effectively and efficiently so that everybody receives some of it.
One of the most significant challenges facing the water industry is how to reduce the extent of municipal non-revenue water (leaks and illegal connections). If success is achieved, municipalities’ water demands will reduce and there will be more water available. It is estimated that water losses in reticulation systems range from 30% to 70%. This means that the water available for distribution to consumers is total purchased less volumes lost.
This is why it is imperative for consumers to also play a role, and their role is will be a vital contribution to assisting municipalities decrease demand. The role consumers can play is in water conservation and in practicing water efficiency. Water conservation and water efficiency are not the same.
Water efficiency is the practice of ensuring that the amount of water required for a particular purpose is measured and is proportionate to the amount of water used for essential purpose. It also focuses on reducing excessive use of water, and not restricting it. Efficiency is also about choosing more efficient water-use products and apparatus.
Here are some tips on water conservation. If implemented, it will save water and reduce your water bill.
- Check your toilet for leaks
- Put a brick in your toilet tank. It reduces the amount of water the tank will hold
- Take shorter showers
- Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth
- Turn off the water while shaving
- Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator (this puts an end to the wasteful practice of running tap water to cool it for drinking), and
- Use washing machine or dish washer when there is a full load
uMngeni-uThukela Water has a structured programme to contribute to securing future water supply and reducing water backlogs. This programme entails construction of infrastructure – dams, waterworks, pipelines and reservoirs – that will assist municipalities meet future demand and extend water supply to un-served communities.
In the five-year window 2024-2029, approximately R18 billion is targeted to be spent. Of this amount, 47% is earmarked to be spent on augmentation projects (projects that will improve assurance of water supply and increase water availability); 33% on rural projects and 20% on maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrade of infrastructure.
The allocation in this capital expenditure programme reflects uMngeni-uThukela Water’s commitment to supporting socio-economic development in its vast service area and beyond.
The required expenditure will be funded through uMngeni-uThukela Water’s balance sheet, grant funding from the Department of Water and Sanitation or raised on open financial markets. Part of the surplus uMngeni-uThukela Water posted consistently over past years, including 2021/2022, will be partially used to fund projects.
Ever increasing demand for domestic consumption and use and the turmoil and uncertainties created by climate change only exacerbate concerns that the future of water supply is not secure. At the same time, there is population growth and changes in lifestyles. Activities arising from lifestyle changes require more water. A consequence of a situation of this nature is competition for water among agriculture, industry and domestic users. Yet water is not an unlimited resource. Let’s protect it, now and for future generations.
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