About 38% of South Africa’s water services authorities (WSA) are at high or critical risk of using water distribution systems.
This emerged at the tabling of the very latest report on Green Drop, Blue drop and no drop progress reports, by the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation.
Dr Sean Phillips, Director General of the Departnent said 39% of 848 audited wastewater treatment works in 2025, are in a state of critical repairs.
Only 8% are in great condition.
Anette Muir, Chief Director for water compliance in the Department, explains that the Green, Blue and no drop tools are used to provide regulatory information pertaining to water services.
They were introduced by Government back in 2008.
She said there was a slight improvement in the quality of drinking water, in the percentage of low risk systems, from 60,2% to 61,9%.
There was also a decrease in critical risk systems from 9,9% to 7,9%.
Gauteng and the Western Cape recorded strong results, while the Northern Cape’s performed badly with the highest concentration of high and critical risk systems, displaying weak results across several indicators.
But Gauteng has significant water losses, recording 47,9% of the amount received.
Similarly provinces leading the pack with losing water are Mpumalanga(60,6%), KwaZulu Natal (60%) and the Free State (56,6%).
Water is lost via pipe bursts, overflowing or leaking reservoirs or valves.
Picture: Supplied