The country’s sewage pollution crisis is set to continue with 40% of all wastewater already being left untreated. How does this crisis affect you:
South Africa’s water resources are overexploited despite the country being classified as water stressed.
Water cuts were implemented in Gauteng last year during a heat wave with the biggest problem caused by decaying infrastructure and load-shedding. And in the Eastern Cape a drought felt for a number of years has resulted in water restrictions. Furthermore, despite the continued emphasis on the country being water scarce, average domestic water use is about, 64 litres higher than the international benchmark of 173 litres a person a day.
Many parts of South Africa are expected to become more vulnerable to water-related risks such as unreliable or no water supply, no functioning sanitation services and overall water insecurity. The projected 17% water deficit to be achieved by 2050 is driven by the problems of water insecurity. The country’s sewage pollution crisis is set to continue with 40% of all wastewater already being left untreated. Of the 824 wastewater treatment works, 30% are in aand 20% are in a poor state. The major sewage crisis is being experienced by the Vaal region, eThekwini municipality where rivers are polluted and beaches have had to be closed, and in the City of Cape Town where beaches were closed over the December/January holiday period because of sewage spills.
The project commenced in 2014, and has been plagued by ongoing controversy and failure. It was supposed to have been completed in 2017 but the taps are still dry.
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