In the entire Northern Cape, the water and sanitation services at municipalities are deteriorating.
“The water and sanitation services are in a poor state and deteriorating” was a comment in the 2018 masterplan of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
Four years later, it was stated that this situation is even deteriorating further.
At a recent media networking session in Kimberley held by the DWS, statistics indicate that clean water losses of 54% are experienced due to these deteriorating services; with 91% of all Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) in a “poor and critical” state.
This in despite the fact that the Northern Cape has the use of the Vaal and the Orange River, has four dams and three balancing dams, as well as numerous water treatment works and WWTW.
Also, 72% of towns in the province rely on groundwater and 26% on surface water, with the other 2% a combination of both.
The Vaal River is “a heavily polluted system”, with high levels of e-coli. Several Northern Cape towns along the Vaal and Orange are responsible for sewage pollution into these rivers.
In the so-called Green Drop Score, 60 of 84 WWTW scored 31% and less.
Kimberley’s Homevale WWTW has a compliance of only 10%.
The Sol Plaatje Municipality has an annual clean water waste rate of 42%, which calculates to R50 million loss per year.
Common water challenges at municipalities include inadequate bulk water supply; poor water metering; inadequate reticulation network; vandalism and theft of infrastructure, leading to high water loss; and lack of proper operation and maintenance.
Dilapidated WWTW; non-functional sewer pump stations and sewer spillages; outstanding debt to bulk water suppliers; and the non-enforcement of bylaws are further challenges.
Interventions by the DWS include the ongoing maintenance of existing boreholes, the upgrading of water treatment works for additional capacity; implementing the Water Loss Management Project; the upgrade of sewer networks, bulk lines and pump stations; and the ongoing engagement to resolve payment of historic debt.
