By Abdullahi Lukman
South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Department has set a target to reduce non-billable water to below 25 per cent as part of a new national framework aimed at curbing water losses and improving access to reliable water and sanitation services.
The proposed framework, currently open for public consultation, seeks to halve water losses and unbilled water supply amid concerns over leaking infrastructure and water theft, particularly in Gauteng, where nearly half of treated water is reportedly lost.
Deputy Water and Sanitation Minister Jack Bloom said Gauteng loses an estimated 431 billion litres of water annually, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the province.
Bloom said the government’s broader objective is to ensure that households have reliable access to clean water and safe, dignified sanitation by 2035.
He added that the plan aims to replace 30 per cent of water infrastructure by the target year, stressing the need for effective spending, appropriate institutional structures and qualified personnel to achieve the objectives.
The new framework comes nearly two decades after the previous national water policy framework, which failed to achieve several of its targets.
The proposed measures are intended to strengthen infrastructure management, reduce wastage and improve the sustainability of water services across the country.
