The Department of Water and Sanitation vows to up their game in dealing with water pollution from wastewater treatment plants and mine operation as the globe commemorated World Water Day.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, briefed members of the media on the state of water in the country yesterday as the globe marked World Water Day.
The minister emphasised that South Africa is a water-scarce country, ranking the 30th driest country in the world, and it receives summer rainfall with exception of the Western Cape and parts of the Eastern and Northern Cape that receive winter rainfall.
“Since the surface water resources are fully allocated, our water supply needs are supplemented by international transfers from the Lesotho Highland Water Transfer Scheme. In order to meet the increase in water demand, we have gradually increased groundwater use through the groundwater development scheme,” Mchunu said.
According to the minister, groundwater plays an important role in ensuring there is water security in South Africa, including contributing approximately 13% of the national total water supply in addition to providing up to 100% of water supply to some areas.
Mchunu revealed that studies predict that by 2025, the region will have insufficient water supplies to meet human and ecosystem needs, resulting in increased competition for scarce resources, constrained economic development, and declining human health.
“Today, however, groundwater is acknowledged as a national asset and an integral part of South Africa’s water resources. Groundwater has played a major role in reducing the backlog for domestic water supply,” Mchunu said.
The Department further acknowledged that South Africa’s water resources are on the decline in both quality and quantity.
Mchunu added that South Africa is not the only country facing water quality challenges as the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report of 2019 reports that water and environmental concerns are more prevalent than ever.
Pollution from wastewater treatment plants and mine operations is identified as the main source of pollution, according to the Water Quality Management Policies and Strategies for South Africa (2017).
The pollution from domestic wastewater treatment includes the leaking or malfunctioning of wastewater collection systems designed to transport wastewater to our Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) as well as the works themselves and from mining operations.
“Currently, there are 1013 municipal WWTW in the country, and of these, 544 (54%) have authorisations in place with 23% (236) that are unauthorised or operate under expired authorisations. The department is progressing with verification of the authorisation status of a further 141 works, the remaining 14%,” Mchunu said.
He added that since 2014, the department had investigated a total of 598 cases related to WWTWs, which were mainly as a result of complaints received from the public.
“Enforcement actions were taken by DWS against those municipalities which were found to have violated the water legislation in relation to WWTW; enforcement actions taken include administrative, civil and criminal actions,” the minister said.
He added that the department was fast-tracking the activities of the Anti-Pollution Task Team to deal with all water quality pollution problems in the country.
“As we work towards the achievement of targets set out in the NDP vision for 2030 and the SDG’s 2030 of affordable and reliable access to sufficient and safe water and hygienic sanitation for socio economic growth and wellbeing, with due regard to the environment, we remain resolute as a Department and we want South Africa to know that we are hard at work,” the minister said.
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