Whether his department monitors the loss of water through leakages; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what specific initiatives and/or strategies are being implemented by his department to address the specified challenges to ensure a more sustainable and efficient water provision system given the alarming daily loss of 1,7 billion litres of water due to leakages and/or inefficiencies in the absence of preventative measures?
The Department of Water and Sanitation does monitor the loss of water through leakages as reflected in the current No Drop 2023 report, released 5 December 2023.
The latest national water balance indicates a total System Input Volume (SIV) of 4 282.5 million m³/a. The National Non-Revenue Water is estimated at 1 988.5 million m³/a (46.4%) and the water losses is 1 744.7 million ...
Considering the prediction that the demand for water will surpass available supply in the Republic within seven years, with seven major water systems expected to run out by 2040, what strategic plans and/or interventions are in place to (a) mitigate the impending crisis and (b) ensure sustainable water management for the future?
a) The Department is unaware where the prediction that “the demand for water will surpass available supply in the Republic within seven years, with seven major water systems expected to run out by 2040” comes from. It does not come from the Department.
The Department undertakes various water resource and water services planning over 25-year horizons to ensure water security for the whole country including ...
In light of the concerning findings in the 2023 Blue Drop Watch Report, indicating that 15% of the water supply systems in the Republic are in poor and/or critical condition, what specific measures and/or immediate steps has his department undertaken to (a) address the identified shortcomings and (b) improve water quality compliance across these systems?
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is prioritising grant applications aimed at addressing water supply systems which are in poor or critical condition. The Department allocated infrastructure grants worth more than R14 billion for the 2023/24 financial year to municipalities.
The DWS, together with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), and Nation Treasury have developed an action plan aimed at ...
(1)Whether, with reference to (a) his reply to question 1643 on 26 May 2023 and (b) the meeting on Tuesday, 14 November 2023 with the interested and affected parties discussing a scoping and Environmental Impact Assessment process, how is it possible that the Hillside Siding coal wash plant on Elandspruit, Farm 291 JS, in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has been established and operational despite the farm not having records of (i) a water use registration, (ii) an approved EIA, (iii) an approved Basic Assessment Report, (iv) an approved Environmental Management Programme;
(2) whether Hill Siding has been authorised to make use of the specified property(ies); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(3) whether he will furnish Ms A M M Weber with a copy of the said authorisation; if not, why not; if so, (a) on what date and (b) what are the further, relevant details in this regard?
1. It is not within the mandate of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to grant Environmental Authorisations nor approval of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). The DWS has or will investigate the issue of possible unlawful water use activities on the said property and take necessary corrective actions where necessary. DWS conducted an investigation at Beethoven Investment Portion 62 of the Farm Elandspruit ...
What (a) specific steps of intervention have been taken by his department to ensure that the boreholes and/or borehole taps in the rural parts of the Eastern Cape have regular water supply and (b) monitoring mechanism is used to ensure that the companies that were appointed have delivered the services required in terms of the tender specifications?
a) The Department of Water and Sanitation does not drill boreholes in local municipalities. However, the DWS provides funding for water supply projects to municipalities which may include boreholes that are meant to supplement surface water or are the main source of due to lack of surface water or droughts. Projects are implemented by municipalities through funding that is provided by the Department of ...
(1)Whether, in light of the water shortage in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, he will furnish Mrs C Phillips with copies of the water use license issued in respect of Portion 59 of the Farm Oorzaak 335JQ in Rustenburg, North West; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether, in addition to the specified water use license, any other license was issued in respect of the above mentioned property for the discharge of water containing waste as required by Section 21 (f) of the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the further relevant details?
1. There is no water use license or any water registration issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in respect of Portion 59 of the Farm Oorzaak 335JQ, nor a water use application that was submitted to the Department for processing.
2. There is no Section 21 (f) water use registered with the Department on Portion 59 of the Farm Oorzaak 335JQ. ...
Whether his department has plans in place to provide the residents of Thaba Nchu Zone 1 and 2 with proper bulk water and sanitation infrastructure, if not, why not; if so, what are the specific time frames in this regard?
The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is funded through the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG), which is managed by the Department of Human Settlements, for basic infrastructure including water and sanitation.
The Mangaung Metro has reported that water supply infrastructure Zone 1 and 2 in Thaba Nchu is functional. The municipality is in the process of appointing a new contractor planning to revive the project for ...
What specific plans have been developed by his department to address the severe environmental impact caused by the poor quality of effluent discharged into the rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater due to inadequate wastewater treatment processes?
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) issues notices and directives where pollution incidents are detected or reported. These provide for conditions of remediation and rehabilitation. Once wastewater reaches lakes, wetlands and especially groundwater it becomes very difficult for remediation to address the pollution.
Pursuant to the release of the 2022 Green Drop report, the DWS required Water Services Authorities with wastewater collection and ...
Whether his department receive reports that records (a) the amount of water used in each municipality, (b) the breakdown of costs of hired water tankers in each province and (c) what actionable interventions have been adopted to provide potable water to all municipalities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
a) The Department receives reports in the form of International Water Association (IWA) Water balance from Water Services Authorities as prescribed in Regulation 509 of Water Services Act (act No. 108 of 1997). However not all the Water Services Authorities are able to report their records of water use. The information on municipalities that submitted to the DWS is attached hereto as Annexure A.
b) ...
Whether, noting that the Census 2022 has drawn attention to migration to the Republic’s economic hubs, particularly Gauteng and the Western Cape, which will result in the current water and sanitation systems in the two provinces being severely strained by an increase in population and lead to water shortages and the deterioration of sanitation facilities, his department has developed plans to make sure that the infrastructure for water and sanitation in both provinces is adequate to meet the demands of a growing population; if not, what is the position in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
The Department has developed a comprehensive integrated national water and sanitation master plan, which is intended to guide the water sector with investment planning for the development of water resources and the delivery of water and sanitation services over the horizon until 2030, and beyond. The plan identifies key actions in the water sector and allocates roles and responsibilities to all in the water ...
