Water services budget of R37.4 billion has been allocated
In his budget vote speech to parliament on Friday, 13 May 2022, Mchunu noted that R37.4 billion has been allocated for the next three years for conditional infrastructure grants to ensure that water is provided for all the people in the South Africa.
This includes R14 billion which has been allocated to the Water Services Infrastructure Grants and 19 billion for the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant. These grants will be spent 313 different projects across the country, he said.
“It is an anomaly that municipal water utilities continue to decline as we provide these very substantial grant allocations. Note my words- we will stop this in future- through necessary intervention guaranteed to provide water,” said the minister.
Blue Drop 22 Report shows a continuous decline in water quality
South Africa’s recently published Blue Drop 2022 report shows a decline in the country’s water quality, with 23% of the municipalities highlighted as being at critical risk. The 2022 report shows that 40% of the country’s water supply systems achieved microbiological water quality compliance, and 23% achieved chemical water quality compliance. When looking whether the water can be drinkable, data shows:
- 48% of water supply systems are in the low-risk category;
- 18% are in the medium risk-risk category;
- 11% are in the high-risk category;
- 23% are in the critical risk category
“It is critical that government as a whole addresses the problem of poor revenue management and debts in the water sector. If the problem is not addressed, we will not see a sustainable improvement in the water and sanitation services. The underlying problem that we all need to focus on is weak billing and revenue collection at the municipal level,” Mchunu said.
Source: Business Tech, UK Time News, image from UK Time News