Rand Water intends to build 12 reservoirs at a cost of R28 billion over the next five years to ensure Gauteng has enough water by 2028.
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed this on Tuesday at a media briefing on the situation of water services in Gauteng and interventions to solve the supply of services to communities.
The minister was accompanied by executive mayors and a proxy from three Gauteng metropolitan municipalities and other municipalities, with whom he met on Monday.
The discussion comes in the aftermath of recent outages in Gauteng that have left families and businesses without water for up to ten days at a time.
By 2028, Rand Water is planning to construct additional storage reservoirs to the cost of R28 billion in the following areas:
- Meredale
- Daleside
- Klipfontein
- Germiston
- Hartebeeshook
- Bronberg
- Brakpan
- Selcout
There are now 60 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of 6100 m3/d. This will be increased to 72 reservoirs, with a storage capacity of 7 630 megalitres/day.
Mchunu stated that it was especially crucial to address the challenges in Gauteng because it was the country’s and the continent’s economic core, home to at least 16.1 million people.
He said that the Vaal Dam, which is part of the IVRS that feeds Johannesburg and much of the province, was at 103% capacity. Nonetheless, there have been problems with water delivery.
Mchunu outlined the challenges raised in conversations with local authorities.
Gauteng consumes 4 563 megalitres of water per day, which is 9% more than what Rand Water can supply at 4 431 megalitres/pd, resulting in a 396 megalitres/pd shortfall.
Rand Water only provides around 3968 megalitres/pd of the total 4 431 megalitres/pd since at least 5% of the water is lost within the Rand Water system.
Almost 45% of the 3 968 megalitres/pd is lost within municipal systems as non-revenue water. The global average is 15%.
Non-revenue water is purified water that has been used but has not been paid for; this includes leaks, illegal water connections, and water delivered to non-paying populations.
At least 20% of the 45% non-revenue water is attributable to physical losses such as leaks and damaged pipelines.
The minister noted that the amount of water wasted due to leaks would be reduced if repairs were completed faster and with higher quality, preventing subsequent leaks.
Mchunu stated that towns might save non-revenue water by implementing water efficiency measures such as water conservation and better water demand management.
This management would ensure that the community’s requirements are satisfied precisely.
Unplanned human settlements, which result in unmetered consumption, are a serious concern.
Mchunu and Rand Water CEO Sipho Mosai both agreed that the impacts of load shedding were devastating.
Without power, bulk water treatment cannot take place, and treated water cannot be transferred to reservoirs or towns.
Then there’s the problem of municipal infrastructure investment.
Mchunu stated that Rand Water was unable to raise its water capacity because communities lacked the facilities to receive extra water.
Finally, there was the issue of consumer behaviour, with customers refusing to reduce their usage when requested to do so.
Mchunu stated:
South Africa is considered to be one of the top 30 driest and water-scarce countries in the world and our water sources are mainly supported by sporadic rainfall, and this rainfall is distributed unevenly in the country, and across the seasons.
He went on to say that the global average for water usage is 173 litres per person per day, while South Africa’s average is 233 litres per day and Gauteng’s average is over 300 litres per day.
“I do intend to have a meeting with the minister of electricity with all the water boards in South Africa to address the impact of load shedding while developing alternative energy sources.
“We do intend to partner with the private sector through our water partnerships office, with the aim of jointly investing in the water sector and ensuring water sustainability for the province.
“The department will develop a project dashboard and co-ordinate annual review progress meetings on implementation of these measures and their impact on water supply in Gauteng, to measure reduction in losses and infrastructure upgrade to address future water challenges,” Mchunu said.
