Billions of litres of water lost or stolen

South Africa is losing enormous quantities of water. It is so much that this water would be enough to fill 4.3m swimming pools a year. Leaking pipes and water thefts are the cause of the losses according to a report in The Sunday Times on Sunday (23 June).

According to the newspaper, a Water Research Commission (WRC) study had indicated that South Africa lost 1.58bn kilolitres of water a year, or just under 132m k/l a month.

This was enough water to fill a third of the Gariep Dam, the largest in South Africa.

The water loss reportedly cost South Africa around R7.2bn a year.

WRC water use and waste management executive manager Jay Bhagwan told the newspaper the problem was caused by ageing infrastructure and the prioritisation of new infrastructure over maintenance.

The council estimated that 15% of water losses were caused by theft.

The Sunday Times quoted water affairs department spokeswoman Linda Page as saying the government was concerned about water loss.

"South Africa is a water scarce country. Water losses have been identified as a risk to sustainable water supply into the future, especially at local government level," she said.

She told the newspaper the maintenance of infrastructure had also been substandard.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge