SA Faces Escalating Wastewater Crisis as Nearly Half of Systems Collapse

South Africa's water and sanitation sector has reached a critical inflection point, with new data revealing a sharp deterioration in wastewater management systems nationwide — prompting urgent calls for reform, accountability, and accelerated infrastructure investment.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, speaking at the release of the 2025 Green Drop Report, warned that the country can no longer afford complacency as nearly half of its wastewater systems are now in a critical state.

"This report must be a turning point. Decline is not destiny, failure is not permanent, and broken systems can be rebuilt," Majodina said, framing the findings as both a stark warning and a roadmap for recovery.

Nearly 50% of wastewater systems in critical condition

The Green Drop Report, one of South Africa's most comprehensive regulatory assessments, evaluated 848 wastewater treatment systems during the 2023/24 municipal financial year.

Key findings reveal a deepening crisis:

• 47% (396 systems) are now classified as critical, up from 39% (334 systems) in 2022

• Systems achieving good or excellent performance dropped sharply from 14% to just 8%

• Only 14 systems achieved Green Drop certification, down from 22 previously

The data signals a systemic collapse in municipal wastewater performance, with consequences for public health, environmental safety, and water security.

"This is not merely another report… It shows how effectively we are protecting our water resources and safeguarding public health," the Minister stressed.

Innovation shift: Data-driven governance and targeted intervention

In response to the crisis, government is pivoting toward a data-driven reform model, using Green Drop, Blue Drop (drinking water quality), and No Drop (water efficiency) systems to guide decision-making and prioritise interventions.

This integrated monitoring framework represents a significant innovation in the sector, enabling:

• Real-time performance tracking of municipalities

• Risk-based allocation of infrastructure funding

• Evidence-led enforcement of compliance

The approach aligns infrastructure delivery with measurable outcomes, marking a shift from reactive repairs to predictive and preventative system management.

Mixed performance across water quality and efficiency

While wastewater systems are deteriorating, the report shows modest improvements in drinking water quality:

• Low-risk systems increased from 60.2% to 61.9%

• Critical-risk systems declined from 9.9% to 7.9%

However, the Minister cautioned that these gains remain fragile and uneven.

Meanwhile, non-revenue water remains alarmingly high at 47.3%, meaning nearly half of treated water is lost through leaks, theft, or inefficiencies — a level described as "stabilised but unacceptably high."

Provincial disparities highlight uneven governance capacity

Performance varies significantly across provinces:

• Western Cape and Gauteng lead with stronger compliance and lower risk

• Mpumalanga and North West show measurable improvement

• Northern Cape is the worst-performing province, with widespread system failure

• Free State remains a major area of concern

Despite these disparities, most metropolitan drinking water systems still meet SANS 241 safety standards, meaning tap water remains safe where compliance is maintained.

Root causes: Governance failure and infrastructure neglect

The report identifies deeply entrenched structural issues driving the decline:

• Ageing infrastructure with inadequate maintenance

• Failure to follow standard operating procedures

• Severe shortages of skilled technical personnel

• Weak municipal leadership and oversight

• Poor revenue collection and financial mismanagement

Compounding the crisis are criminal activities, including vandalism, infrastructure theft, and corruption — all of which undermine service delivery and increase costs.

Research from institutions such as the Auditor-General and National Treasury confirms that many municipalities lack the capability to fulfil their service delivery mandates effectively.

Water crisis declared a national priority

In response to the escalating situation, President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally declared South Africa's water challenges a national crisis, triggering a coordinated government response.

A new National Water Crisis Committee (WaterCom), chaired by the President, has been established to drive cross-government action and accelerate reforms.

"The declaration is not symbolic; it is a call to action," Majodina said, pointing to climate change, infrastructure decay, and declining water quality as compounding risks.

Infrastructure rollout paired with governance reform

Alongside the report, government has launched a nationwide infrastructure push, including:

• Wastewater treatment upgrades

• Bulk water supply projects

• Pump station refurbishments

• New water treatment facilities

However, the Minister emphasized that infrastructure alone will not solve the crisis.

A comprehensive reform agenda is now being implemented, focusing on:

• Strengthening municipal technical capacity

• Enforcing accountability through legislative amendments

• Prioritising funding for the worst-performing 105 Water Services Authorities

• Introducing stricter oversight and compliance mechanisms

Call for accountability and citizen action

Majodina issued a strong appeal to all stakeholders — including municipalities, professionals, and citizens — to take collective responsibility for protecting water resources.

"Every act of theft, sabotage, fraud, or maladministration robs communities of their constitutional right to safe water and dignified sanitation," she said.

She also urged residents to actively engage with local authorities and verify compliance with water quality standards.

A turning point for South Africa's water future

Despite the severity of the findings, the Minister highlighted that the report also showcases examples of excellence, where municipalities have achieved high performance under challenging conditions.

These cases, she said, demonstrate that recovery is possible with the right combination of leadership, investment, and accountability.

"Let this be the moment when we refuse to normalise sewage pollution and recommit ourselves to safeguarding every river, wetland, and community," Majodina concluded.

As South Africa confronts one of its most pressing infrastructure and public health challenges, the success of this reform drive will depend on whether government can translate policy into sustained, measurable improvements on the ground.