The Minister of the Department of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu will this week lead a two-day Water Services Authority Summit in response to the outcomes of the Blue and No Drop Reports and Green Drop Progress Assessment Report released in December 2023.
According to the department, the summit comes at the backdrop of the release of last year’s reports on water quality (Blue Drop), non-revenue water (No Drop) as well as a report on the state of wastewater (Green Drop) in all water services authorities in the country.
The department spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, said the summit will be attended by representatives from the 144 water services authorities across the country, deliberate and review the reports.
“The Blue and No Drop Reports indicate that there has been a decline in drinking water quality and an increase in non-revenue water since the last reports were issued in 2014.
The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report also indicates an increased risk in the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems.
The Blue and No Drop Reports indicate that there has been a decline in drinking water quality and an increase in non-revenue water since the last reports were issued in 2014,” said Mavasa.
The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report painted a bleak picture of municipalities, indicating an increased risk in the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems.
Some residents have complained about the quality of water provided to them, especially by local municipalities.
Mavasa however explained that that action plans will be developed in various groups that will converge and investigate “critical performing municipalities, poor performing municipalities, average performing municipalities and excellent performing municipalities.”
The Blue, Green and No Drop Certification programmes are aimed at improving municipal drinking water quality, wastewater management as well as water conservation and demand management.
The department highlighted that the summit will it and other stakeholders to agree on what should be done to address the findings of the drop reports.
The summit will be held at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, from 18 to 19 January 2024.
