South Africa’s growing water crisis is increasingly being linked to failing municipal infrastructure rather than a lack of natural water resources, according to engineers and industry experts.
At the recent Infrastructure Africa conference held in Cape Town, specialists highlighted that nearly half of the country’s treated water — approximately 47% — is lost before it reaches consumers. The losses are estimated to cost the national economy around R15 billion annually.
This has raised concerns that the crisis is largely avoidable and rooted in systemic inefficiencies.
Distribution networks identified as key weakness
Speaking on the issue, Tshidi Mndzebele, CEO of engineering firm AvenirHoldings, said the problem lies primarily in deteriorating downstream infrastructure rather than water availability.
She noted that outages often occur even when dams are sufficiently stocked and treatment facilities are operational, pointing to failures within distribution systems.
Key challenges include leaking pipes, burst water mains, illegal connections, faulty meters, and inefficient system management — all of which contribute to significant water losses.
According to Mndzebele, these issues are not only identifiable but also fixable with the right interventions.
Governance and skills gaps hinder progress
Experts argue that historical investment has focused heavily on bulk infrastructure such as dams, while neglecting the networks responsible for delivering water to households and businesses.
This imbalance has reduced the effectiveness of major infrastructure projects and left municipalities struggling to maintain reliable supply.
Mndzebele emphasised the need for stronger engineering leadership, improved governance, and better coordination between national and local authorities.
She also highlighted the importance of rapid diagnostics to identify high-loss zones, enabling targeted repairs and more efficient resource allocation.
However, collaboration between municipalities and private sector engineering firms remains limited. Challenges include political complexities, skills shortages, and concerns over delayed payments to service providers.
Despite these obstacles, experts stress that cooperation is essential to address what they describe as a national crisis.
Mndzebele added that meaningful improvements could be achieved within a single budget cycle if efforts focus on repairing leaks and stabilising distribution systems.
As South Africa continues to grapple with water supply disruptions, the findings underscore the urgent need to shift focus from expanding supply to maintaining and repairing existing infrastructure.
Source:businesstech
