The Western Cape Water Service Authorities (WSAs) have once again displayed excellence and flair in the field of drinking water quality and water resource management. This is as the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu published the 2023 Blue Drop, Green Drop PAT and No Drop Reports on 05 December 2023 during a hybrid event in Gauteng.
The Blue and Green Drop are certification programmes administered to improve water quality by WSAs in South Africa. The Blue Drop programme aims to ensure compliance of water supply systems with the national drinking water quality standards, while the Green Drop programme aims to ensure compliance of wastewater treatment works with the national wastewater discharge standards. The No Drop regulatory programme was established to encourage the management of water losses through the DWS water conservation and demand management programme.
Ms Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa Department of Water and Sanitation Western Cape Provincial Head says yhe Western Cape municipalities emerged as overall winners and dominated all categories:
Overstrand LM:
- Highest number of systems that achieved blue drop status namely, Baardskeerdersbos Supply System (99.7%); Buffeljags Bay Supply System (98.2%); Buffelsrivier Supply System (99.99%); Greater Gansbaai Supply System (99.99%); Greater Hermanus Supply System (99.99%); Kleinmond Supply System (99.99%); Pearly Beach Supply System (99.99%); Stanford Supply System (99.99%)
- Best Performing WSA in the Country with the overall Blue Drop score of 99.99%.
- Taking the 1st and 2nd position for the Best Performing systems
- Winners of the Best Provincial risk managers category
- Winners of the Best National Risk managers category
City of Cape Town MM –
- Achieved a blue drop status for the Cape Town (98.1%)
- 2nd runner up for the Best Performing WSA in the Country with the overall Blue Drop score of 98,1
- Top position for the Best Technical Assessment score, Faure WTW achieved 98% and Blackheath WTW taking the 3rd position
Saldanha Bay LM (West Coast DM Bulk)
- Hopefield Supply System WTW achieved blue drop status (96.9%)
- 2nd place for the Best Provincial risk managers category
Berg Rivier LM (West Coast DM Bulk)
- Achieved a blue drop status, Velddrift WTW (95%)
- 3rd place for the Best Provincial risk managers category
Drakenstein LM (City of Cape Town MM)
- Achieved Blue drop certification, Hermon (95.7%)
- 3rd position for the Best Technical Assessment, Welvanpas score 96%
Theewaterskloof LM
- Achieved blue drop status, Botrivier (96.6%)
- 2nd runner-up for the Best Progressed WSA from 2014 to 2023, with Theewaterskloof moving from 64,2% (2014) to 89,6% (2023)
- George LM – George Water Works (95.2%)
- Swartland LM (West Coast DM Bulk) - Withoogte Supply System (96.5%)
- Cape Alguhas- 2nd runner up for the Best National Risk managers category
Bila-Mupariwa further states when comparing with previous years, the Western Cape WSAs continue to be on an upward trajectory since the last publication of the Green Drop and Blue Drop reports during 2013 and 2014, respectively. Witzenberg WSA emerged as overall nationally in terms of the 2022 Green Drop report. While most of the Western Cape systems have shown excellence and resilience, there are pockets of systems that need to up their game. “Like other systems, it is inevitable that some systems will fail.
As the department we take cognisance of the fact that the improvement of wastewater systems cannot be facilitated by means of regulation alone. It is for this reason that this department will go forward in its attempt to intensify its involvement as part of the multi- stakeholder support, and capacity building initiatives. DWS will, through section 63 of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997, continue to work with the struggling municipalities to ensure that there is a path to recovery to achieve compliance.
The fact that Western Cape WSA’s are excelling should not breed complacency. DWS will not rest on its laurels. The desire is to have all the systems across the province comply with the regulatory standards. Accordingly, maintenance of the infrastructure remains key in ensuring optimal performance of all water and wastewater systems.
The department will continue with intergovernmental relations as means to mitigate risks but will not shy away from intensifying conventional regulation in terms of issuing directives and following all possible legal avenues where it is found that commitment to improve is lacking. Where users are not complying, hefty fines will be used as the last resort as we have done in the past.
For more information, contact Wisane Mavasa Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 060 561 8935.
