In his State of the Nation Address for 2022, Preisdent Cyril Ramaphosa said that water is the country’s most precious natural resource.
It is vital to life, to development and to economic growth.
Government has prioritised institutional reforms in this area to ensure future water security, investment in water resources and maintenance of existing assets.
Government has also embarked on the process of institutional reform in capacitating the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and reviewing water boards in as far as their mandates are concerned and ensuring that they serve municipalities in terms of the District Development Model (DDM).
These reforms are being championed by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, who has visited every water source in the country.
A comprehensive turnaround plan is being implemented to streamline the process for water use license applications. The target is to clear the backlog of applications by June 2022 and to process 80% of all applications within 90 days during the next financial year.
Legislation has been prepared for the establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, and will be published for public comment within the next month.
The water quality monitoring system has been reinstated to improve enforcement of water standards at municipal level, and enable the DWS to intervene where water and sanitation services are failing.
Water Saving Tips 
The reliability of water supply by municipalities to households across South Africa is only at 68%, despite the strides made by the Department of Water and Sanitation to eradicate water supply backlogs over the years.
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo says this is due to old infrastructure, lack of operation and maintenance on water schemes, and the poor integration between housing programmes and current infrastructure development projects.
“It is a major concern that the provision of reliable supply water is showing signs of decline,” he says.
As a water scarce country, South Africa ranks among 30 driest countries in the world. Most of the country’s water comes from rainfall, but with the recorded average rainfall that is 40% less than the annual world average, the country is often affected by drought.
However, the department has water saving tips for you.
Saving water in your home or business
Turn the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth or shaving.
Taking a five-minute shower a day instead of a bath will use a third of the water used bathing in a bath tub, saving up to 400 litres a week.
Showering can use up to 20 litres of water per minute, whereas taking a bath can use between 80 and 150 litres of water per bath. If you prefer to bath, do not fill up the bathtub.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other waste in the trash rather than the toilet. Every time you flush the toilet, 12 litres of water is used.
Fix a leaking toilet otherwise it can waste up to 100 000 litres of water in one year.
Use “grey water” — used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources to flush your toilet.
Do not overfill or excessively backwash your swimming pool.
Kettles should not be filled to the brim but with just enough water for your needs. This will reduce your electricity bill too.
Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car. If you have to use a hose, use a sprayer that can be turned off in-between spraying the car. Using a garden hose could use as much as 30 litres of water per minute.
Farmers must ensure that they keep toxic insecticides away from water sources and streams.
People living in rural areas should be careful not to use the river or riverbank as a toilet.
In the garden
Always water your plants during the early morning hours or in the evening, when temperatures are cooler.
Every time you boil an egg, save the cooled water for your houseplants. They will benefit from the nutrients released from the shell.
Roof water can also be profitably stored in tanks, for watering gardens.
Use “grey water”-- used water from baths, washing machines and other safe sources-- to water your garden.
For more information, visit www.dws.gov.za
