The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation on Wednesday urged Gauteng municipalities to implement demand management strategies to curtail the high water demand in the province.

The committee said it is unsustainable that Gauteng’s per capita water demand is, on average, 279 ℓ a capita per day, compared with the international average of 173 ℓ a capita per day.

Committee chairperson Leon Basson urged Gauteng municipalities to implement water conservation and demand management to ensure system viability and engage in community awareness and communication initiatives to encourage reduction in water use.

Basson noted that Gauteng played a critical role in the economic wellbeing of the country, with water playing an essential socioeconomic role.

“…thus, the current risks must be mitigated to prevent complete collapse of the system. All stakeholders must continue to work collaboratively to prevent a calamity, especially in the context of South Africa being a water-scarce country that is facing climate change challenges,” he said.

The committee attributed Gauteng’s water challenges to municipalities’ inability to perform their water conservation and advocacy roles, and their inability to pay for bulk services and infrastructure maintenance.

“It remains unacceptable that municipalities are not paying for bulk services, as this has saddled water boards with serious cash flow challenges – in some cases, they are on the brink of bankruptcy. The committee considers it inconceivable that over R5-billion is owed to Rand Water in overdue debt. The non-payment for bulk services has been a long-term worry for the committee,” he explained.

Basson stressed the need for municipalities across the country to improve their operation and maintenance of infrastructure – repair leaks, improve metering billing, improve revenue collection, improve pressure management and engage in community education and awareness.

“...without these and other interventions, the system will continue to have challenges at the expense of water users.

Meanwhile, the committee has commended Rand Water for its infrastructure maintenance and its development plan, which Basson said aimed to ensure a “resilient and stable” water supply to municipalities.

Rand Water committed to work regularly with municipalities to find solutions to current challenges.

“The committee will continue to monitor progress to ensure that Gauteng averts the risk factors facing the water system in the province,” Basson said.