Stats SA finds SA still burdened by water interruptions
Water supply disruptions remain a growing challenge for South African households, according to the findings of a new survey.
According to Statistics South Africa, the percentage of households that experienced water interruptions lasting more than two days at a time, or 15 days over the past year, increased from 24.3% in 2012 to 33.7% in 2024.
The findings were released in the 2024 General Household Survey on Tuesday.
The annual survey collects critical data on living conditions, access to basic services, and social development, helping to guide government planning and policy.
In response to water interruptions, Stats SA noted that about five of every 100 households rely on municipal water tankers as an alternative supply source.
“Three quarters (76,8%) of South African households have access to improved water sources in the dwelling or in the yard,” said Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke.
He further pointed out that while access to municipal piped water grew only slightly, by 1.4 percentage points to 87.7% between 2004 and 2024, this still represents an additional 6.3 million households.
“Of the households without piped water in their dwellings or on site, three-quarters (73,7%) took less than thirty minutes to fetch water from neighbours’ taps, communal taps and other sources of water,” Maluleke said.
The survey also highlighted improvements in sanitation, with 66.7% of households now having access to flush toilets.
“The percentage of households with access to improved sanitation increased by 21,4 percentage points between 2002 and 2024, growing from 61,7% to 83,1%,” he added.
These findings follow the reopening of the Lesotho Highlands Water Tunnel by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina on Sunday.
READ MORE: Lesotho Highlands tunnel ‘good for 25 more years’
The 38-kilometre tunnel, which was closed for seven months for maintenance, plays a critical role in delivering water from Lesotho to South Africa. It feeds into the Vaal River Integrated System, a major water source for five provinces.
The restoration of the tunnel is expected to improve water supply and underscores the importance of maintaining infrastructure resilience amid increasing climate and supply pressures.
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