eThekwini Municipality Loses R5 million a Day in Water Leaks

23 November 2022            

ActionSA notes with great concern the water losses experienced by the eThekwini Municipality reaching up to an astounding 56% of all tap water it buys - mostly from leaks and water theft, which costs eThekwini close to R5 million a day.

The Municipality continues to lose an estimated 615 million litres of water per day.

Based on eThekwini procuring water from the Umgeni Water Board at around R8.26 per kilolitre (kl), this means the City pays R1.86 billion a year for water that either leaks away, is stolen or not charged.

Despite procuring water at R8.26/kl from Umgeni Water, the Municipality however charges its customers a considerably higher tariff. According to a recent Daily Maverick article, domestic customers currently pay R27/kl for consumption up to 6 kl per month and a tariff of almost R32/kl for higher consumption.

Whilst water losses are expected and budgeted for, the current water losses of 56% far exceed the standard for municipalities of between 15% and 30%, and eThekwini’s current budget of 35%. Furthermore, whilst some of the water losses pertain to unauthorised consumption the vast portion of water losses are a direct result of real losses (leaks, breaks, overflows etc).

These water losses are worrying for two main reasons. Firstly, with the impacts of droughts, climate change and urbanisation, water losses are a critical issue. Water is a scare resource and should be treated as such.

With Umgeni Water Board capping eThekwini’s demand at current levels, should the water losses continue residents and businesses will be faced with water shedding.

Secondly, the high quantum water losses have serious financial consequences on the municipality’s resources which will ultimately impact on service delivery to residents and business. In addition, eThekwini’s ability to undertake necessary repairs to its ageing infrastructure is curtailed.

Furthermore, the water losses are exacerbated by the lack of qualified staff and suitable equipment to timeously repair water losses when they are detected.  

The above has arisen because of the inability of the ANC-led government to effectively manage its resources. Years of corruption and poor management that has and continues to plague the municipality has had a devasting impact on the infrastructure of the City.

As with the sewage crises, ActionSA will once again take a lead in this important matter. We will be writing to the Mayor and City Manager requesting a detailed plan and timelines on how these water losses are to be addressed.

Issued by Alan Beesley, ActionSA eThekwini Caucus Leader, 23 November 2022