Water is our most precious resource. It is as the South African Department of Water and Sanitation says “life.” As World Water Day is upon us, it is imperative that we understand the current water situation globally as well as locally.
Here are some facts about water that will make you appreciate it that much more:
- 50% of South Africa’s potable water is Non-Revenue. That means that 50% is lost in the system due to inefficiencies and leaks.
- More than 3 million South Africans don’t have access to basic water water supply.
- 52% of people residing In informal settlements that fall under Johannesburg have dug their own pit latrines.
- According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), globally 443 million school days are lost each year due to illness caused by a lack of access to water or access to a poor water source.
- According to the South African Human Rights Commission, 115 people in Africa die every hour from diseases linked to poor sanitation, poor hygiene, and contaminated water
- South Africa experiences 40% less rainfall than the global average.
- The global average water use of litres per person per day is 173ℓ, South Africa has an average of 237ℓ per person per day despite being a water-scarce country.
- 61% of South Africa’s water is used in the agricultural sector, 27% in households, and 7% in industry according to the CSIR.
- According to the latest Blue Drop Report of South Africa’s 144 Water Services Authorities (WSAs), 24 of them had made no attempt at Blue Drop compliance, and 40 of them are in a critical state.
- The Water Services Act prescribes 25ℓ per person per day as the minimum standard of basic water supply in South Africa, during Cape Town’s ‘Day Zero’ water restrictions the average was 50ℓ per person per day.
This article published in 2025, will be annually revenued to mark the progress or decline of the current data.
