Households forking out up to R120,000 for another basic need in South Africa

South Africa’s water crisis has escalated into a costly burden for households, with many who can afford it in Gauteng forced to spend between R15,000 and R120,000 on alternative water sources such as boreholes and storage tanks.

The crisis, exacerbated by mismanagement, ageing infrastructure, and increasing demand, has left many residents struggling with unreliable water supply.

Johannesburg, in particular, faces severe water shortages due to climate change, illegal water connections, and a massive infrastructure backlog.

Johannesburg Water estimates that it needs R27 billion to address existing issues and an additional R11 billion for future projects.

However, funding limitations have stalled progress, leaving large portions of the city vulnerable to supply disruptions.

Ntshavheni Mukwevho, managing director of Johannesburg Water, has acknowledged that while the city is not at immediate risk of a “Day Zero” scenario, it faces significant challenges.

The main issue is an imbalance between water demand and supply.

Demand currently exceeds available supply, prompting authorities to implement measures to reduce water consumption and losses.

However, some communities have reported receiving only a trickle of water during the night for years, while others simply have no water at all for weeks and even months at a time.

Infrastructure maintenance has been neglected for years, leading to further deterioration.

Johannesburg Water faces a R27 billion backlog, with key areas such as Midrand also in need of upgrades.

To address this, the City Council has approved an R32.5 billion investment plan for the next decade, aligning with the National Treasury’s Trading Services Reform initiative.

Additionally, Johannesburg Water has invested nearly R1 billion in new infrastructure, including a reservoir, tower, pump station, and pipeline.

The first phase of this project is expected to be completed by April next year, with additional upgrades taking up to 18 months.

However, immediate relief remains uncertain as ageing pipes and ongoing water losses continue to strain the system.

Despite an emphasis on consumption, nearly 50% of the water passing through Johannesburg’s pipes is lost due to leaks and burst pipes.

Mismanagement has further worsened the situation, leaving authorities struggling to maintain supply.

Emergency measures, such as deploying water tankers, have been implemented, but inconsistencies in their scheduling and availability have frustrated residents.

Costly solution for households

Due to the severity of the crisis, the demand for alternative water sources has significantly increased.

According to Sebasti Badenhorst, JoJo Tanks’ Sales and Marketing Executive, the demand for water storage tanks has surged across Gauteng.

Accredited installers report long waiting periods due to high demand. Many households are installing storage tanks and investing in boreholes despite the high costs involved.

Data from Rand Water shows that the average South African household uses around 237 litres of water per person daily, amounting to about 7,000 litres per month.

Borehole experts at Borehole Repairs estimate that installing a basic 1,000-litre tank system with a pump costs around R14,880, while a 10,000-litre system can exceed R31,250.

The cost of a complete borehole system ranges between R60,000 and R120,000, depending on factors such as drilling depth and equipment requirements.

For many residents, these costs are prohibitive, leaving them with few options.

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined government efforts to address the water crisis.

He highlighted that the Infrastructure Fund has secured R23 billion for large-scale water projects, including the uMkhomazi Water Project Phase 1 in KwaZulu-Natal.

This initiative, with an estimated construction cost of R23.2 billion, includes the construction of the Smithfield Dam, which will have a capacity of 251 million cubic meters.

The project is expected to enhance water security for six million people while supporting economic growth in the region.

Water expert and Unisa associate professor Richard Meissner noted that while these bulk water infrastructure projects have the potential to improve water security, the challenge lies in ensuring that smaller municipalities and rural communities also benefit.

Many of these areas lack the resources and management capacity to sustain long-term water solutions.

Despite ongoing interventions, Gauteng’s water system remains under severe strain.

Rand Water recently issued a stark warning to residents of Johannesburg and Tshwane, urging them to reduce water consumption to prevent a total system collapse.

On February 12, Rand Water stated that excessive consumption levels were causing storage levels to drop at an alarming rate.

Although the utility is operating at full capacity, demand continues to exceed supply.