Unsafe drinking water found in almost half the schools that participated in national testing

Nearly half the schools that participated in a recent national water quality testing campaign were found to have unsafe drinking water, highlighting the systemic crisis facing South African learners. 

This was revealed by the School Water Quality Testing Project, conducted by WaterCAN and supported by a coalition of environmental and civic organisations.

The project was designed to assess water safety in schools and empower young people to become advocates for clean water. Its results are deeply concerning.

The report explained that South Africa’s Constitution guarantees every child the right to a basic education, which includes safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities. 

However, this remains far from the reality for many. According to WaterCAN, “almost 11,000 public schools in the country (almost 50%) are without a single flushing toilet and 383 public schools do not have access to running water.” 

These figures are likely understated, with other reports suggesting that up to 25% of schools may not have functional water systems at all.

In this context, the School Water Testing Project was launched in March 2025 during World Water Month. 

Almost 100 schools across eight provinces were selected to participate in the initiative, which included online and in-person training sessions for learners and teachers.

Participants received Citizen Science Water Test Kits developed by iLAB, which allowed them to test drinking water from taps, tanks, and rivers. 

The testing focused on both chemical safety, measuring levels of nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, chlorine, pH, and hardness, and bacterial contamination, including total coliforms and E. coli. 

While chemical results were generally within safe ranges, the bacterial results were far more troubling. 

The report showed that 23 out of 53 (43%) of samples were classified as unsafe for human consumption as they showed unacceptable levels of bacterial contamination.

Water from JOJO tanks showed the worst results, with 14 out of 19 tanks (73%) testing positive for bacteria. 

Rivers and even municipal tap water were also in the red, with 66% of rivers and 23% of tap samples found to be unsafe. 

“The reasons for the low water quality of the JOJO tanks could be a combination of issues, from poor municipal water to a lack of maintenance and regular cleaning of the tanks,” the report said.

Nationwide government intervention needed

The test results imply that unsafe drinking water is a daily reality for thousands of South African learners. 

“Unsafe water is not just a health issue; it’s an education issue, a gender issue, and a human rights issue,” WaterCAN said.

The report further noted that inadequate water access disrupts learning and forces many schools to close during water shortages. 

Poor sanitation, including the ongoing use of pit latrines, remains a grave safety concern, particularly for young girls. 

“The only toilets [many learners] have available to relieve themselves are broken, unhygienic and structurally dangerous; often with no water and soap to wash their hands.”

Despite the project’s results, testing 95 is merely a snapshot when considering that there are over 24,000 schools in the country. 

The campaign revealed the need for a national, government-led programme for routine water quality testing, improved infrastructure, and regular maintenance of water storage systems. 

“We cannot generalise about the water quality status of all schools. But the findings do highlight systemic concerns that likely apply nationwide,” WaterCAN warned.

Looking ahead, the Water Warriors Collective has committed to ongoing support for affected schools. 

Planned actions include issuing “do not drink” warnings, retesting water, engaging local authorities to clean tanks and upgrade infrastructure, and pushing the Department of Basic Education for long-term solutions. 

“This project proves that citizen science works. It empowers communities, strengthens accountability, and exposes gaps and risks in our public systems. However, it also shows us that more must be done,” the report said. 

WaterCAN’s School Water Quality Testing Project