411
eThekwini Faces Extended Water Curtailments Until 2025
The uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) has extended water curtailments for the eThekwini Municipality until September 2025, further complicating the city’s ongoing water crisis.
The restriction stems from excessive water abstraction from the Umgeni River. Initially, a reduction plan was set from October 2023 to October 2024, but eThekwini requested an additional 12 months, leading to the extended curtailment.
The uMgungundlovu District Municipality (UMDM) and Msunduzi Municipality were also instructed to cut their water usage by 8.7%. However, full implementation proved challenging, and Pietermaritzburg experienced a city-wide water outage lasting over 24 hours due to system failure.
On July 26, 2024, eThekwini officials met with the UUW board and were urged to repair leaks and implement household water-saving measures. The curtailment requires a daily reduction of 108 megalitres from October 15, 2024.
Mayor Cyril Xaba revealed that in July 2024, eThekwini was abstracting 1,500 megalitres per day—25% more than its contracted 1,100 megalitres.
eThekwini’s water crisis is exacerbated by massive water losses. In the 2019/20 financial year, the city’s bulk water input was 362 million kilolitres, but only 177 million kilolitres were billed, resulting in a 51% water loss—translating to a R1.7 billion revenue shortfall.
The 2020 eThekwini Water Balance Report attributed these losses to illegal connections, metering inaccuracies, and leaks. Non-revenue water rose from 30% in 2017 to over 50% in 2022, while cash collections for water services dropped from 97% in 2017/18 to 67% in 2022/23. Over the past two years, the city lost R4.03 billion in uncollected revenue.
“This proves that serious leaks are the problem, not increased demand,” Xaba stated. He warned that water losses weaken the city’s ability to repair infrastructure, maintain services, and respond to customer needs.
Proposed Water Management Reforms
To address the crisis, the city plans to introduce a Water and Sanitation Turnaround Strategy. Measures include:
- Installing meters at nearly 100,000 unmetered properties
- Replacing dysfunctional domestic and industrial meters
- Ensuring adequate meter stock availability
- Enhancing billing accuracy and enforcing credit control policies
- Reviewing and strengthening meter reading contracts
UUW Chief Executive Sandile Mkhize emphasized the need for collaboration with municipalities to secure infrastructure grants and improve water supply planning.
“If we can accurately measure water usage, we’ll be in a better position to manage demand,” he said.
As eThekwini struggles with ongoing shortages, fixing leaks and improving metering will be critical to stabilizing the city’s water supply.
eThekwini Municipality’s Plumbing Crisis: Contractors Left Unpaid Amid Water Shortages
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
