Sewage flows because of misplaced trust in local government and co-operative governance.
Most sewerage plants in South Africa malfunction, but officials have been told to back off ahead of local elections in 2016.
The Klip River brings disease but, like many other water sources, it is still not being tested.
With nowhere else to live, many seek refuge in the radiation wastelands in Gauteng, unaware of the deadly dangers the abandoned mining areas present.
Allegations of water pollution by mining operations will see the ombud probe top mining companies like Glencore Xstrata and AngloGold Ashanti.
Spending on catchment areas provides solutions to the problems of water supply and demand, write Kristal Maze and Leonie Joubert.
Water affairs investigators have been looking into the dumping of carcasses near a life-sustaining river.
A new study released on Monday has shown that "fracking" can pollute drinking water, although it is uncertain the impact this has on human health.
The government must recognise the indivisibility and interconnectedness of all our human rights, writes Kayum Ahmed.
Carolina could be one heavy downpour away from facing another water crisis and residents are already reluctant to use water they do not trust.
Researchers find that it is making them increasingly vulnerable to predators.
Residents of a south China town have been panic buying bottled water after media reports of excessive levels of the carcinogenic metal cadmium.
The inconvenient truths about our polluted water supplies aren’t going unchallenged — at least not by these activists.
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/ 28 January 2009
India said on Wednesday it has ordered a probe into the results of a study that found supposedly treated wastewater contained a cocktail of 21 drugs.
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/ 1 December 2008
Zimbabwe has cut water to Harare, state media reported on Monday, leaving most of the city dry as authorities struggle to contain a cholera outbreak.
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/ 15 October 2008
Water coming out of Durban’s taps is safe to drink and residents do not need to fear reported mercury contamination at Inanda Dam, say authorities.
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/ 13 October 2008
The Eastern Cape health department has warned residents of the Mqanduli area that river water has been contaminated with sewage.
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/ 17 September 2008
Radioactive waste outside mining areas in the catchment of the Wonderfonteinspruit poses no risk to the public, according to experts.
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/ 4 September 2008
Water tests have raised questions over accusations made against Anglo Platinum that it was polluting the drinking water of two communities.