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Of the 848 wastewater treatment plants assessed nationwide, 396 are in a critical state, while only about a quarter are performing at a standard that meets regulatory requirements. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
ARTICLE

‘We have the skills but not the system’: Water Institute of Southern Africa on SA’s wastewater crisis

Nearly half of South Africa’s wastewater treatment plants are in a critical state, with untreated sewage polluting rivers and dams

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read
Nonhlanhla Kalebaila, a research manager on water quality at the Water Research Commission and Bonani Madikizela, a water research manager at the Water Research Commission.
CATHY MOHLAHLANA

Experts call for mindset shift and infrastructure upgrades to tackle water crisis

It’s time to move beyond the planning and strategy phases and begin implementation

  • Jonathan Erasmus
7 min read
Water treatment plants, along with hospitals, harbours, railways and other critical infrastructure are supposed to be exempted from load-shedding in terms of national state of disaster regulations promulgated last month. (Photo by Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
ANTHONY TURTON

SA’s dismal state of wastewater management

The Green Drop 2022 report, the first since 2013, reflects a serious deterioration in the management of wastewater treatment plants

  • Sheree Bega
9 min read
Everyone in South Africa lives downstream from a sewage discharge point into their drinking water supply, which is why the Blue and Green Drop reports are so important. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ANTHONY TURTON

Why we need the Blue and Green Drop reports: ‘Everyone in SA lives downstream from a sewage discharge point’

The last reports were in 2014 but were stopped probably because the results were too shocking to be publicised, water experts say

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read