Gauteng loses R14 billion annually as water losses reach 48%, Bloom

Gauteng could save billions of rands annually by reducing water losses, with Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Dr Jack Bloom saying the province currently loses or fails to account for about 48% of its water.

Speaking at a workshop on the Strategic Framework for Water and Sanitation Services in Boksburg on Tuesday, Bloom said the new national framework sets a target of reducing non-revenue water (NRW) to below 25% by 2035.

He said physical water losses through burst and leaking pipes alone amount to an estimated 431 billion litres annually.

“At Rand Water rates, this is about R7 billion a year and at municipal rates, it is probably more than double this figure, so at least R14 billion is revenue lost to municipalities,” Bloom said.

Non-revenue water refers to water that is supplied into a distribution system but does not generate revenue, including losses caused by leaks, inaccurate metering, billing problems and illegal connections.

Bloom said the losses were particularly concerning because many residents continued to experience unreliable water supplies, with some communities depending on water tankers while others faced interruptions despite water flowing from broken pipes in their streets.

Municipal water losses vary across Gauteng

Bloom highlighted differences in non-revenue water levels across the province, with Johannesburg recording about 49%, including physical losses of 26%.

Tshwane recorded non-revenue water of 45%, with physical losses accounting for 34%, while Ekurhuleni recorded about 30% in non-revenue water and 22% in physical losses.

“The worst non-revenue water is at Emfuleni (over 70%) and Mogale, which is over 60%,” Bloom said.

He said the figures highlighted the need for municipalities to address ageing infrastructure, improve billing systems and tackle water theft to reduce losses and improve service delivery.

New framework targets reliable water and sanitation

The Strategic Framework updates the previous framework adopted in 2003, which focused primarily on expanding basic access to water and sanitation following the inequalities of apartheid.

Bloom said the 2026 framework seeks to address the gap between having access to infrastructure and receiving reliable, safe water and adequate sanitation services.

A household with a water connection but no consistent supply of clean water cannot be considered to have meaningful access, while sanitation facilities that are not properly serviced undermine residents' dignity, he said.

The framework also places climate risk assessments and adaptation at the centre of water services planning. It promotes the use of smart meters, digital asset registers and transparent reporting.

Municipalities will also be required to plan for the needs of informal settlements, peri-urban communities and people living on private land.

Bloom said the framework calls for an independent economic regulator for water services to be legislated by 2029, separating regulation from the department's other responsibilities.

He said infrastructure grants should fund repairs and renewal, rather than focusing only on new projects that may deteriorate without proper maintenance.

“The framework calls for an independent economic regulator for water services to be legislated by 2029, separating regulation from the department’s other roles. Grants must fund repairs and renewal, not only new projects, because too many new projects fall into disrepair when they are not maintained,” Bloom said.

He added that water revenue should be ring-fenced and lifecycle costing made compulsory to ensure infrastructure was properly maintained over time.

Key targets for 2035

The framework sets several targets aimed at improving water services and infrastructure management.

These include reducing national non-revenue water to below 25% by 2035 and ensuring that 80% of urban households have smart meters by 2032.

Water Services Authorities are expected to renew at least 10% of high-risk ageing assets annually, while at least 30% of end-of-life pipelines, pumps and process units must be replaced by 2035.

The framework also aims to increase investment in water services infrastructure to at least 0.75% of gross domestic product by 2035.

Other targets include ensuring all schools and clinics have adequate and safe water and sanitation services, implementing the free basic water and sanitation policy across all Water Services Authorities, and achieving 100% compliance with SANS 241 potable-water standards by 2035.

Bloom said Gauteng would need to roughly halve its current water losses to meet the national target, stressing that municipalities should begin implementing measures without waiting until the deadline.

“Every leak fixed and every meter read correctly brings water to people who don’t currently have it,” he said.

Bloom said the framework and workshops being held across the country were intended to help close the gap between policy commitments and the delivery of reliable water and sanitation services.