WATER WOES: Nelson Mandela Bay needs nearly R1bn to tackle water losses and ageing pipes

Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa's metro, is grappling with severe water and wastewater crises, requiring nearly R1 billion to address the issues, according to recent reports. The city is dealing with thousands of water leak complaints weekly, and some communities experience days-long water shortages. Additionally, the aging water pipes have led to a staggering 60% water loss.

The metro's acting city manager stated that the situation has become unbearable, with a backlog of over 5,000 water leak complaints. Furthermore, the municipality's wastewater infrastructure is failing, with raw sewage being discharged into rivers, estuaries, and the sea, posing a significant public health risk. The South African Human Rights Commission described the crisis as a material public-health risk impacting human rights.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Civil Society Coalition released a report highlighting the deteriorating wastewater services, stating that the "sanitation system has collapsed," with sewage spills contaminating environments, polluting ecosystems, and threatening livelihoods. The Driftsands Wastewater Treatment Works, once considered the city's "gold standard" plant, has been non-operational for over three years due to stolen electrical cables.

The report also notes that unauthorized activities, such as cable theft, significantly impact the city's ability to maintain its water and sanitation systems effectively. Officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation visited key plants to evaluate the situation, emphasizing the critical need for improved infrastructure and mandatory desalination as a potential alternative water source.