{
  "id": 8165760,
  "title": "Raw sewage is flowing in nearly every metro",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/raw-sewage-is-flowing-in-nearly-every-metro",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T03:43:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GroundUp",
    "slug": "groundup",
    "url": "https://groundup.org.za/article/raw-sewage-flowing-in-nearly-every-metro/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The 2025 Green Drop report reveals that the wastewater treatment systems in nearly every metropolitan area across South Africa have deteriorated between 2021 and 2024. The report measures this deterioration using the Green Drop score, an assessment of the effectiveness of wastewater treatment operations. Out of all the metros, Ekurhuleni achieved the highest score at 82% in 2024, but it was the only one rated \"good.\" Cape Town saw its score drop from \"good\" to \"average,\" with no plants in critical state. Johannesburg's score has continuously dropped, reaching \"very poor\" in 2024, due to severe failures at its major treatment plants and exceeding design capacity at another. Mangaung improved its score, but it remains low at 43%. Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, and Tshwane experienced significant drops in their scores, with most of Tshwane's treatment systems performing poorly. EThekwini saw the most significant decline, with its treatment works moving from \"excellent\" to \"very poor.\" The floods in April 2022 and lack of preventative maintenance have contributed to the deterioration in these metro's wastewater treatment systems.",
  "summary": "Sewage treatment scores have dropped in seven out of eight metro municipalities",
  "key_points": [
    "Nearly every South African metro's wastewater treatment systems deteriorated 2021-2024.",
    "Ekurhuleni was the only metro rated good in 2024 with 82% Green Drop score.",
    "Johannesburg's score dropped to very poor in 2024 due to major treatment plant failures."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The decline in wastewater treatment systems across South African metropolitan areas indicates a significant regression in environmental management, with most metros now facing severe challenges in effectively treating sewage.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}