Economic opportunities MEC Alan Winde commented on the report and said that apart from us all playing a role in saving water, this report calls for innovative approaches from the public and private sector.
He also said the report provided a detailed overview on water usage around the country and projections of national demand. Water leaks are becoming a bigger cause for concern with municipalities desperately trying to conserve more water, while trying to decrease the amount of clean water that is being wasted through burst water pipes. Old water infrastructure has been a problem for municipalities across South Africa for years now, with old metal pipes rusting, loose bolts giving way, and clean water gushing onto the street or into drains, costing municipalities millions in revenue. In the Western Cape, with the province only having 121 days of usable water left, municipalities cannot afford water leaks. So how much water does the country actually lose because of this? According to a 2017 GreenCape market intelligence report, 37% of South Africa’s water supply is lost through leaks across many cities.