Durban faces a dire crisis. Picture: Flickr/Ivan Radick
Increased demand, poor infrastructure and water curtailment measures are some of the reasons why large parts of Durban went dry over the past two weeks. Demand outstrips supply by 100 megalitres a day.
The situation deteriorated to such an extent that patients at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in uMlazi had to ask their visitors to bring them water. Surgeries had to be postponed since water shortages began in early February.
To the north, meanwhile, residents of ward 54 in Inanda called for schools to be closed due to hygiene concerns. They said tankers were promised but infrequently delivered.
“There are about three schools and a clinic in this ward,” said resident Sibusiso Msomi. “The community is considering shutting the schools because the learners are suffering.”
“The water tankers don’t even go to some parts of this ward. The clinic here has a mortuary and they need water, so they are seriously affected. What is confusing is that the water bill is still high, but our taps are running dry,” he added.
According to Gugu Sisilana, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, the city’s latest water woes were driven by increased demand during summer, as well as urbanisation.
“This is due to rapid urbanisation in the southern and northern regions and the reduction of water supply because of the water curtailment measures that were implemented by uMngeni-uThukela Water in October last year,” said Sisilana.
Patients and residents are not the only one feeling the pain. eThekwini Municipality, led by Mayor Cyril Xaba, has lost about R1.7 billion in revenue to water loss.
More than half of the water is lost before it reaches residents’ taps. Non-revenue water, as it is called, jumped from 30% in 2017 to above 50% in 2022, a sign of a rapidly deteriorating system.
