Blue Drop National Report 2023

December 12, 2023

South Africa has experienced a decline in drinking water quality since 2014, with almost half of it now deemed microbiologically unsafe for consumption, according to the Blue Drop National Report 2023 released by the Department of Water and Sanitation on December 5, 2023.

Extensive Assessment of Water Supply Systems

The report covers nine provinces in South Africa, serving a total population of 48,486,567. A comprehensive assessment of 958 water supply systems (WSS) across 144 water services authorities (WSA) examined various factors, including infrastructure condition, maintenance, operation, treatment processes, monitoring, and staff expertise.

Increasing Critical State of Water Systems

Auditors discovered that 29% of WSS in 62 WSAs were in a critical state in 2023, an increase from 174 WSS in 33 WSAs in 2014. The number of systems in a critical state has risen overall, indicating a concerning trend.

Microbiological Water Quality Status

Out of the 958 WSS, 467 systems had excellent microbiological quality, 49 had good quality, and 442 had unacceptable microbiological water quality. The report identified several reasons for non-compliance, including poor operations, defective infrastructure, and inadequate dosing rates.

Blue Drop Risk Rating and Key Performance Areas

The national Blue Drop Risk Rating improved slightly from 52.3% in 2022 to 47.15% in 2023. The report highlighted key performance areas among provinces, with Gauteng having the highest percentage of systems with excellent or good performance and the Northern Cape facing the highest percentage of poor or critical performance.

Continued Decline and Systemic Failure

The Blue Drop Watch Report, released earlier in the year, revealed an ongoing decline in the country’s water supply services. It indicated a culture of neglect, noncompliance, and systemic failure within the water services sector.

Way Forward

In response to the findings, the Department of Water and Sanitation emphasized the need for collaborative action. The report serves as a tool to verify compliance, identify strengths and failures, and inform regulatory, financial, capacity building, and governance interventions by various government departments.

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