On World Water Monitoring Day, activists, civil society groups, and government officials gathered to confront South Africa’s escalating water pollution problem. Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager of WaterCAN, dropped a chilling fact: “50,000 litres of sewage flow into our rivers every second.” That’s right—every. single. second.
In 2013, only 10% of the country’s wastewater treatment plants were cleaning up their act, and things have only gone downhill. The 2023 Green Drop Report reveals that a mere 8% of these plants are now compliant. And while the water in major cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town is still deemed “safe” to drink, it’s not as safe as we’d hope. In fact, almost half of our water systems were found to be not microbiologically safe at certain times last year.
But it’s not all doom and gloom, says Adam. We need to stop being passive and start testing water ourselves. WaterCAN has already trained 2,000 South Africans to test water quality and distributed 5,000 kits nationwide, but they need more hands on deck. “We cannot afford to be pessimistic,” said activist Kumi Naidoo. “If we wait for government to fix this alone, we’re in trouble.”
The good news? Citizens can make a real difference. WaterCAN encourages people to report water issues and flood local government inboxes. “We know the water’s polluted; you don’t need to be a genius to smell it,” Adam quipped, but testing it gives us the evidence we need to hold local municipalities accountable.
Adam shared how WaterCAN has opened criminal cases against municipalities like Johannesburg and eThekwini over failed sewage management, highlighting that municipalities can’t just pay fines and walk away. It’s time for those in charge to be held responsible.
So, what can you do? Test your water, report problems, and be the eyes and ears for your community. After all, water affects everyone, and it’s up to all of us to protect it.
Quick Tip for a Greener Future
Water testing kits are available for purchase through Water CAN and other organizations—keep an eye on our affiliate links for special offers to help make testing easier and more affordable for everyone.