Access to potable water and sanitation are essential elements for the effective function of human settlements, and are integral to human health and well-being.  Since 1994, there has been an improvement in access to clean water.  In 2001, 9.5 million households (84.5%) had access to piped water, an increase of 2.4 million households since 1996. 

 

The lowest percentages of households with access to piped water occur in areas of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

 

The number of households relying on water from sources such as dams, rivers and streams, and boreholes declined during the period 1994-2001, which suggests improved structured access to clean water among rural households. 

 

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) mandated in 2001 that households should receive up to 6 kilolitres of free water per month, to minimize service arrears and to ensure that the basic needs of households are met.