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Environmental Goal
To halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and improve the level of access to potable water. |
Indicator
Levels of access to water supply infrastructure
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Levels of access to water supply infrastructure |
Source: Census 1991, 1996, 2001; Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) internal processes; Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) |
Levels of access to water supply infrastructure
Access to water |
2003 |
2004 |
|
(millions) |
Census population |
46.4 |
47.4 |
Access to infrastructure at basic level or higher |
35.4 |
37.3 |
Access to basic services - below RDP service levels |
6.1 |
5.7 |
No access to infrastructure |
4.9 |
4.4 | Source: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (2004). State of water services report 2004. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria. |
Are we making progress
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 number of households relying on water from sources including dams, rivers and streams, and boreholes declined during this same period, which suggests improved structured access to clean water among rural households. In 2009 it was estimated that only 3.5 percent of the South African population did not have access to basic water services. Low cost-recovery, limited water availability, and poor training in maintenance of infrastructure, however, have resulted in the variable success of rural water schemes. |