Fix the water infrastructure before cyanobacteria gets us!

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The Public Affairs Research Instituteshows that South Africa is one of 52 countries where access to water is considered a human right. South Africans have the right to clean, safe, and affordable water, but many have not had the privilege to enjoy this right.

Water Challenges

The Daily Maverick shows that lakes and reservoirs are being blocked by toxic cyanobacteria, regardless of climate change. Water infrastructures in South Africa have been poorly managed. This has
led to the failure of water provisions despite having been warned for years.

Deputy President and Municipal Debt

The deputy president,Paul Mashatile,blamed the water-related issues on the ageing
infrastructure and indebted municipalities around the country. The deputy president expressed how municipalities were initially responsible for the upkeep of water infrastructures in communities.

Failure to maintain these structures

The failure to maintain these infrastructures is due to a lack of funds. Randwater reports that municipalities collectively owe the entity more than R3 billion. Besides having exhausted infrastructures, municipalities are in debt.

State of the Nation Address

During the State of the Nation address this year, the president allocated R940 billion for public infrastructure. This will be spent over the next 3 years on the bettering of infrastructures. This upkeeping of infrastructures includes water infrastructures.

Water Task Team

A water task team has been set up to tackle the issues of the deteriorating water infrastructure. The minister of water and sanitation is confident about fixing leaky pipes and ensuring that the distribution of water from municipalities becomes better.

Water-borne bacteria is not new to the continent. Daily Maverick shows that Lake Chivera in Zimbabwe experienced a rise in the bacteria, and the water in the reservoir became unfit for human consumption. This bacteria feeds off neglected water systems.

Water Infrastructures

The lack of proper and maintained water infrastructure leads to sewage exposure, which
then leaves room for bacteria to grow. High levels of E.coli have been detected along the Vaal River, which supplies randwater shows 50% of the country with water.

Corruption and municipalities

Coming into contact with cyanobacteria-infested water could lead to liver, neurological, and even respiratory issues. Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Tshwane have been hotspots and municipalitiesfor corruption. The rise of the cyanobacteria, and poor treatment of waste water, failure to attend to this issue thoroughly could lead to a silent pandemic. This is the time we need our municipalities the most.