The ongoing power crisis in South Africa has been affecting all spheres of the economy in the country leading to a standstill in business operations.
The worst crisis is now threatening water supplied throughout the country.
“The whole water system is basically dependent on energy for water to be pumped from the source for treatment and then from the treatment plant to a storage such as a reservoir or a water tower, and then obviously at the end towards the consumer. So we are having this issue of escalated load shedding, which is causing longer power failures”, the official said.
Some experts are warning of a full-blown water crisis in South Africa.
“Our infrastructure, first of all, is dilapidated. It has not been maintained for over two decades so that obviously plays a role. We have major water leaks and burst pipes, which contribute to non-revenue water, which is physically lost water. Over 40 percent of that water is treated water and drinkable. That gets lost between the reservoir towards the consumer”, an official added.
There is been public outrage over the water shortages. Businesses are also becoming increasingly frustrated.
“I am losing my clan because of a water problem. Cause at times the water will not even come. Then at times will be coming very slowly. It has really affected us”, the saloon operator said.
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“Now you cannot even flush, you cannot cook, you cannot go to the toilet. We need water now, on the other hand, the city of Johannesburg is running dry due to low rainfall and heat wave conditions’’, a resident said.
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Further, a number of these water tanks are being placed across the city as the water cuts become more frequent, but they are meant to serve hundreds of people at a time, which is clearly not enough.
There is now growing concern over the help and safety of the water. Hospitals are also experiencing water shortages.
