The provision of a basic water supply and sanitation service to the 12 million South
Africans without an adequate water supply and the 21 million without basic sanitation is a
mammoth task that is currently being undertaken by the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry. Billions of rands have been spent on, and committed to, water and sanitation
projects that involve national, provincial and local spheres of government, as well as
parastatals, non-government organisations and private developers.
It is acknowledged that important successes have been achieved in the water and sanitation
sector. However, despite the provisions provided in national and local legislation,
internationally lauded policy directives, the numerous studies undertaken and
recommendations made by institutions such as the Water Research Commission, problems
have continued to emerge in the sustainable delivery of water and sanitation projects,
particularly in the peri-urban and rural areas. It is clear that the installation of physical
structures such as pipes, taps and ventilated improved pit latrines in these areas have
created a sense of 'delivery' however, little thought seems to have gone into how these
projects are to be sustained.
International experience has shown that the concept of 'community ownership' is very
important in providing sustainable water and sanitation services. The most important
principles in achieving sustainability are community participation and community
decision-making throughout both the development of the project as well as the further
operation and maintenance of the system. International experience has also shown that
financial contributions towards the scheme from the community (in cash, labour or
materials), also assists in obtaining community ownership.
Over the past decade emphasis in South Africa has shifted towards community
participation and the empowerment of previously disadvantaged communities where
communities play an active role in determining the level of service provided and the
manner in which these services are delivered. However, current government policy
advocates that water must be treated as an economic resource to achieve sustainability and
this does not always lie comfortably with the policy of delivering free basic water. As a result of these two often-juxtaposed concepts, the delivery of sustainable water and
sanitation services, a function performed by local government, is thus made more difficult.
This study assesses the importance of delivering a potable water supply and adequate
sanitation service to enhance the quality of lives of people. It also considers the key issues
that contribute towards sustainable water and sanitation service delivery, with particular
reference to the concept of 'community ownership'. The complex nature of the policy,
legislative and institutional framework for water supply and sanitation is considered along
with an analysis of the Msunduzi Municipality's water supply and sanitation policy and
objectives. The study then focuses on the delivery of water and sanitation services to one
such project, Edendale Unit RR (commonly known as Newtown), as an in-situ upgrade
case study. A Provincial Housing Board funded project has, over the last five years,
provided housing units, roads, stormwater drains, and water and sanitation infrastructure to
this community.
This initial research is undertaken with the intention of providing an evaluation of the
installation of the water supply and sanitation service to the in-situ upgrade of Newtown. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/3588 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Moffett, David. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
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