South Africa released its long-awaited Green Drop report, which provides details of how well the country’s wastewater systems are functioning. The report reveals that only 32 plants out of 449 assessed qualify for Green Drop status, which means they broadly meet international standards.
The report findings include that ‘the bulk of plants can be described as poor to non-functional’. This means that large quantities of inadequately-treated wastewaters are being discharged into South Africa’s surface water each day.
The report also highlights skills shortages at treatment plants as a serious issue, noting that these exist at all management levels.
Water Affairs minister Buyelwa Sonjica warned that her department needs at least $3 billion and probably at least twice that amount, to solve the country’s municipal wastewater problems.
