Question NW2424 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
11 December 2024 - NW2424
Basson, Mr LJ to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
(1) With reference to the reply of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to question 1637 on 15 November 2024, what total number of water tankers are operating in each of the nine provinces and (b) how are the cost of transporting water determined; (2) what was the (a) total cost in each month for the past three years to transport water, (b) quantity of water transported in each month and (c) number of households that receive water from the tankers; (3) what monitor measures are in place to make sure the community is receiving water? NW3822E
Reply:
1. The Department owned 20 water tankers that were procured during the Covid pandemic, which have since been assigned to the Amatola Water Board, an entity of the DWS. These water tankers are being utilised for water supply emergencies to support Eastern Cape municipalities when there are interruptions in water supply. DWS does not incur any costs for tankers.
DWS does not have information on the total number of water tankers operating in each of the nine provinces that are operated by municipalities.
2. DWS has not transported water to municipalities or households in the last three years. DWS does not have information on (a) total cost in each month for the past three years to transport water, (b) quantity of water transported in each month and (c) number of households that receive water from the tankers; for water transported by municipalities.
3. The Constitution assigns the responsibility of ensuring communities have access to water and sanitation services to municipalities. The role of the national and provincial spheres of government is to support, monitor and regulate local government. The DWS as the regulator of the water sector is required to set national norms and standards for municipal water and sanitation services in terms of the Water Services Act. It is the responsibility of local government/municipalities to put measures in place to ensure that communities receive water, and where there are disruptions put emergency means to supply water.
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