Water supply and sanitation in urban South Africa: Getting it right during the transition and beyond

Abstract

Water and sanitation institutions face major challenges to extend services to those who do not yet receive them, while maintaining financial viability and sustainability, and safeguarding the environment. Meeting these challenges effectively will require that institutions are rationalised; that sensible minimum standards for levels of service and appropriate goals for levels of service are established; that sound investment programmes are set up; that rational tariff policies are implemented; that capital finance is raised effectively; that institutional capacity is developed and the customer interface transformed; that appropriate legislation and methods of monitoring performance are developed; and that compromises on environmental issues are based on well‐informed analysis. Policy proposals in these key areas are put forward in this article to stimulate debate and to guide institutional transformation during the transition and in the longer term.

Notes

Respectively Palmer Development Group, Cape Town, and Town Planning Branch, Cape Town City Council. This article draws extensively on a recent project funded by the Water. Research Commission and entitled Water and Sanitation in Urban areas: Financial and Institutional Review. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the authors’ organisations.