National
'Thousands of megalitres untreated sewage enters SA's dams and rivers daily'─── 06:32 Thu, 12 Nov 2015
Johannesburg - A water resource management expert says about 4 000 megalitres of untreated or partially treated sewage enters the country's dams and rivers every day.
Dr Anthony Turton says this sewage water is then making its way back into the country's drinking water systems.
Turton says while the current drought conditions have resulted in depleted water levels in the country's dams, a bigger problem is the quality of water in the system.
In an analysis published in the policy bulletin of the SA Institute of Race Relations, Turton says average water consumption in South Africa, at 235 litres per person per day, is 26% higher than the global average of 173 litres per day.
He says the issue of water leaks and losses is compounded by the crippling loss of engineering skills at municipal level.
Turton says about 80 percent of the sewerage works in the country are not working and this is mainly in the small rural areas.
AlgoaFM
Anthony Turton:
Turton:
