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Published: 05.14.2014

Eyewitness News: Water lost due to leaks – Molewa

Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa on Thursday
said she was determined to ensure South Africa’s water resources were secured
for the future by investing in infrastructure.

Eyewitness News spoke to the minister about the country’s water resources ahead
of her launching a water saving project called “No Drop”.
She was interacting with private and government roleplayers at the World
Economic Forum on Africa to discuss water security for the continent.
Molewa expressed concern too much water was lost due to leaks.
“If you continuously get leakages of about 30 percent, there are provinces where
you have about 50 percent, if that continues like that and the trend becomes
worse then we’ll be in serious trouble.”

In March, the department revealed that billions of rands were needed to plug the
country’s ageing and leaking water supply systems.
South Africa is a dry country with limited water resources.
It has an average annual rainfall of about 464mm, compared to a world average of
about 860mm.

According to experts, South Africa could face water shortages by 2020.

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