At least 22.2 million people got access to piped water between 1996 and 2013. This works out to an average of 1.3 million per year, or 109 000 people every month. This is according to the latest South Africa Survey published by the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR).

The Survey is the annual yearbook on all social, economic, and political aspects of South Africa that the IRR has been publishing since 1946. Access to piped water includes inside a house, inside a yard, or from a tap shared by the community.

Overall, there were 47.5 million people with access to piped water in 2013.

This is the highest number of people with access to any basic service offered by the State. Access to electricity for lighting followed closely at 47 million people with connections. IRR analyst Kerwin Lebone said that it was great news that so many South Africans had access to basic essential services.

“The bad news is that there is evidence of neglect of the maintenance of water infrastructure. Water shortages could lead to widespread food shortage for livestock, among other challenges; while water pollution could lead to an unprecedented health epidemic from water-borne diseases,” Lebone added.

-TDN

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