The urgent need for solutions to Durban's non-revenue water problem

Non-revenue water continues to be a thorn in the side of the eThekwini Municipality, with rural areas proving to be the Achilles heel for the municipality. 

The eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) stated that commercial losses as per quarter 3 totalled 238,172 Kilolitres per day. The quarter 3 non-revenue water report was presented to the eThekwini Executive Committee meeting (Exco) on Tuesday.

The EWS also stated that 41,253 meters were not billed, with domestic households accounting for 39,281 and non-domestic households accounting for 1,972. It also reported that 85,000 meters were regarded as zero consumption meters, where each month the reading remained the same, with the rural areas proving to be problematic. 

Some of the reasons for zero consumption meters were attributed to the intermittent water supply that caused particles to hinder the meter's operations. The EWS also found that meters were over 15 years old and needed replacement.

The EWS was looking towards the Water Turnaround Strategy to give them the financial muscle to implement their sales revenue generation model strategy, i.e., stabilise, sustain, and enhance.

It, once again, stated that it needed to have a stock of meters, fittings, and pipes, which is estimated at R45 million. 

Ednick Msweli, head of EWS,  stated that they held a two-day non-revenue water workshop this week to discuss issues, and also noted that the water supply was stable in all areas. 

Councillor Zandile Myeni, the eThekwini deputy mayor, expressed concern about unfunded projects.

“The issue of non-revenue raises concerns. If we have a strategy with no funding, we are not moving forward, and we need to find a solution fast,” she said.  

As part of the debt reduction strategy, the eThekwini Trading Services reported that it reviews disconnections for arrears, investigations, and tampering weekly. 

During May 2025, the municipal disconnections committee recorded the performance on water disconnections totalling 3,852 and valued at R238 million. 

The municipality also noted that there were challenges in reading water and electricity meters due to staff intimidation in Inanda, KwaMashu, KwaDabeka, Luganda, Marrianhill, Savanna Park, Folweni, Verulam, and Bester. 

The municipality also experienced problems where properties were inaccessible and locked, resulting in 6,000 unread meters.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za