Water supply is one of the most important functions of local government. It is a constitutional responsibility of every local government to ensure water supply to its citizens (RSA, 1996).
Ethekwini Municipality has performed relatively well in terms of ensuring adequate water supply to its population (see Table 6 pg 67). Umngeni Water is the bulk portable water
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supplier for Ethekwini Municipality. The municipality then pipes the water to its community.
The water is supplied through full pressure, semi-pressure roof tanks, standpipes and ground- tanks. The more affluent segment of the community has a financial ability to access the full pressure system. The lower income bracket is afforded access to a semi-pressure system.
However, the semi-pressure system has an upgradability element in it. Low-income communities are not expected to use the semi-pressure system perpetually but are given an option to upgrade as their socio-economic fortunes change.
According to Dickens and Rawhani (2004) Ethekwini is the first municipality to provide free basic water to its citizens. The free basic water programme is aimed at ensuring access to a free basic amount of 200 litres of water per person per day. This programme has since been put into water supply policy of South Africa. Ethekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) have been very proactive and innovative in terms of water supply approaches to communities. The particularly important interventions in informal settlements are through standpipes, ground tanks, ablution blocks and roof tanks. Like any programme, these interventions face critical challenges the biggest of which are acceptability, by-passing, abuse and illegal connections as observed in the case study areas.
Table 6: Water Service Backlog
Water Service Authority
Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality 31 July 2008
Water Service Authority Summary View Service level view
Total Households Served Service
Level No
Infrastructure
Below RDP at RDP Above RDP Total
Total 10,717 45,943 132,031 737,124 925,815
Served 0 45,943 132,030 737,124 915,097
% 0.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 98.84%
Service level view Total Poor Households Served Service
Level No
Infrastructure
Below RDP at RDP Above RDP Total
Total 2,992 13,069 41,635 242,084 299,780
Served 0 13,069 41,635 242,084 296,788
% 0.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 99.00%
Source: (DWAF, 2008)
Table 6 on page 67 shows the number of households with access to water supply. The numbers indicate that Ethekwini has done well in terms of meeting the water needs of its
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poorer households. The table shows different levels of water services backlog in Ethekwini.
The number of households served above the RDP standards is much higher than the number of households served at both below and at RDP levels. The table shows significant improvement in the number of served households.
5. 1.3 Sanitation delivery
The constitution (1996) of South Africa places an obligation on [local] government to ensure that all South Africans have access to adequate sanitation services (RSA, 1996). Like all municipalities, Ethekwini is mandated to provide basic services in all settlements within their area of jurisdiction in accordance with the rights described in the Constitution as well as in the various Acts that guide service delivery at local level. After the local government elections in 2000 Ethekwini inherited rural areas which were largely un-serviced. These rural communities depended largely on traditional unimproved pit latrines. The difficulty with these areas is that they fall outside bulk service network such as sewer lines and water mains.
Conventional sanitation was almost impossible to implement because of low densities, topography and distance from main bulk infrastructure (Ethekwini Housing Unit, 2005).
There was a great need for innovation and creativity. The Municipality’s response was an introduction of ventilated improved latrines (VIPs) and Urine Diversion (UDs). The degree of success varies from one place to another. Recent studies reveal that with proper educational campaigns the success rate of these technologies could be higher.
Informal settlements present a huge sanitation challenge for the municipality. Lack of proper sanitation in informal settlements has implications on the environment and health of the communities around the city. Charlton (2006) argues that even though informal settlements have been part of the South African urban landscape for decades, they received little focused attention in national policy processes until almost 10 years after the introduction of the post- apartheid government’s housing programme. Service delivery problems had been left to accumulate over the years. Interestingly, the sanitation challenge is directly proportional to informal settlements. The more the informal settlements increase in numbers the larger the sanitation problems become. In recognition of the gravity of the sanitation challenge, the municipality has developed an entry criterion using innovative measures which include, but are not limited to, installation of temporary shared blocks, ablution blocks, and communal toilets. These measures can only be implemented in those informal settlements that fall
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outside the 5 year housing plan (Ethekwini Housing Unit; 2005). Amawoti and Barcelona are within the housing five year plan and thus do not qualify for interventions mentioned above.
To date, the municipality has provided 38 ablution bocks (see example Figure 3)
Communal Ablution Blocks provide the community with drinking water service, toilets, washing basins and showers.
Figure 3: Permanent Ablution Block (Left), Tempory Ablution Block (Right)
Source: (Pollution Research Group, 2008)
Table 7: Number of Households without Access to Basic Water and Sanitation Services
WSA Name: Ethekwini Municipality
Total Below RDP Sanitation Population (DWAF)
Total Below RDP Sanitation Population (LG)
673,269 805,901
Source: (DWAF, 2007)
Water and sanitation delivery in Ethekwini is done under the framework of Water Services Development Plans, as discussed in Section 2.4.1.4. The 2003 Water Services Development Plan for Ethekwini was prepared after careful consideration of the following:
A spatial configuration of the Municipal area in the form of a “T” with the areas closer to the two major national freeways tending to be well provided with water services infrastructure.
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Areas on the periphery being generally poorly resourced with diverse topography (steep escarpments to relatively flat coastal plains) contributing to the challenge of providing a cost effective water services infrastructure.
A population of slightly in excess of 3 million with a predicted static growth rate, averaged over the period to 2020.
A backlog in the provision of access to basic water supply to 72 775 households and access to basic sanitation to 168 484 households.
An established national strategy of free basic water but an evolving strategy of free basic sanitation.
A Strategic Framework for Water Services – adopted by National Cabinet in September 2003 – which provides policy for water services and sets a framework for its implementation over the next 10 years, specifically setting targets for all households to have access to basic water supply by 2008 and access to basic sanitation by 2010.
A City IDP and Spatial Development Framework which provides strategy and policy direction for the WSDP(EWS, 2003)
5.2.1.1 Background and overview
Barcelona 2 informal settlement falls under Ward 75 and is located in the Southern region of Ethekwini Municipality. There are 375 households living in this area. It is located in a very hazardous area between the power station and the N2 Northern Freeway (see Map 5).
Barcelona 2 is part of Lamontville Township. Built in 1934, Lamontville is Durban's oldest African township. Intended for members of the aspiring African middle class, it was also home to thousands of workers in the nearby south Durban industrial areas (durban.gov.za).
The history of Barcelona 2 informal settlement is deeply embedded in the history of Lamontville. It cannot be separated by any means. Lamontville Township has a very rich political history. A number of politicians were born and bred in Lamontville. Its citizens are very politically conscious owing to its political past between the African National Congress and Inkatha Freedom Party during the 1980s (www.durban.gov.za). According to its residents, Barcelona 2 also has a very close relationship with S.J. Smith Hostel located across the N2 Freeway. Most of the residents of Barcelona 2 have relatives in the hostel or they have previously lived there themselves. Although S.J Smith Hostel does not fall under Lamontville planning unit, it has a significant influence on Barcelona 2.
Map 5 (page 74) shows the Lamontville planning unit boundaries under which Barcelona 2 falls. These boundaries have a significant influence on the character of Barcelona 2. Some of the areas within Lamontville planning unit serve as points of entry into Barcelona 2.
Barcelona 2 residents are highly dependent on these areas for social amenities and other basic services. In terms of service networks, Barcelona 2 is well located as far as bulk infrastructure is concerned, particularly water and sanitation infrastructural services (see map 3 (pg72). It is located with the sewer network and water main network of Ethekwini Municipality. Infrastructure network of Lamontville and surrounding areas offer access to opportunity for Barcelona 2 in terms of infrastructural services.
Map 3 (pg72) shows that Barcelona 2 is well located in as far as bulk water and sanitation infrastructure is concerned. The availability of water and sanitation infrastructure indicates a possibility of cost effective basic water and sanitation delivery within the context of upgrading.
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