Farmers sound alarm over poor quality of SA water

Roelie van Reenen, supply chain executive at Beefmaster Group, expressed serious concern about the latest findings published by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) pertaining to its Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports. According to the report, nearly half of the water in South Africa is unsafe to drink.

Farmer’s Weekly published the results of the report recently, which contained a full assessment of water quality across the country.

“The irony is that clean water is a human right, but it is not a reality at present,” Van Reenen said. “Dysfunctional and non-compliant wastewater treatment works, mismanagement, under-investment and misuse of funds, as well as a lack of skills, are to blame for unsafe water. It’s time for [all] South Africans to raise their voices and demand more accountability. Whether through community initiatives, supporting water-conservation efforts, or advocating for policy changes, the public can make a difference,” added Van Reenen.

Jaco Minnaar, Agri SA chairperson, added that the deteriorating water quality was increasingly impacting on the agriculture sector. Fruit and vegetable producers, for example, were particularly sensitive to water quality and many had resorted to building private water treatment plants to prevent contamination by polluted water. Heavy metal pollution and effluent from non-functioning wastewater treatment plants posed serious threats, he said. “The alarming decline in water quality has also become evident in the grain production sector, such as the area along the Crocodile River.

“We are also extremely concerned about the effect of contaminated water on South Africa’s groundwater resources,” Van Reenen told

SUPPLIED The deterioration of South Africa’s water quality is having a negative impact on agriculture.