National Water Month, an expansion of the World Water Day on 22 March, seeks to raise awareness on the importance of protecting and conserving water resources. Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival. Quality water is vital for reducing the burden of disease and improving the health, welfare and productivity of people.
Since the launch of the Anti-Pollution Forum last year in October, Deputy Minister Seitlholo has been on a drive to visit major water courses in the country to assess the level of pollution and quality of the water.
Deputy Minister Seitlholo assessed Blesbokspruit Wetland, which is significant in its bird and ecological diversity. The wetland has, however, been degraded by agricultural runoff, industrial effluent, mining waste, and sewerage discharge from malfunctioning waste water treatments plants in the area. This has led to poor water quality and high nutrient levels in the wetland.
It is also the same with Jukskei River running through Alexandra. The river receives a large inflow from the Northern Waste Water Treatment Plants in northern Johannesburg but due to poor infrastructure maintenance by municipalities, untreated raw waste flow into the river resulting in the river to become heavily polluted.
