eThekwini and Mangaung Top South Africa's Water Loss Rankings with Over 40% Leakage

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:51:00 +0200

According to data obtained from South Africa's Department of Water and Sanitation, eThekwini (Durban) and Mangaung (Bloemfontein) have the highest rates of water loss among major cities in the country. More than 40% of purified tap water supplied to these metros is wasted due to physical leaks from pipe bursts, leaking valves, and overflowing reservoirs. In eThekwini alone, over 171 million cubic meters of clean water are lost annually, a volume nearly equivalent to the combined supply of Gqeberha and East London or the entire Northern Cape province. The city’s non-revenue water (NRW) stands at 54%, with physical losses accounting for 40.4% of the total input volume. Mangaung recorded a slightly higher physical leak rate of 41.2%, though its overall volume of loss is smaller. Nelson Mandela Bay follows with nearly 35% physical losses, while Johannesburg loses about a quarter of its supply to leaks. Cape Town performs best among major metros with 20.4% leakage. Nationally, NRW has risen