| Abstract: | This article examines some of the challenges of urban domestic water supply in South Africa. A quantitative indication of the scale of the water supply problem is provided and a number of issues are raised regarding national government water supply policies. The first is whether the government's domestic water supply infrastructure levels are appropriate to ensure levels of water consumption necessary for the protection of public health. The second is the continuing lack of clarity on expected payments for water by poor domestic consumers and methods of financing improved domestic water provision. While significant progress has been made in establishing a framework for the delivery of municipal services in general, and for the improved supply of water in particular, there are a number of issues that stand out as possible obstacles to the full realization of the goal of provision of adequate water to all. These issues relate to the minimum level of service seen as adequate; and to unresolved questions in national water financing policy. Linked to the latter issue, the willingness and ability of consumers to pay for improved services is examined as a demand-side obstacle to improved supplies. Bibliogr. |
AfricaBib 
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Leiden University catalogue
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