"Water, Water, Everywhere, But Not A Drop to Drink"

Water is a precious resource and must be used prudently. 

We all have a right to a basic water supply. No one must be denied this right even if he or she cannot afford to pay for it. Our goal at USC Metering (Pty) Ltd, as a socially responsible company, is to facilitate cost effective water management, to support increasing demand and to meet the needs of the end user efficiently. Whilst our products are innovative, and encompass the most modern AMI and AMR capabilities, they were developed out of a drive to manage and conserve water. As we charge further into the 21st Century, water is displacing oil as the greatest resource challenge. According to the United Nations, almost half of the world’s population faces a scarcity of water.

Corporate social responsibility plays a pivotal role in addressing the global water crisis, helping solve problems by sourcing and implementing technologies, such as USC’s various Water Management Devices.

Water use has grown at more than twice the rate of the population for the past century. Although there is not yet a global water shortage, about 2.8 billion people, representing more than 40 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of water scarcity. More than 1.2 billion of them live under conditions of physical water scarcity.

Another 1.6 billion people live in areas of economic water scarcity, where human, institutional and financial capital limit access to water, even though water in nature is available locally to meet human demands. These conditions are prevalent in much of Asia and Africa. Symptoms include lack of, or underdeveloped water infrastructure, high vulnerability to short and long term drought, and difficult access to reliable water supplies, especially for rural people. Our Water Management Devices have been designed to provide water to individual households, reducing water wastage and enabling previously disadvantaged communities to have local access to water.

Since 1990, 1.6 billion people have gained access to safe water. At this rate, the world is expected to meet the drinking water target, which would require that 89 per cent of the population of developing regions use improved sources of drinking water by 2015. Still, nearly one billion people today lack safe sources of drinking water.

Progress has been most pronounced in Eastern Asia, where over 400 million people have gained access to improved drinking water sources and coverage has grown by 20 per cent since 1990. Less progress has taken place in Africa, which now accounts for more than a third of those without improved drinking water supplies and requires a jumpstart to meet the target.

In 2006, an improved drinking water source was available to 96 per cent of the urban population in developing regions, but only 78 per cent of rural inhabitants. Some 742 million rural people lived without access to improved drinking water, compared to 137 million urban residents. The same disparity applies to piped drinking water, with only 30 per cent of piped drinking water connections in rural households.

Simple, low-cost interventions – such as our Water Management Device, can be utilized to correct these specific deficiencies and vastly contribute towards improving the lives of many communities.

From a South African View Point

In 1994, South Africa's newly elected government inherited huge services backlogs with respect to access to water supply. About 15 million people were without safe water supply, since then, the country has made satisfactory progress with regard to improving access to water supply, an enormous task to fulfill. Part of that task is to ensure that everyone has access to basic services.

Free Basic Water is a National Government policy but it can only be implemented by local government.

South Africa is one of the few countries in the world that enshrines the basic right to sufficient water in its Constitution, stating that "Everyone has the right to have access to (...) sufficient food and water". However, much remains to be done to fulfill that right.[3]

In his State of the Union address to Parliament in May 2004 President Thabo Mbeki promised "all households will have running water within five years". Constitutionally local government is responsible for the delivery of basic services. However, National Government and the South African Local Government Association are providing support to local government to ensure that they have the capacity to implement this policy. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry also provide direct assistance to local authorities to ensure that even more South Africans receive a basic amount of free water per household per month.

In terms of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997, provision was made for those people who cannot afford to pay for a basic water supply. This Free Basic Water policy, which clearly targets the poor, is built on that legal provision. The initial announcement by President Thabo Mbeki in 2000 was a means to realize the aim of that provision. It was evident that, even though such a provision existed, many poor people still did not have access to a basic supply of clean water because they could not afford to pay.

The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Mr Ronnie Kasrils, announced that implementation should start from 1 July 2001. A year since implementation began, 27 million South Africans were able to enjoy a basic amount of free and safe water per household per month. This figure has certainly risen, as more local authorities begin implementing the policy and utilising USC’s Water Management Devices. Our products have been designed with the end user in mind, and as more infrastructure is provided by the government, the implementation of our cost effective Water Management Devices will become more prominent.

• Q: What is the free basic water policy?
  A: It is a policy that our government has introduced to ensure that all households have access to a basic supply of water.
• Q: How much is free?
  A: It is recommended that +/- 300 litres of clean water is provided free per household per month. However, your local authority will determine how much water it can provide for free per household every month. The Water Management Device will be programmed to provide the quantity of water over a 24 hour period, as specified by the appropriate municipality.
• Q: Who will receive free basic water? Is it everyone or just the poor?
  A: The policy is aimed at the poor households. However, each local authority will decide whether to provide free basic water to all or only to the poor.
• Q: How will free basic water benefit me?
  A: The provision of a free basic supply of water is aimed at improving the quality of life of those South Africans who cannot afford to pay for water and at contributing to the government’s fight to eradicate poverty.
• Q: When will I receive free basic water?
  A: The financial position of your local authority, as well as the capacity to manage water usage, will determine the specific date for implementation and installation of a USC Water Management Device.
• Q: Who will provide me with free basic water?
  A: It is the responsibility of your local authority and you should speak to them about the implementation process in your area.
• Q: What happens if I use more than 300 litres of water per day?
  A: This will be decided by your local authority. If a Water Management Device is installed, each household will have access to a predetermined quantity of water every 24 hours. If that quantity is exceeded, the meter will automatically halt water supply until the meter resets itself the following morning (completion of 24 hours).
• Q: How do I know when I have used my 300 litres?
  A: If you do not have a water meter, your local authority will install a Water Management Device that will regulate the amount of water you consume. This will ensure that your supply will be limited to the basic amount or that it can be measured.