# The Bureau for Economic Research says South Africa’s water system is in crisis, with nearly half of all water networks in poor condition and almost 47-percent of treated water lost before reaching users. Case studies in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga show that private companies can improve efficiency, cutting water losses to as low as eight-percent, compared with a national average of over 40-percent. Researchers recommend a mix of public and private resources to maintain infrastructure and expand access for underserved communities.
Bureau for Economic Research calls for a hybrid public-private model to fix SA’s water crisis