Ekurhuleni achieves national clean sweep in water and sanitation awards

The City of Ekurhuleni has achieved significant national recognition in the 2026 Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports released by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

The city secured a clean sweep in the top-performing wastewater systems category, achieving first, second and third place rankings nationally. This performance highlights operational excellence across multiple facilities.

Ekurhuleni also received recognition across all three regulatory programmes, which assess municipal performance in drinking water quality, wastewater management, and water conservation and demand management.

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The city achieved six Green Drop certifications at gold level, reflecting compliance with the highest standards in wastewater treatment and environmental management.

The certified plants include Benoni, Carl Grundlingh, Daveyton, Herbert Bickley, JP Marais and Welgedacht wastewater treatment works.

In addition, the JP Marais Wastewater System was ranked the top-performing system for 2025, while Welgedacht and Herbert Bickley secured second and third place, respectively.

Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Metro Trading Utilities, Clr Jean Sthato, welcomed the achievement, describing it as the result of sustained investment and focused efforts to improve water and sanitation services.

“These reports provide a transparent and evidence-based assessment of how municipalities are meeting their constitutional obligations to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable water services.

“We are encouraged by the recognition, which reflects the progress made in strengthening water quality management, improving wastewater treatment performance, and advancing water conservation measures,” said Sthato.

She emphasised that the results are largely driven by the city’s Aqua Leap Programme, launched in 2016 to address water demand management and infrastructure challenges.

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The programme has focused on upgrading and constructing reservoirs, implementing pressure management systems, reducing water losses, and improving overall system efficiency.

These interventions have strengthened the city’s water resilience by increasing storage capacity, stabilising supply in high-demand areas, and proactively managing water losses.

Sthato noted that the outcomes of the Blue Drop and No Drop programmes affirm the city’s commitment to safeguarding drinking water quality while promoting responsible water usage.

“We welcome these results as validation of the work being done to modernise our water and sanitation systems. They reflect the dedication of our technical teams and the impact of programmes such as Aqua Leap, which are reshaping how water is managed in the city.

“While we are encouraged, we remain focused on addressing remaining challenges, improving operational performance, and ensuring that all residents have access to safe, reliable and sustainable water services,” she said.

Sthato also extended congratulations to city manager Kagiso Lerutla, business unit head for Water and Sanitation Thokozane Maseko, and ERWAT managing director Kennedy Chihota for their contributions.

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She added that the city’s approach aligns with the broader Fixing the Frontline programme, which prioritises the restoration of core service delivery functions, strengthening infrastructure, and building internal capacity within municipal operations.

The City of Ekurhuleni reaffirmed its commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and the delivery of quality basic services in line with national standards and community expectations.