By Johnathan Paoli
The City of Ekurhuleni has secured a clean sweep of top national wastewater performance rankings, with MMC for Metro Trading Utilities Jean Sthato hailing the achievement as proof of sustained investment in water infrastructure and management.
Sthato hailed the results as the outcome of deliberate planning and long-term interventions.
“We welcome the outcomes of the Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports as a validation of the work we are doing to fix and modernise our water and sanitation systems. These results reflect the dedication of our technical teams and the impact of programmes such as Aqua Leap, which are fundamentally reshaping how we manage water in the City,” she said.
She added that the city’s performance across all three regulatory programmes demonstrates progress in improving water quality management, wastewater treatment and conservation measures.
The recognition follows the release of the 2026 Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports by the Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina.
The reports assess municipal performance in drinking water quality, wastewater treatment and water conservation, and are regarded as key national benchmarks for compliance and service delivery.
Ekurhuleni emerged as a standout performer, claiming first, second and third place nationally for top-performing wastewater systems.
The city also secured six Green Drop certifications at gold level for wastewater treatment plants in Benoni, Carl Grundlingh, Daveyton, Herbert Bickley, JP Marais and Welgedacht, reflecting compliance with the highest standards of environmental and operational management.
Among the top accolades, the JP Marais wastewater system was ranked the best performing in the country, followed by Welgedacht in second place and Herbert Bickley in third.
Central to the city’s success is its Aqua Leap Programme, launched in 2016 to address infrastructure backlogs, water losses and growing demand pressures.
The programme has focused on expanding reservoir capacity, upgrading aging infrastructure, implementing pressure management systems and reducing non-revenue water.
Through these interventions, the municipality has improved supply stability in high-demand areas while strengthening resilience against future water security risks.
Sthato said the results also affirm the city’s broader commitment to ensuring reliable access to basic services.
“While we are encouraged by this recognition, we remain focused on addressing remaining challenges, improving operational performance, and ensuring that every resident of Ekurhuleni has access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water services,” she said.
She also commended senior officials, including City Manager Kagiso Lerutla, Water and Sanitation HOD Thokozane Maseko and ERWAT Managing Director Kennedy Chihota, for their role in achieving the results.
The city said its approach aligns with its “Fixing the Frontline” programme, which prioritises restoring core service delivery functions and strengthening institutional capacity.
However, the positive national recognition comes amid ongoing service delivery challenges on the ground.
A widespread power outage linked to cable theft in Primrose East has left several wards without electricity and disrupted water supply, highlighting the fragility of infrastructure systems.
The outage has affected wards 36, 35, 92, 93 and 42, with residents in some areas left without water as pump stations and reservoirs failed.
The city has requested the deployment of water tanks to affected communities, with residents advised to make alternative arrangements while repairs continue.
The juxtaposition of national accolades and localised service disruptions underscores the dual reality facing municipalities: measurable progress in system performance, alongside persistent vulnerabilities driven by infrastructure damage, crime and operational pressures.
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