Is it working?
Actions met
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides update on the performance of wastewater management systems at municipal level.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Is it working?
Actions met
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides update on the performance of wastewater management systems at municipal level.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Is it working?
Actions met
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides update on the performance of wastewater management systems at municipal level.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Is it working?
Actions met
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides update on the performance of wastewater management systems at municipal level.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Is it working?
Actions met
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides update on the performance of wastewater management systems at municipal level.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides update on the performance of wastewater management systems at municipal level.The reports have been published.
View DetailsIs it working?
Actions met but the Blue Drop Report and Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports are intended to be released regularly as part of water quality and wastewater management regulatory framework. The next Green Drop report is expected to be released in December 2025; the Blue Drop report in December 2026.
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect. These reports are supposed to be released regularly.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Assessment of water quality informs future actions by the DWS to address issues identified.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides an update on the performance of wastewater management systems at the municipal level. The latest reports were published in December 2023, marking the continuation of the Blue, Green, and No Drop certification programmes, which were initially introduced in 2008, suspended in 2014, and reintroduced in 2021.
View DetailsIs it working?
The reports are available but the Blue Drop Report and Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports are intended to be released regularly as part of water quality and wastewater management regulatory framework. The next Green Drop report is anticipated to be released at the end of 2025, and the Blue Drop report in December 2026.
The 2023 Blue Drop Report, for instance, which reveals concerning trends, assessed 958 drinking water systems across 144 water services authorities. Only 3% (26 systems) achieved Blue Drop certification, while 52% (277) failed or barely passed quality tests. The 2023 Green Drop Progress Assessment Report confirms that 64% of wastewater treatment works fall into high or critical risk categories.
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect. These reports are supposed to be released regularly.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Assessment of water quality informs future actions by the DWS to address issues identified.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides an update on the performance of wastewater management systems at the municipal level. The latest reports were published in December 2023, marking the continuation of the Blue, Green, and No Drop certification programmes, which were initially introduced in 2008, suspended in 2014, and reintroduced in 2021.
View DetailsIs it working?
The reports are available but the Blue Drop Report and Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports are intended to be released regularly as part of water quality and wastewater management regulatory framework.
The 2023 Blue Drop Report, for instance, which reveals concerning trends, assessed 958 drinking water systems across 144 water services authorities. Only 3% (26 systems) achieved Blue Drop certification, while 52% (277) failed or barely passed quality tests. The 2023 Green Drop Progress Assessment Report confirms that 64% of wastewater treatment works fall into high or critical risk categories.
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect. These reports are supposed to be released regularly. The updated Green Drop Progress Assessment Report, which was expected to be published in December 2025 or by the end of the 2025/26 financial year, remains unreleased. As with the Blue Drop reports, Green Drop reports should be published annually to track municipal wastewater treatment performance and drive accountability. The updated Blue Drop report was expected to be released in December 2026.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Assessment of water quality informs future actions by the DWS to address issues identified.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides an update on the performance of wastewater management systems at the municipal level. The latest reports were published in December 2023, marking the continuation of the Blue, Green, and No Drop certification programmes, which were initially introduced in 2008, suspended in 2014, and reintroduced in 2021.
View DetailsIs it working?
The reports are available but the Blue Drop Report and Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports are intended to be released regularly as part of water quality and wastewater management regulatory framework.
The 2023 Blue Drop Report, for instance, which reveals concerning trends, assessed 958 drinking water systems across 144 water services authorities. Only 3% (26 systems) achieved Blue Drop certification, while 52% (277) failed or barely passed quality tests. The 2023 Green Drop Progress Assessment Report confirms that 64% of wastewater treatment works fall into high or critical risk categories.
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report in 2023.
Are there plans?
In effect. These reports are supposed to be released regularly. The updated Green Drop Progress Assessment Report, which was expected to be published in December 2025 or by the end of the 2025/26 financial year, remains unreleased. As with the Blue Drop reports, Green Drop reports should be published annually to track municipal wastewater treatment performance and drive accountability. The updated Blue Drop report was expected to be released in December 2026.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Assessment of water quality informs future actions by the DWS to address issues identified.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Publish reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems. Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality. The Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides an update on the performance of wastewater management systems at the municipal level. The latest reports were published in March 2026, marking the continuation of the Blue, Green, and No Drop certification programmes, which were initially introduced in 2008, suspended in 2014, and reintroduced in 2021 and 2023. The next progress reports are expected in 2027.
No progress updates were reported in the July 2026-September 2026 quarter
Is it working?
The latest reports are available but the Blue Drop Report and Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports are intended to be released regularly as part of water quality and wastewater management regulatory framework.
The 2025 Green Drop Report, released in March 2026, audited 848 municipal wastewater treatment systems across 144 water services authorities (WSAs) for 2023/24. It found that 47% (396 systems) were in a critical state, up from 39% in 2022, and that only 14 systems achieved Green Drop certification, down from 22. Drinking water quality has held steady, but at a poor level. The 2025 Blue Drop Progress Assessment found risk levels broadly unchanged since then, with the share of critical-risk systems falling slightly from 9.9% to 7.9%.
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the latest Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports in 2026.
Are there plans?
In effect. These reports are supposed to be released regularly. The Blue Drop reports andGreen Drop reports should be published annually to track municipal wastewater treatment performance and drive accountability. The updated reports were released in March 2026. The next ones are expected in 2027.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Assessment of water quality informs future actions by the DWS to address issues identified.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Summary
Regular reports on the status of drinking water and wastewater systems are required. The Blue Drop Report provides an assessment of drinking water quality and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report provides an update on the performance of wastewater management systems at the municipal level. The latest reports were published in March 2026, marking the continuation of the Blue, Green, and No Drop certification programmes, which were initially introduced in 2008, suspended in 2014, and reintroduced in 2021 and 2023. The next progress reports are expected in 2027. No progress updates were reported in the July-September 2026 quarter.
In October, responding to a parliamentary question, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina estimated that repairing and upgrading failing water and sanitation infrastructure will cost about R400bn in the 107 worst-performing water services authorities (municipalities). These are the municipalities, out of 144, whose systems were rated “critical” or “poor” in the department’s latest drop reports .
Is it working?
The latest reports are available but the Blue Drop Report and Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports are intended to be released regularly as part of water quality and wastewater management regulatory framework.
The 2025 Green Drop Report, released in March 2026, audited 848 municipal wastewater treatment systems across 144 water services authorities (WSAs) for 2023/24. It found that 47% (396 systems) were in a critical state, up from 39% in 2022, and that only 14 systems achieved Green Drop certification, down from 22. Drinking water quality has held steady, but at a poor level. The 2025 Blue Drop Progress Assessment found risk levels broadly unchanged since then, with the share of critical-risk systems falling slightly from 9.9% to 7.9%.
Actions
The Department of Water and Sanitation released the latest Blue Drop Report and the Green Drop Progress Assessment Reports in 2026.
Are there plans?
In effect. These reports are supposed to be released regularly. The Blue Drop reports and Green Drop reports should be published annually to track municipal wastewater treatment performance and drive accountability. The updated reports were released in March 2026. The next ones are expected in 2027.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the assessment of water quality and water provision systems.
Goals
Assessment of water quality informs future actions by the DWS to address issues identified.
References
Departments / Govt Institutions
Is it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Is it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Is it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Is it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Is it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Is it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Is it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Summary
No or little evidence of action. HALTED: We stopped tracking this reform at end-June 2025 and merged it into OV2 wider water reforms programme.
View DetailsIs it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Summary
No or little evidence of action. HALTED: We stopped tracking this reform at end-June 2025 and merged it into OV2 wider water reforms programme.
View DetailsIs it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Summary
No or little evidence of action. HALTED: We stopped tracking this reform at end-June 2025 and merged it into OV2 wider water reforms programme.
View DetailsIs it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.
Summary
No or little evidence of action. HALTED: We stopped tracking this reform at end-June 2025 and merged it into OV2 wider water reforms programme.
View DetailsIs it working?
No action yet
Actions
No clear evidence of actions taken.
Are there plans?
National Treasury's Cities Support Programme to design an intervention strategy for the improvement of water service delivery by local municipalities.
Is it on the agenda?
Part of the plans to improve water distribution systems and quality of water but no action taken as yet.
Goals
Intervention to address institutional inefficiencies in municipal water distribution.