Free Basic Water; Implementation Strategy, 2007

The major objective of this Strategy is to ensure that poor households are given a basic supply of water free of charge with the basic amount being pegged at 6000 liters of safe water per household every month. Due to the fact that water and sanitation are inextricably linked, the Strategy considers an integration of a free basic water policy and a free sanitation policy at the local level. The legal framework of the Strategy is the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (act No. 108 of 1996), the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act No. 32 of 2000) and the Water Services Act (Act No. 108 of 1997). The strategy seeks to improve and maintain access to free basic water supply to poor households through; gaining access- extending services to the unserved; maintaining access- establishing sound operating arrangements to ensure that services are properly managed and water services infrastructure asset management; and targeting the poor through subsidy allocation. With respect to financing free basic water, the strategy identified that financial constraints would make it difficult for municipalities to provide subsidized services, thus it addresses issues relating to reducing costs, ensuring sufficient resources are available and targeting the subsidy of poor households.