Impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the South African water sector

Abstract

An analysis of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the South African water sector is presented. The study identified and focused on three main themes:  water revenue collection, water service delivery, and water sector operations. The Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted these aspects and exacerbated pre-existing problems in the water provision landscape of South Africa. Business continuity management was identified as a top priority for water sector institutions in South Africa to ensure the continued provision of critical water services. In-depth case study research is recommended to establish how water sector institutions in South Africa dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic and how this can inform their disaster preparedness and management going forward.