There are various sources of water in the Blouberg area. The majority of people however do not have access to clean water. Some sections of the Blouberg population are below RDP standards. The other concern is that the majority of people receive their water from natural sources. The other concern is that of people who receive water from unspecified sources. There are chronic water shortages in other areas like Gemarke, Old longsigne, Driekoppies, Alldays extension, Raditshaba etc.
The quality of water in areas such as Kibi, Sadu, and Swarts is not adequately good for human consumption as it is very salty.
The following table indicates water usage in the Municipality as per Stats SA but inroads made since the collections of the statistical information shows that inroads have been made to address the water backlogs. The executive summary bears testimony to this.
Households | 2001 | 1996 |
---|---|---|
Dwelling | 697 | 1970 |
Inside Yard | 11040 | 4331 |
Community Stand | 59 | 15 |
Community stand over 200m | 8691 | - |
Borehole | 3269 | 5129 |
Spring | 292 | 1654 |
Rain Tank | 53 | 376 |
Dam/Pool/Stagnant Water | 12013 | - |
River/Stream | 721 | - |
A large number of people are below RDP standards. Pit latrines are commonly used, as some people have no sanitation at all. Flush toilets are used in areas like Senwabarwana and Alldays. It should also be noted that a large number of settlements are rural areas in the form of villages. As most people still receive their water from natural sources this could lead to water- borne diseases. The following table depicts the problem quite well:
Households | 2001 | 1996 |
---|---|---|
Flush Toilet | 884 | 560 |
Flush septic tank | 884 | 560 |
Flush septic tank | 218 | - |
Chemical toilet | 875 | - |
VIP | 5062 | - |
Pit latrine | 13609 | 15205 |
None | 13183 | 11992 |
The Blouberg area has a high need for sanitation services as most households have no access to formal sanitation. Formal sanitation is found mostly in formal areas such as Senwabarwana and Alldays. It is therefore a huge task for the Municipality to ensure that the sanitation needs of the people are met so as to minimize the health hazards that are associated with such problems. However, interventions (in the form of the provision of standard toilet facilities) are being made to address the whole issue.
A large number of people still use wood for fire and some small section use candles and paraffin for light. These forms of energy are hazardous and can also lead to deforestation and soil erosion. Electricity still remains a top need for the people even though in some areas it is not utilized to its full potential. Two thirds of the Blouberg settlements are energized and it should be stressed that this has drastically changed the depiction of the statistical information below.
Households | 2001 | 1996 |
---|---|---|
Electricity | 13648 | 4837 |
Gas | 81 | 145 |
Paraffin | 6155 | 11587 |
Candles | 13812 | 11122 |
Solar | 52 | - |
Other | 191 | 0 |
Council inherited Blouberg area with huge energy backlogs. Save for Alldays, all villages where electrified by ESKOM when council took over in December 2000, making those areas ESKOM areas. The Municipality has acquired an electrification license and has made serious inroads in the provision of energy to its households. The detailed ward analysis in this document shows the progress and backlogs on energy provision.
Some people live in informal housing with a small proportion being homeless. People in the Municipal area live in traditional houses. The 2000 floods have destroyed a number of houses and this has aggravated the situation in the area. There is a dire need for low- cost housing across the entire municipality. Lack of housing is a general problem in the whole municipal area as depicted below:
Households | 2001 | 1996 |
---|---|---|
Formal | 24373 | 15334 |
Informal | 2775 | 664 |
Traditional | 6675 | 11651 |
Other | 115 | 99 |
Households | 2001 | 1996 |
---|---|---|
Municipality Weekly | 331 | 1250 |
Municipality Other | 205 | 555 |
Communal Dump | 650 | 594 |
Own Dump | 27344 | 18056 |
No Disposal | 5409 | 7063 |
Most of the people in the Municipal area are in rural areas and do not have access to formal refuse removal system. There is no plan to manage the waste generated in these areas. Many people do their own refuse removal as the refuse generated in rural areas is of insignificant proportions. The Municipality requires a Waste Management Plan especially for rural areas due to the high concentration of people with a lot of refuse generated. A proper waste management system is not in place and the landfill site at Senwabarwana does not conform to acceptable standards.
The sewerage dams at Senwabarwana are also overloaded due to the development of Senwabarwana Township, which is at an alarming rate. The fencing at the sewerage dams is not up to scratch as domestic animals sometimes get through to the dams and drink from them which poses a serious health hazard for both the animals and humans. There is lack of education in terms of the importance of refuse and waste management issues amongst the local people who perpetuate the problem.