Key Takeaways:
• Clean sweep of top-performing wastewater systems nationally: The City of Ekurhuleni achieved a standout national performance, securing 1st, 2nd and 3rd place rankings for top-performing wastewater systems, demonstrating operational excellence across multiple facilities.
• National recognition across all three regulatory programmes: Ekurhuleni received multiple accolades in the Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop programmes, confirming strong performance in drinking water quality, wastewater management, and water conservation.
• Gold standard performance in wastewater treatment: The City secured six Green Drop certifications at gold level, reflecting compliance with the highest standards in wastewater treatment and environmental management.
• Aqua Leap Programme driving measurable result: The City’s long-term Aqua Leap Programme (since 2016) has been a key enabler of success, strengthening water security through infrastructure upgrades, reservoir expansion, pressure management, and reduction of water losses.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Metro Trading Utilities, Cllr Jean Sthato, has welcomed the recognition received by the City of Ekurhuleni following the release of the 2026 Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop reports by the Department of Water and Sanitation under the leadership of Minister Pemmy Majodina.
The Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop certification programmes remain critical regulatory instruments that assess municipal performance in drinking water quality, wastewater management, as well as water conservation and demand management. These reports provide a transparent and evidence-based assessment of how municipalities are meeting their constitutional obligations to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable water services.
The City of Ekurhuleni notes with appreciation the outcomes of the reports, particularly the recognition of progress made in strengthening water quality management systems, improving wastewater treatment performance, and advancing water conservation measures.
The City of Ekurhuleni achieved the following accolades during the Department of Water and Sanitation Awards:
• 6x National Green Drop Certifications (For the Benoni, Carl Grundlingh, Daveyton, Herbert Bickley, JP Marias and Welgedacht Wastewater Treatment Plants)
• Best Performing Systems (1st Top Performing System 2025 for JP Marais Wastewater System, 2nd Top Performing System for Welgedacht Wastewater System and 3rd Top Performing System for Herbert Bickley Wastewater System)
MMC Sthato emphasised that this achievement is not accidental, but the result of deliberate investment and sustained institutional focus on water security and infrastructure development.
Central to this progress is the City’s Aqua Leap Programme, launched in 2016 as a long-term intervention to address water demand management and infrastructure constraints. The programme has focused on the upgrading and construction of reservoirs, pressure management systems, reduction of non-revenue water, and improving system efficiencies across the metro.
Through Aqua Leap, the City has been able to strengthen its water resilience by increasing storage capacity, stabilising supply in high-demand areas, and proactively managing water losses. These interventions have positioned Ekurhuleni as a municipality that is actively responding to both current service delivery pressures and future water security risks.
MMC Sthato noted that the outcomes of the Blue Drop and No Drop programmes, in particular, affirm the City’s commitment to safeguarding drinking water quality while driving responsible water usage.
“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.
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. We extend our congratulations to the City Manager, Mr Kagiso Lerutla, the Business Unit Head: Water and Sanitation, Mr Thokozane Maseko and Managing Director of ERWAT, Mr Kennedy Chihota on the sterling work.”
MMC Sthato further reaffirmed that the City’s approach is aligned with the broader Fixing the Frontline programme, which prioritises the restoration of core service delivery functions, strengthening of infrastructure, and building internal capacity within municipal operations.
The City of Ekurhuleni remains committed to continuous improvement, accountability, and the delivery of quality basic services to its residents, in line with national regulatory standards and the expectations of the communities it serves.