Getting clean water from your tap should not feel like winning a lottery, yet that is exactly what it feels like for millions of South Africans.
Ranked among the 30 driest countries globally, South Africa battles crumbling pipes, unpredictable rainfall, and communities where demand keeps climbing faster than infrastructure can catch up. Still, some municipalities have figured it out.
They are keeping taps running, water clean, and residents reasonably confident that tomorrow will not bring another dry spell.
This ranking pulls from the Department of Water and Sanitation’s 2023 Blue Drop Report and the 2024 Governance Performance Index.
What matters here is not just whether water arrives but whether it meets safety standards, reaches homes without leaking away underground, and gets managed by people who actually know what they are doing.
Blue Drop certification goes to systems hitting 95 percent compliance or higher. With forecasts warning of a 17 percent water shortfall nationwide by 2030, these ten municipalities are worth paying attention to.
1. Overstrand Local Municipality (Western Cape)
Overstrand runs along the Western Cape coast from Betty’s Bay down to Gansbaai, and somehow it scored 99.99 percent on the Blue Drop assessment.
That is not a typo. All six of its water supply systems earned certification in 2023, which does not happen by accident. The municipality keeps losses under 15 percent through constant plant upgrades and careful tracking of every pipe and valve.
This year, they started offering incentives for rainwater harvesting in coastal areas where summer tourists can strain the system. Residents here barely remember the last time their taps ran dry, which says something when most of the country cannot make that claim.
2. City of Cape Town (Western Cape)
Cape Town nearly ran out of water in 2018. Everyone remembers Day Zero countdowns and frantic bucket showers. The city turned that crisis into a wake-up call.
Today, it serves 4.7 million people with a 98.5 percent compliance rate and multiple Blue Drop-certified systems. The New Water Programme now reprocesses wastewater and runs desalination plants, so dams only supply about 60 percent of the city’s water instead of nearly everything.
Groundwater recharge projects cut non-revenue water—basically leaks and theft—by 20 percent since 2020. Public campaigns push daily usage below 173 liters per person, which is the global average. Tourism depends on reliable water, and Cape Town finally has it.
3. City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (Gauteng)
Ekurhuleni covers Kempton Park, Springs, and other industrial zones that cannot afford water interruptions.
Supplied by Rand Water, its systems hit 98.2 percent quality compliance and earned Blue Drop certification. What sets Ekurhuleni apart is pressure management that cut leaks by 25 percent over four years.
Smart meters now cover 80 percent of homes, which tightens billing and frees up revenue for maintenance.
Annual infrastructure audits catch problems before they become disasters. Manufacturing plants, aviation facilities, and neighborhoods all get what they need without shortages, which is trickier than it sounds in Gauteng’s high-demand environment.
4. eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (KwaZulu-Natal)
Durban’s home municipality, eThekwini, keeps water loss under 20 percent while the national average sits at 40 percent. That alone explains its No Drop leader status.
The uMsunduzi supply system holds Blue Drop certification with 97.8 percent microbiological safety, meaning contamination risks stay low even with heavy port traffic and dense neighborhoods.
The R9.5 billion Mandlakazi Bulk Water Scheme launching this year will push reliable supply into areas that have gone without.
Youth training programs in maintenance create jobs while building accountability. Interruption rates hover around 3 percent, which keeps businesses operating and households stable.
5. iLembe District Municipality (KwaZulu-Natal)
Ballito and KwaDukuza fall under iLembe District, where the Dolphin Coast Ballito system scored 99.5 percent and earned Blue Drop certification. Managed by uMngeni-uThukela Water, this district loses just 12 percent to leaks through valve controls and regular patrols.
Treated stormwater reuse expanded supply by 15 percent in 2025, helping farms and homes alike. Seasonal tourism swells the population here, but collaboration with private operators like Siza Water keeps quality consistent. The district shows how rural and urban areas can share resources without constant conflict.
6. City of Johannesburg (Gauteng)
Johannesburg’s Greater Johannesburg system gets its water from Rand Water and scores 97.1 percent overall with Blue Drop certification. Serving roughly 11 million people is no small task, especially when Gauteng municipalities share bulk supply challenges.
The city spent R1.2 billion between 2024 and 2025 on reservoir expansions like the Vlakfontein facility, stabilizing flows across neighborhoods. Real-time analytics flag problems before residents notice, keeping interruptions under 5 percent.
Johannesburg proves that even massive metros can distribute water fairly when they invest properly and coordinate with neighbors.
7. Midvaal Local Municipality (Gauteng)
Midvaal centers around Meyerton and might not grab headlines, but its certified Meyerton system scored 98.7 percent on Blue Drop metrics. What stands out here is workforce competency. About 95 percent of operators hold proper qualifications, which is double the national rate.
Solar-powered pumps installed by 2025 dropped energy costs by 30 percent, indirectly making water more affordable. Losses stay at 18 percent, which beats many larger cities. Midvaal demonstrates that smaller municipalities with tight management can outperform sprawling metros if they focus on fundamentals.
8. Msunduzi Local Municipality (KwaZulu-Natal)
Pietermaritzburg sits in flood-prone territory, so Msunduzi’s 97.4 percent compliance through its uMsunduzi system matters even more. Strong process controls prevent contamination when storms hit. Upgrades to the uMgungundlovu scheme finished in 2025 include climate-resilient designs meant to provide a ten-year supply buffer.
Community monitoring forums give residents a voice, which builds trust and encourages conservation. Daily water use here averages 190 liters per person, slightly above the global benchmark but reasonable given local conditions.
9. Swartland Local Municipality (Western Cape)
Swartland took first place overall in the 2024 Governance Performance Index, which covers more than just water but signals competent leadership.
Located in wheat-farming country, the municipality balances agricultural irrigation with urban needs while keeping Blue Drop scores at 96.8 percent. Losses sit at 14 percent, and borehole expansions plus demand management pushed access rates to 99 percent in 2025.
Youth employment programs for leak detection cut costs while training the next generation. Rural areas often get overlooked, but Swartland proves they can compete with cities.
10. Drakenstein Local Municipality (Western Cape)
Drakenstein wraps around Paarl and Wellington, wine country where water fuels both agriculture and tourism. Its Buffelsrivier plant drives a 96.5 percent Blue Drop score, with infrastructure upgrades that respect heritage buildings while improving performance.
Greywater recycling pilots now serve 20 percent of households, easing pressure on freshwater sources. The municipality tied for first place in certain Blue Drop categories, which reflects serious attention to detail. Drakenstein balances economic growth with environmental limits better than most.
Conclusion
These municipalities share certain habits. They spend money on infrastructure before pipes burst. They hire and train qualified staff instead of hoping for the best. They involve communities instead of treating residents like passive customers. Nationally, the Department of Water and Sanitation allocated R28.3 billion for 2023-2024, but municipal debt to water boards hit R22 billion. Money matters less than how it gets used.
Public-private partnerships and revived No Drop audits could help struggling areas catch up. Water is not just a service. It determines whether businesses open, whether families stay healthy, and whether regions grow or shrink. The ten municipalities ranked here prove that a reliable water supply is achievable in South Africa, even with droughts, budget constraints, and climate uncertainty. The question is whether others will follow their lead before shortages become crises.