As South Africa prepares for a potentially severe El Niño summer, the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) is warning that water security will depend not only on how much rain falls, but also on how effectively the country captures, transports and protects every available litre of water.
SAPPMA is a voluntary, self-regulating, non-profit association that promotes quality and compliance throughout the plastic pipe value chain. Representing the majority of Southern Africa’s leading manufacturers and other industry stakeholders, the association works to ensure that plastic piping systems used in critical infrastructure are manufactured, specified and installed according to the relevant national and international standards.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that a strong El Niño event has developed and could intensify further during the 2026/27 summer. Although its precise regional effects remain uncertain, below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures are considered the most likely outcome across much of South Africa. These conditions could increase evaporation, place further pressure on water resources and intensify demand from households, agriculture and industry.
According to Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA, this outlook makes the condition of South Africa’s water infrastructure an urgent national concern.
“Drought preparedness cannot begin only when dams are already low. It must start with ensuring that the water we have reaches farms, businesses and communities without being lost through leaking, deteriorating or incorrectly installed pipelines,” Venter says.
South Africa’s latest No Drop findings place the national level of non-revenue water at approximately 47.3%. This includes potable water physically lost through leaks, as well as apparent or commercial losses caused by inaccurate metering, billing failures and unauthorised consumption.
“At a time when parts of the country could face hotter and drier conditions, losing treated, potable water on this scale is indefensible. South Africa may not be able to control El Niño, but it can control the quality of the infrastructure used to manage its water,” Venter stresses.
Plastic piping systems manufactured from PVC and HDPE can play an important role in reducing water losses and strengthening resilience. These pipes are resistant to corrosion and chemical attack, relatively lightweight and suitable for a wide range of municipal, agricultural, industrial and domestic applications. When correctly designed, manufactured, joined and installed, they can provide leak-resistant networks with long service lives and comparatively low maintenance requirements.
For agriculture, reliable plastic pipe systems are essential for irrigation, borehole delivery, stock watering, water harvesting and transferring water between dams and storage facilities. Efficient pipelines also support precision irrigation technologies that deliver water more directly to crops, helping farmers reduce avoidable losses when every litre may be critical.
Their value extends far beyond farms. Municipalities rely on plastic pipelines for bulk water conveyance, distribution networks, household connections, sanitation and wastewater systems. Mines, factories, hospitals, schools and residential developments similarly depend on piping systems that can perform consistently under demanding operating conditions.
However, Venter cautions that the choice of material alone cannot guarantee reliable performance.
“A plastic pipe is an engineered product. Its dimensions, wall thickness, pressure rating, raw materials and long-term performance must comply with the relevant standards. Poor-quality pipes, incorrect specifications, bad jointing and substandard installation can cause premature failures that waste both water and public money,” he explains.
PVC and HDPE pipes specified for critical infrastructure should bear the SAPPMA mark as assurance that they were manufactured by a SAPPMA member and are subject to the association’s rigorous quality requirements. SAPPMA members must hold valid product certification from an accredited certification body and undergo regular, unannounced factory audits and independent product testing.
“The SAPPMA mark provides engineers, municipalities, contractors and customers with an important additional safeguard against substandard products. It confirms that the manufacturer has committed to ongoing compliance, quality control and the association’s Code of Conduct,” Venter says.
Pressure pipes used for drinking-water applications must also comply with the appropriate standards governing dimensions, pressure performance, material quality and suitability for contact with potable water. Specifying certified PVC and HDPE pipes bearing the SAPPMA mark is therefore not an administrative formality; it is an essential safeguard for public health, infrastructure reliability and long-term value.
“The cheapest pipe at the time of purchase can become the most expensive pipe if it fails prematurely. Infrastructure planning must consider whole-life performance rather than upfront cost alone,” Venter adds.
SAPPMA is calling on municipalities, water authorities, engineers, farmers and contractors to inspect vulnerable networks, prioritise leak repairs and insist on independently certified, standards-compliant PVC and HDPE pipes bearing the SAPPMA mark for all new installations and rehabilitation projects.
“El Niño should be treated as a warning to accelerate work that is already overdue. Protecting South Africa’s limited water resources requires infrastructure that is fit for purpose and built to last. Quality plastic pipes are not the entire solution, but they are indispensable to securing water for our farms, economy and communities,” Venter concludes.
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Author: Keaoleboha Sefako from Aim Marketing & Communications Consultants on behalf of SAPPMA.
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