I'm not sure if the media is aware (or anyone else for that matter) of this farcical situation we currently have in SA but currently if you are building a residential subdivision out north, where there's a massive demand for new housing, of which both the state & federal governments are fully aware of, you can't put the sewer in to remove your wees and poos to Bolivar treatment works because SAWater hasn't upgraded the infrastructure!
What we have to do is build on-site pumping stations, which then pump your waste to huge holding tanks which will be located adjacent to the respective subdivisions.
I guess this is ok, we've been doing it for years here & there.
BUT! SAWater have refused to truck the waste from these tanks & deposit at Bolivar, until the infrastructure is upgraded (whenever that will be).
They have made developers sign an agreement which states that the developers have to foot the bill for the dumping, not SAWater.
If the developers don't agree to sign, then the blackmail starts, SAWater will then refuse to give clearance for the subdivision to formally completed & subsequent titles to be created, so that people can build there houses.
All this will cost a lot of money, we've worked it out that a subdivision of approximately houses will cost roughly $4,000 PER DAY for the tanks to be emptied & the waste dumped.
Therefore developers are at a stand still & are very reluctant to go ahead & finish the developments, therefore no housing, a bigger rental crisis & the potential for a housing crash.
What a huge mess.