They operate dams, bulk water supply infrastructure, some retail infrastructure and some wastewater systems.
Some also provide technical assistance to municipalities.
[2] The Water Boards in South Africa (see list below), together indirectly served more than 24 million people in 90 municipalities in 2005, or about half the population of South Africa.
[3] Rand Water has a more than 100-year history[4] in the Gauteng area, the industrial heartland of South Africa.
It buys water from DWA, treats it and sells it to large industries, mines and municipalities.