With a tough economic environment and competition for scarce resources, many people have moved closer to areas of economic activity in search of opportunities. As a result, municipalities are constantly finding themselves having to contend with high rate of urbanisation.

Due to meagre financial resources, these migrants have settled themselves informally in open tracts of land and established communities there. Unfortunately, these tracts of land have not been serviced yet, which means access to basics like water and sanitation is not available.

Among the quickest solutions that authorities can provide is a mobile sanitation solution in a form of mobile toilets. But this is not enough. Access to water for these communities remains an ever-present challenge.

Whatever water sources there may be nearby, it only means more pressure is being put on existing infrastructure, leading to intermittent water supply, frequent interruptions, and an inability to meet demand.

Once more, authorities are having to contend with community health risks due to this limited access to water. Desperation for water resources also makes these communities a ticking time-bomb for social-unrest.

Authorities need to adopt preventative strategies to safe-guard community health and social stability.