HSF briefs

Asbestos Cement Waterpipes: A Health Hazard?

Studies have shown that asbestos poses health risks to humans beyond the inhalation of fibres. Evidence suggests that ingestion of asbestos fibres from contaminated drinking water supplied though aged asbestos cement pipes also poses health hazards. This review explores how continued use of deteriorating asbestos cement pipes in water reticulation networks poses risks to human health.

Water Scarcity In South Africa: A Result Of Physical Or Economic Factors?

South Africa is often described as a water-scarce country. This is based principally on physical descriptors like climatic conditions and escalating water demands. This brief investigates whether observed water scarcity in South Africa can be attributed to physical or economic factors, or both.

Water Quality, Reliability and Payment for Services: Household Perspectives II - Water Supply Interruptions and Payment for Water

In this two-part series, Charles Simkins sets out what can be learnt about household perceptions of water services, water quality and interruptions from the 2018 General Household Survey. The second brief considers this information and the extent of household payment for water.

Water Quality, Reliability and Payment for Services: Household Perspectives I - Context and Water Quality

In this two-part series, Charles Simkins sets out what can be learnt about household perceptions of water services, water quality and interruptions from the 2018 General Household Survey. The first brief considers information on the sources of drinking water and its quality.

Waiting on water - Drought management and its protracted timelines: An explainer

This brief explores the procedures prescribed for declaring drought conditions a disaster, and attempts to understand the oftentimes protracted timelines associated with drought relief efforts.

Water infrastructure backlog and access to water infrastructure delivered

Since 1994, South Africa has achieved major reductions in water infrastructure backlog with consequent improvement in access to water infrastructure delivery. However, gross rural-urban inequalities still persist. This brief provides an assessment of the state of the national water infrastructure backlog and access to water infrastructure as viewed within global development principles and aspirations.

Emerging Contaminants - Crisis Or Manageable Risk?

At present the global scientific community is grappling with the question of whether emerging contaminants in water pose any substantial health risks to humans. While the serious empirical exploration is under way, misplaced media hype about them risks creating undue public panic. This brief explores current debates, risks and solutions for emerging contaminants in water bodies.

Moral Laws IV: Abortion

Abortion, not unlike sex work, is an age old subject which has been criminalised and decriminalised over the centuries. Like both sex work and drugs, abortion is a moral issue which debate has, in recent years (relatively speaking), taken a legal undertone by introducing the question of when life actually begins, with implications for the view that termination of pregnancy is equivalent to murder.