**1. Introduction**

Freshwater availability is one of the major problems facing the world, and approximately, one‐ third of drinking water requirement of the world is obtained from surface sources like rivers, dams, lakes, and canals [1]. These sources of water also serve as best sinks for the discharge of

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2017 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

domestic and industrial wastes [2, 3]. The biggest threat to sustainable water supply in South Africa is the contamination of available water resources through pollution [4]. Many communities in South Africa still rely on untreated or insufficiently treated water from surface resources such as rivers and lakes for their daily supply. They have no or limited access to adequate sanitation facilities and are a high risk to waterborne diseases [5]. Since 2000, there has been a dramatic increase in the episodes of waterborne diseases in South Africa [6, 7].

Surface water has been exploited for several purposes by humans. It serves as a source of potable water after treatment and as a source of domestic water without treatment particularly in rural areas in developing countries. It has been used for irrigation purposes by farmers, and fishermen get their occupation from harvesting fish in so many freshwater sources. It is used for swimming and also serves as centers for tourist attraction. Surface water, therefore, should be protected from pollution. Major point sources of freshwater pollution are raw and partially treated wastewater. The release of domestic and industrial wastewater has led to the increase in freshwater pollution and depletion of clean water resources [8]. Most quantities of wastewater generated in developing countries do not undergo any form of treatment. In few urban centers, various forms of wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) exist but most of them are producing ill‐treated effluents, which are disposed of onto freshwater courses.

In some developed countries of the world, adequate supply of potable water and improved sanitation facilities have been achieved. Strict environmental laws and monitoring for compliance prevent undue pollution to freshwater sources. Good waste management technologies and increased environmental protection awareness have contributed immensely to the success story. This has resulted in fewer cases of waterborne diseases reported compared to developing countries.

Many people in developing countries of the world still rely on untreated surface water as their basic source of domestic water supply. This is so because either there is an incessant supply of potable water or inadequate water supply systems. This problem is exacerbated in rural areas. Surface water is increasingly under undue stress due to population growth and increased industrialization. The ease of the accessibility of surface water makes them the best choice for wastewater discharge. Wastewater which comprises of several microorganisms, heavy metals, nutrients, radionuclides, pharmaceutical, and personal care products all find their way to surface water resources causing irreversible damage to the aquatic ecosystem and to humans as the aesthetic value of such water is compromised. These pollutants decrease the supply of useable water, increase the cost of purifying it, contaminate aquatic resources, and affect food supplies [9]. Pollution combined with the human demand for water affects biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the natural services of aquatic systems upon which society depends on.

Urban areas in most developing countries do have several wastewater management systems some of which are very effective and meet international standards, but many others are plagued with poor designs, maintenance problems, and expansion including poor investment in wastewater management systems. Most rural and poor communities often do not have any form of wastewater management systems. Effluents from large‐ and small‐scale industries are usually channeled to surface water courses, which often result in pollution, loss of biodiversity in the aquatic ecosystem, and possibly health risk to humans.

Environmental quality and antipollution legislations are the most widely used interventions to control and reduce environmental pollution [10, 11]. In most countries, environmental laws have been enacted by the government and enforced through its administrative structures [12]. The use of criminal sanctions has also limited pollution but the enforcement of these environmental laws remains inadequate [12, 13]. Enforcement of environmental laws in South Africa like other developing countries suffers major setbacks due to inadequate technical experts, insufficient funds, corruption, and low deterrent effects of sanctions [12, 13].
