ASSOCIATIONS 7 rapid urbanisation . Certainly , endemic corruption in the system is also compounding the challenge and , now well entrenched , it will take time to root out .
Rural areas in most provinces of the country have long struggled with erratic supplies or none for extended periods . More than 30 % of South African households do not have access to a reliable supply of water . A case in point would be communities in Giyani in Limpopo who have had to make do without a reliable supply of water for many years with no real relief in sight . In some provinces , the problem is more prevalent . For example , the North West has long been struggling with widespread water shortages that have also impacted urban nodes , such as Brits . Meanwhile , many areas in the Eastern Cape , including Nelson Mandela Bay , were teetering towards a day zero due to a crippling drought and inadequate contingency planning before the onset of the latest energy crisis . Day Zero is when the taps will run dry in these towns . Cape Town narrowly averted such a scenario when the Theewaterskloof Dam ran dry due to the worst recorded drought in its history . However , there are still many areas of the province that are in the throes of a severe drought . For example , Theewaterskloof Local Municipality was recently forced to implement water shedding for six weeks in Grabouw due to an increase in demand .
Sello Mokawane , vice president of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa ( IOPSA ), warns that water shedding will become even more widespread as the water and energy crises deepen . This is considering the extent of the water and energy challenges that the country is facing . It is estimated that the country needs to invest R90-billion per year in water and sanitation infrastructure over the next decade to ensure reliable water supply and wastewater treatment . This includes refurbishing and upgrading of existing infrastructure and the construction of new such systems to support population and economic growth . Johannesburg Water , alone , needs R20-billion to repair its ageing infrastructure . Pressing repairs will cost the water authority R8-billion , for which it has budgeted .
“ Water shedding has largely been localised thus far . However , at a national scale , their impacts will be far more severe than loadshedding . Bear in mind that there may not always be alternative solutions for water shedding . It is not as simple as installing a large generator at the last minute to power operations , although more businesses and homeowners are exploring ways of direct reuse / recycling and water outsourcing . However , implementing these solutions at a large scale takes time . The consequences of frequent and widespread water shedding will , therefore , be devastating , considering the critical role that water plays in the social and economic fabric of the country . Water is required to produce electricity from our many coal-fired coal power stations ; to grow food crops ; and for daily existence . We cannot do without it . It is , therefore , extremely important that we become more prudent in the way in which we use this important resource while there is still an opportunity to do so , which is narrowing at an alarming rate . Demand-side management is the quickest way to make an impact . Considering the water-energy nexus , it will also help to relieve pressure on a strained electricity grid and reduce the carbon footprints of houses and buildings ,” Mokawane says . that the country is facing , South Africa ’ s per capita water consumption is higher than the global average of 173l . But this is , in fact , not due to citizens ’ consumption . Rather it is due to water that is lost between the water treatment plants and the consumer . This is commonly referred to as “ non-revenue water ”. In South Africa non-revenue water amounts to as much as 41 %, largely due to leaks in municipal infrastructure , illegal connections and theft . This situation is arguably the single biggest immediate challenge facing South Africa ’ s water sector .
There is a complete lack of regulation and enforcement of water installations , it is not surprising then that the vast majority of plumbing installations in the country are non-compliant , as per recent research undertaken by IOPSA . Research by the Water Research Commission has also shown that 60 % of plumbing materials being sold are not compliant . A plumbing system that has been installed , maintained and repaired incorrectly is notoriously inefficient , both in terms of water and energy use .
Informed consumers will also make greater use of water efficiency systems . These include high-efficiency toilets , which only use 4.5l per flush compared to 6l per flush of older toilets . Meanwhile , highefficiency showerheads use less than 7.5l of water per minute . Highefficiency taps have a flowrate of 5.6l . This is compared to the 8.3l flowrate of inefficient taps . Interventions such as these , combined with rainwater and greywater harvesting , as well as groundwater use , helped Cape Town to avert a looming disaster .
However , IOPSA members also know how to correctly install , maintain and repair tankless / instant water heaters , as well as solar water heater and heat pumps . This is in addition to water-efficient technologies , counting greywater and rainwater harvesting systems .
They are also skilled and experienced in connecting storage tanks to main water supply lines so that they fill automatically when municipal supplies are available .
In areas where there are protracted water interruptions , IOPSA members are even becoming involved in bulk water deliveries to residences and businesses .
“ Forecasts indicate that water demand will exceed supply by 10 % by 2030 , driven by an increase in demand from the municipal , industrial and agricultural sectors . Other drivers include low water tariffs , inefficient use , inadequate cost recovery , leakages and inappropriate infrastructure choices . It is , therefore , imperative that South Africans understand the importance of conserving our water resources . In this way , we can foster a culture of using water efficiently and paying for these services ,” Mokawane concludes . PA
Use water sparingly .
He points out that officially a single South African uses 234l of water a day . This is higher than the global average . Despite the water crisis
IOPSA
April 2023 Volume 29 I Number 2 www . plumbingafrica . co . za