SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER CRISIS
SHOWS NO SIGN OF ABATING,
ESPECIALLY IN THE WESTERN
CAPE, WHERE DAM LEVELS ARE
AT WORRYINGLY LOW LEVELS,
PROMPTING THE CITY OF CAPE
TOWN TO DECLARE A STATE OF
EMERGENCY. done this have provided on-site backup security, health and safety being foremost
of water, or have implemented systems to amongst these.
Yet, for the residential estate community, the long-term and sustainable strategic plans
implementation of on-site storage, in-house
irrigation systems or on-site boreholes has
meant that many estate managers feel that
these water worries simply do not apply to
them. How wrong could they be?
The problem is at the doorstep of everyone,
and that includes the residential estate
community. A lack of appreciation of
the extent and acuteness of the looming
problems of water and the environment
means that many estates simply do not
realise how badly this can impact their
guarantee the quality of the water backup,
or introduced alternative sources of water,
but they are few in number. Doing this
has allowed these estates to implement
a range of options for the improvement
and sustainability of their water supply and
the environment.
The first step in taking action is to forge
regarding water and the environment, and
to allocate a budget for both short- and
long-term projects needed to mitigate these
risks in the future. As a general rule, a
As seen by the destruction caused in
Knysna and the fire in Braamfontein, there
is also a fire risk associated with a possible
deterioration of water pressure, and it is
therefore essential that the board of trustees
(or equivalent) of an estate consider this
and other aspects in their risk planning.
Being water wise is not just about using
less of it. The team at Gurumanzi suggest
incorporating an integrated approach to
water and the environment, and propose
that an estate forges programmes and
short-term budget plan is for anything up solutions that will reduce all related risks
to three years, while long-term plans are for on the estate.
anything up to ten years and beyond. Some
water issues, however, demand immediate
attention.
Dr. Shane Sparg, an leading environmentalist,
believes that, in many cases, an estate may
consider turning all water and environmental
The estate needs solutions that are
designed for the purpose and that address
such things as strategic storage options,
alternative clean and safe water sources,
re-use and recycling, and to allow nature
do more of the work.
estate’s sustainability and future value. issues into a service that might be dealt with in a similar fashion to security and According to Prof. Anthony Turton of
According to specialists at Gurumanzi, an other outsourced services. Contracts such Gurumanzi, the future for water and the
innovative, strategic water risk consultancy, as these could address all the related environment is an unusual business situation,
with specific interest in the residential estate risks, and converting capital expenses into and a fundamental and urgent rethink in
industry, as the Assurance of Supply (AOS) operational expenses might be an attractive approach is needed.
for water declines, the risk to consumers option for some estates.
and businesses increases dramatically. The
Assurance of Supply relating to water is
normally the responsibility of the municipality
and consists of six elements: the quality of
the water, the quantity supplied, at a time
(24 hours), at a place (the individual house
or estate), at an acceptable pressure, and
at an acceptable price. All these elements
may be impacted severely in the near future.
Gurumanzi believes many estates are
taking a huge risk by not improving their
governance of the estate and taking these
A good place to start is by asking what
Dr Anthony Turton
contingency plans are in place when, and
if, water disruptions or quality deteriorations
occur. It is essential that estate directors
and their management constantly evaluate
water and the environment as long-term
and interdependent risks to the value of the
estate property and its brand. Many estates
see this as an opportunity to add value
to their brand by offering water security
and environmental features as part of the
package residents are buying into.
relevant water and environmental concerns Water and environmental risks impact on
into the boardroom. The few that have virtually all other risks on an estate too, with
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