WATER
Securing SA’ s future water resources
Water connects us all. Securing the country’ s supply requires practical solutions, collective responsibility and a shift in how to value and protect this vital resource.
By Priya Moodley, Technical Director: Water Resources, WSP in Africa
South Africa stands at a critical crossroads in its water journey. Ranked the 33rd driest country in the world, it receives just half the global average rainfall. Furthermore, Gauteng, South Africa’ s economic hub, depends on strategic water source areas for 67 % of its supply – areas now threatened by invasive species, poor land management, and pollution, according to the World Wildlife Fund( WWF). This crisis is further compounded by mounting pressures from climate variability and rapid urbanisation, as well as systemic inefficiencies, with nearly half( 47 %) of the country’ s clean, potable water is lost through leaks, bursts, faulty meters, or illegal connections.
Rising to the challenge of securing future water resources is no small feat. The Department of Water and Sanitation estimates that for the next decade, over R90 billion per year is needed to repair and upgrade the country’ s water infrastructure. But shortterm fixes won’ t be enough. We must build long-term resilience, which will require reimagining how water is valued, governed, and managed across every sector of society.
From reactivity to future preparedness South Africa’ s water sector has long operated in reactive mode, responding to droughts, floods, and pollution events as they arise. But this approach is no longer viable. Increasingly erratic rainfall and intensifying extreme weather demand a shift toward proactive, climate-resilient planning.
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