Peter Shepherd
Mining and industry are currently concentrating on minimising the use of potable water, as well
as identifying ways to reduce seepage — and potential pollution — from their operations.
A good example of positive outcomes
from a water forum, he says, is the
development of the eMalahleni Water
Treatment Works in the Mpumalanga
province. This facility treats water
from various mines in the area for the
betterment of the catchment. South
Africa also needs to implement plans to
distribute water better, he adds.
In terms of where South Africa is
falling short in addressing the challenges
related to its current water crisis,
Shepherd says he needs to emphasise
the question of collaboration, as
mentioned before.
“This is a vital element of water
management where we could be doing
more. By pooling financial resources within
a catchment area, a number of stakeholders
could actually save money by, for example,
jointly developing treatment facilities that
serve everyone,” he says.
“We should also remember that not
all applications need water of a potable
standard. By working together in water
forums, different players can ensure
the water quality they need — usually
at a lower cost than setting up their
own facilities. Also, by getting experts
working together in these forums, many
good ideas are generated that can
add value to our water management
practice.”
While these are some of the
opportunities that exist for businesses
to take advantage of, Shepherd points
out that for individual households there
is growing pressure to limit water
consumption through rising water tariffs
and even fines. “The main opportunities
for households to conserve water is
through cutting the amount of water used
on their gardens, as this is generally
the lion’s share of a domestic water
bill. Water-wise garden redesigns are,
therefore, becoming popular, including
more indigenous and hardier plants that
are less thirsty,” he says. u
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