Water metering: the first step towards more efficient use?

The newly published regulation by the Department of Water and Sanitation directing all commercial irrigators to install water-measuring devices may seem onerous. However, according to James Brand, a senior associate at ENSafrica for natural resources and environment, it may represent a first step towards the crucial goal of improving water management in the sector.

- James Brand

In his ‘From the Desk of the President’ letter of 7 October 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote: “Unless we take drastic measures to conserve water sources and promote efficient use, water insecurity will become the biggest developmental and economic challenge facing this country. Our current energy challenges will seem small by comparison.”

We are all aware how great South Africa’s energy challenges are, so these words put the water situation into perspective. The need for regulated water efficiency measures cannot be overstated.

According to the 2019 Master Plan of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), if water-use demand in the country continues to grow at current levels, by 2030 demand could exceed supply (from available surface water and groundwater) by about 17%. This is likely to bring water-efficiency measures sharply into focus, particularly in the agriculture sector, the country’s largest water user at 61% of total consumption.

INCREASING EFFICIENCY

Agricultural water use is often highly inefficient. Only a fraction of the water applied is used for plant growth; large volumes are lost through drainage and evaporation. However, efficiency gains are often possible through suitable crop selection, soil enhancement measures, effective irrigation scheduling, effective irrigation techniques, and using alternative sources of water for irrigation.