Is SA doing enough to avert a water crisis?

As the Eastern Cape faces the prospect of taps running dry, South Africa needs to urgently and proactively address a looming water crisis and finalise the establishment of a National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, writes Raymond Obermeyer, managing director of engineering company SEW-Eurodrive, which provides drive technology and drive automation services and solutions.

- Raymond Obermeyer

As South Africa battles the third wave of COVID-19 infections and recovers from the destruction and looting that took place in parts of the country in July, it’s easy to forget another looming catastrophe: a water crisis with potentially devastating consequences.

In the Eastern Cape, dam levels are perilously low after a multi-year drought, with dams servicing Nelson Mandela Bay at record lows. The province’s main water supplier is the Koega Dam, which is currently at less than 4% of capacity, and of that only 1,5% is usable water. The second-largest dam in the province is the Impofu Dam, which is at 16,64% capacity. Severe water restrictions have been imposed in the province to delay a potential Day Zero from occurring.

While the Eastern Cape’s water shortages are primarily the result of a six-year-long drought, the situation has been exacerbated by poor management of water infrastructure.

A well-maintained and sustainable water and sanitation system is essential for any functioning economy. Water scarcity has a profoundly negative influence, impacting economic productivity, livelihoods, safety and security.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT

Managing our water resources sustainably and responsibly is even more important given the fact that South Africa, classified as the 30th driest country in the world, is a water-scarce country. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) estimates that South Africa will have insufficient water supplies by 2025 unless we manage our water resources more efficiently.