The state of water in SA - Are we heading for a crisis?

Abstract

South Africa’s water sector faces numerous challenges, e.g. water deficits in an increasing number of water management areas; water pollution and decreasing water quality that affects not only net availability of water but also negatively affects human health; ageing water and wastewater infrastructure; a severe lack of skilled human resources; the impact of climate change on water resources; the illegal use of water; and the inappropriate use of funds by different spheres of local government. Is the state of water securIty deter IoratIng? Water is critical in sustaining life and it is crucial to economic growth and social development, as well as for environmental sustainability. In global terms, South Africa’s freshwater resources are scarce, extremely limited and disproportionately available, both in time and space, relative to demand. The average rainfall of 497 mm/year is well below the global average of 860 mm/year. South Africa is already categorised as water stressed with an annual freshwater availability of less than 1 700 mm3/person (the index for water stress).

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