The challenges facing sustainable and adaptive groundwater management in South Africa

Abstract

Long-term population growth and economic development are placing ever-increasing pressure on South Africa’s freshwater supply. On the basis of the current climate change predictions, which often entail uncertain consequences for aquifer sys tems and the associated groundwater goods and services, it is expected that the stress on water will increase even further. Currently, South Africa’s groundwater governance regime does not provide the capacity to assure effective and sustainable resource regulation and allocation. To date, the management of groundwater is hampered by a variety of uncertainties, such as global climate change and socio-economic growth, as well as ineffective governance structures affecting resource use, regulation, protection and the implementation of alternative strategies needed to achieve sustainable management. This paper presents the results of a qualitative assessment of interviews conducted with experts in South Africa.

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