South africa tackles water issues home brand south africa. Its not only the current drought situation in south africa that is affecting the availability of water to us. South africa is a water scarce country facing a water crisis. Fortunately, south africas largest desalination plant is a close neighbour, but it is yet to be established whether it can handle the possible demands when the water crisis hits. South africa receives an annual rainfall of 492 millimetres whereas the rest of the earth receives 985 millimetres.
Thus south africa is classified as a waterstressed country. Currently, water necessary to meet the needs of our children at christel house south africa chsa must be trucked in from other parts of the country and stored in large holding tanks. According to andre fourie, head of sustainable development at global beer brewer sabmiller, south africa is just one drought away from a major crisis. South africas water crisis is bigger than the cape by iss today 6 february 2018 sa is overexploiting its water system, and the problem is getting harder and costlier to fix. This makes south africa the worlds 30th driest country. South africa 2010 59 water water south africa can be proud of the strides achieved in the design and development sector, which enabled the country to successfully host the world cup whilst minimising the associated demand for freshwater resource. South africa is currently overexploiting its renewable water resources. These measures are the result of water levels running increasingly dry because of falling dam levels, unsustainable water use, a major population boom and 3 years of severe drought. The december period offered south africans some beautiful relief in the form of significant downpour throughout the country which has subsequently allowed for a rise in the vaal dam to approximately 53%. This is not an example of the work produced by our essay writing service. Severe water crisis in cape town caused by worst drought. Day zero draws near capetonians will have rations cut to 25l per person per day if dam levels drop below.
Including environmental impacts, this figure may rise to 1% of global gross domestic product gdp agriculture accounts for of all water withdrawals globally and for over in the. But many of the waterresource stresses caused by climate change can be prevented by adapting longterm. South africa needs a new water paradigm that embeds water sustainability and resilience in daytoday practices that, inter alia. This discussion was initiated with the support of stakeholders from the public, private, and social sectors on january 31, 2017, at the wwfs future of water workshop. The water crisis has had widespread economic and social impacts, with damage to the tourist. Cape town, south africa drastic efforts are underway in south africa to save a major, modern city from running out of water for the first time ever. South africas water crisis is bigger than the cape. We engage in constructive conversation about the cape town water crisis. Water crisis grips cape town, south africa, after drought stretching years these tree trunks were submerged when the theewaterskloof dam in villiersdorp, south africa, was full. This article examines the water crisis in africa, whether it is a myth or reality, and reasons thereof, and suggests remedial measures.
The research found that a fair level of awareness does exist regarding the water crisis in south africa, despite the fact that people are largely unaware of existing awareness campaigns. South africa faces a water crisis and could start having critical shortages as early as 2020, experts told the inaugural south. The struggle against water privatisation in south africa. Mar 22, 2012 chief among these are plans targeting water leaks about a third of south africas water dribbles leaks from the existing infrastructure into the ground. Some projections estimate that south africa already exploits about 98% of its available water supply resources. It seems that each time we switch on our tvs after a long day at the. The aim was to draw attention to a crisis of payment following the. The drought has taken its toll on the agriculture sector, widening the trade deficit due to losses in maize exports. Climate change has affected water supplies within the region. The csir warns we need to use existing resources more wisely. Africa inequality global development more south africa water crisis in cape town as day zero approaches video report play video 1. What the drought did was highlight existing vulnerabilities in south africa s water system, and properly frame the magnitude of the challenge of ensuring water security for the country. During the past two years, the tourism mecca of the nation and.
South africas high percapita usage rates are also, partly, a function of high levels of nonrevenue water i. These measures are the result of water levels running increasingly dry because of falling dam levels, unsustainable water use, a major population boom and 3. South africa faces a water crisis and could start having critical shortages as early as 2020, experts told the inaugural south african water and energy forum in johannesburg. It then reflects on whether the country is water secure and, if not, what is required to rectify the situation. The emerging water crisis in south africa steve hedden and jakkie cilliers. Nov 03, 2016 south africa is a country located at the southern tip of africa.
A water crisis in south africa christel house international. Water crisis grips cape town, south africa, after drought. The cape town water crisis in south africa was a period of severe water shortage in the western cape region, most notably affecting the city of cape town. Western cape water crisis how resilient is your organisation in the face of the current water crisis. Feb 05, 2018 south africas high percapita usage rates are also, partly, a function of high levels of nonrevenue water i. Nov 27, 2016 an acute water crisis, similar to the electricity shortage which led to load shedding, is looming in south africa. S africa hopes to solve cape town water crisis on its own. Jan 25, 2018 the cape town water crisis is starting to reach peak panic mode, the hope for a natural solution ended with the close of the main rainy season last year and it is clear that water in the dams. Water crisis in cape town as day zero approaches video. In south africa, for example, better practices such. Feb 03, 2018 africa inequality global development more south africa water crisis in cape town as day zero approaches video report play video 1.
Moscow sputnik south africa is not looking for international support to resolve critical water shortages in the droughthit province of western cape and its capital of cape town, as day zero, when the city will run out of water, approaches, sputnik ratau, the spokesman for south africas department of water and sanitation told sputnik. Cape town, south africas seat of parliament and the legislative capital, is enduring its worst drought in over a century and severe water crisis. Nature of freshwater supply in any given year, most of egypt is likely. Jul 12, 2015 south africa is fast approaching a water crisis of disastrous proportions democratic alliance leader mmusi maimane said on sunday adding that the country was the 30th driest in the world. About twice the size of texas it is home to 49 million people. A rapport investigation into the water crisis in south africa revealed that water. As more and more people migrate into cities from rural villages the. The authors 2015 understanding the water crisis reprints. He describes south africa as possibly the worlds most waterstressed country that will experience a major crisis within a decade if the situation is not brought under control. Mar 25, 2017 the south african city of cape town is facing a real crisis with only 100 days left before it runs out of water, officials say. Vogt 1 executive summary of part i western cape province in south africa is going through a severe drought, affecting in particular the highly populated urban area of cape town and. This country has been stricken by affects from the long standing apartheid to the devastation that diseases such as hivaids and tb have caused. Dec 11, 2016 south africas water crisis is just another tragic consequence of state capture how to avoid being scammed at atms next article how motsoeneng sold the sabc for a massive bonus report previous.
Unless realistic goals and solutions are used to manage the water supply, we will become increasingly reliant on obtaining water from external sources. Scenarios for the future of water in south africa 2017 page 7 south africa is approaching physical water scarcity by 2025, and its socioeconomic development has been directly hampered by the recent drought. Africa has tried to fight water crisis through initiatives such as vision 2025. This dissertation is dedicated to the loving memory of my late father mr. South africa is a country located at the southern tip of africa. Africa, development and natural capital, development and moral capital, water and development, water and sanitation, water and poverty alleviation, neoliberalism. South africas water crisis is bigger than the cape south. An acute water crisis, similar to the electricity shortage which led to load shedding, is looming in south africa. Finding solutions to south africas water crisis south.
As a south african, i can relate to and sympathise with anyone who says they are a bit more than concerned with the current and looming water situation in south africa. Water crisis looms, but theres hope in the pipeline the. It is a fact that most countries in africa are ranked amongst the 50 least developed economies in the world. Cape town south africa may be the first city to run out of clean drinking water. One of the pillars of africa water vision 2025 is to address trends towards endemic poverty and pervasive underdevelopment in the new millennium wright et al eds 2005. Five jaw dropping facts about south africas water crisis. Distribution of mean annual rainfall in south africa.
As more and more people migrate into cities from rural villages the pressure for the city to meet the water demands is ever increasing. Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the. We live in an increasingly complex world where immense opportunity and debilitating challenges run side by side. According to the newspaper, a water research commission wrc study had indicated that south africa lost 1. South africa s water crisis is bigger than the cape by iss today 6 february 2018 sa is overexploiting its water system, and the problem is getting harder and costlier to fix. Scientists agree that south africa is experiencing a water crisis, although the issue is more quality and quantity, they point out. How evidence is informing solutions to south africas early.
May 08, 2018 the secondlargest city in south africa. South africas dirty water crisis african business magazine. In 1955, the main liberation movement in south africa, the. Jul 31, 2015 south africa is a water scarce country facing a water crisis. There is also uneven distribution of rainfall across south africa. With water month drawing to a close, the government has admitted that south africa could face a huge problem. Analysis the middle east and north africa mena already the most water stressed region in the world, faces a worsening crisis in terms of its access to water in the decades to come. Our facebook group the group allows you to post or upload comments, information, links, photos, videos, or other materials collectively content. The fika patso dam feeds over 75% of qwaqwa, which is a city in the free state, south africa. Cape town, south africa, faces real crisis with only 100. Water security in south africa page 5 development planning division working paper series no. Water security in south africa building africas prosperity.
Severe water crisis in cape town caused by worst drought in. Jan 07, 2016 the fika patso dam feeds over 75% of qwaqwa, which is a city in the free state, south africa. We live in an increasingly complex world where immense opportunity and. How resilient is your organisation in a time of a water crisis in the western cape. A trained scientist specialising in water resource management as a. Sugarcane and maize production in south africas agricultural regions has also been threatened by water shortages. The contribution of ngos to africas development and economic growth has moved from a largely marginal role in the early, postindependence days, centred on providing peripheral services, to a central role founded on campaigns for good governance. Cape town, south africa s seat of parliament and the legislative capital, is enduring its worst drought in over a century and severe water crisis. This forced officials to impose strict level 4 water restrictions, effective as of thursday, june 1, 2017. Jan 29, 2018 a map showing the location of cape town, south africa. A growing water crisis in south africa the globalist. Cape town, south africa experienced an especially severe drought in 2017 2018. S africa hopes to solve cape town water crisis on its own as.
State of water in south africa a researchers perspective. There are many reasons that attribute to this growing water crisis in south africa. Water crisis looms, but theres hope in the pipeline. Professor anthony turton says hes been trying to get south africans to take the water crisis in the country seriously for years. The key is to prepare a water scarcity management strategy.
Jan 29, 2018 cape town and south africa urgently need a multilateral approach to the water crisis, while the country requires the same for other pending social challenges. So, if the nile region is at low risk for water stress, then why is there a frantic discussion about a water crisis in these countries. South africa water shortage, cape town drought water. I declare that water use and sustainable development in south africa is my own work and that all the sources that i have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. The cape town water crisis is starting to reach peak panic mode, the hope for a natural solution ended with the close of the main rainy season last. Cape town, was set to turn off its water taps on day zero. The south african city of cape town is facing a real crisis with only 100 days left before it runs out of water, officials say. Cabinet has raised concern that south africa has not yet escaped the drought situation and. Pdf improving awareness of the water crisis in south africa. We know the current water crisis poses a big human security challenge for south africa. They serve as conduits for disseminating aid western aid, especially in periods of national crisis. South africa is fast approaching a water crisis of disastrous proportions democratic alliance leader mmusi maimane said on sunday adding that the country was the 30th driest in the world. Cape town and south africa urgently need a multilateral approach to the water crisis, while the country requires the same for other pending social challenges.