A shortage of fresh water will crimp South Africa’s economic growth if government fails to decrease demand and increase supply of this essential commodity, World Wildlife Fund-South Africa (WWF-SA) warned on Friday
The conservation organisation said if current usage rates continued, water demand would exceed supply by 2025.
”We must ensure that in our heady pursuit of the goal of 6% annual economic growth, we do not forget … [this is] underpinned by the availability of basic natural resources such as water,” WWF-SA aquatic unit manager Deon Nel told a media briefing in Cape Town.
Healthy water resources underpinned all life, and not least the sustainable development of South Africa.
”It is predicted that South Africa’s water demand will exceed its supply by 2025. Further to this, climate-change models predict that the entire country will become drier, especially the western part.
”The prospects for sustainable development in industry and agriculture would be hardest hit, and the viability of our freshwater ecosystems would also be damaged, with knock-on impacts on water quality and livelihoods.
”This is a grim scenario, but there is really only one solution. In short, we must decrease demand or increase supply, and preferably do both,” he said.
The responsibility to decrease water demand lay across all spheres of governance.
”National economic development policies need to recognise that we live in a water-stressed country, and plan accordingly by not developing ‘thirsty’ industries.
”Regionally, municipalities need to avoid drafting extravagant integrated development plans without any thought of where the water is going to come from.
”At a local level, consumers must be educated on how they can save water. This is especially applicable in high-density urban areas like Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town. Instilling an ABC of water-saving among consumers is crucial,” Nel said.
The WWF-SA briefing comes three days ahead of World Environment Day on June 5. — Sapa