South Africa’s water crisis: Expert warns of looming Day Zero and offers advice on how citizens can help

• South Africa is currently experiencing a water crisis, with many regions experiencing water restrictions.
• Outdated infrastructure, poor fund management, lack of maintenance and climate change are all factors.
• Interwaste’s Kate Stubb detailed how serious the situation was and how citizens can help fix the situation

Water is the source of life, but many South Africans do not have access to it.

Aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance of fresh water resources and systems, economic mismanagement and climate change have all impacted the country’s supply.

But how bad is the situation and how close is South Africa to Day Zero?

A looming major water crisis

Speaking exclusively to Brief newsKate Stubbs, Marketing Director at Interwaste, spoke about the threat facing the country.

“South Africa has been facing a water crisis for several years now and many believe the country will face a major water crisis in the next decade,” she said.

“In fact, the National Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan states that by 2030, water demand will exceed available supply with a planned guarantee level of 1.6 to 2.7 billion cubic meters,” she added.

Stubbs added that by 2024, seven of the country’s 13 major water systems are projected to be in deficit.

She stressed that while 2040 is still a long way off, some parts of South Africa, such as the Eastern Cape, have proven that there is no doubt that Day Zero could arrive sooner than expected.

More regions are experiencing water restrictions

While most rural areas and small towns are accustomed to either no or very little water, the same is now happening in cities.

Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town have all faced some form of water restrictions in recent weeks, highlighting how dire the situation is becoming.

Many restrictions have been put in place during the maintenance of water works across the country.

Outdated infrastructure and poor management of funds have exacerbated the problem, increasing the need for maintenance.

Protecting water infrastructure speaks to the department

A clear sign of a problem is when the department has to urge People to protect water infrastructure.

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo recently called on residents to protect water infrastructure in their areas to help the government ensure water security.

He made the call after handing over the R130-million Alice water treatment project and the University of Fort Hare’s wastewater treatment plant expansion projects.

A Call for Change

Stubbs said now is the time for change as the situation has worsened.

“Clean water is not something we take for granted, and if we want to see real change and conservation, we need to collectively start changing the way we think about water use. Instead, we need to move from an active state of using water to an active state of conserving it.”

How South Africans can help

According to Stubbs, there are ways ordinary South Africans can play their part.

* Start using reusable bottles and avoid carrying single-use plastic bottles. school or work. Single-use plastic requires a lot of water to produce, so simply drinking from the tap or refilling bottles when needed really helps.

* We can remind others to turn off the tap when washing their hands or to brush their teeth with the tap closed.

* Be aware of water and immediately report any leaks you may see at work, in a residential area or at school. Using water can also mean using buckets of water when cleaning, rather than just running water under the tap or using a hose to clean.

* Create your own compost pile at home, office or schools. Compost can also be used to improve the grounds of a school/office or home. Did you know that while compost increases soil fertility, it also reduces evaporation, reducing the need for frequent watering?

*Do not pollute the water. Recycle your products at home and in the office.

* Do not water the garden between 10:00 and 16:00 during the day as the sun is too hot and causes water to evaporate.

*Where you can choose water-saving products to use at home, such as washing machines. Or, if possible, install raina water tank at home or office that can collect thousands of liters of rain per year and can be used for toilets, laundry and gardening.

*Even just washing your car on your lawn helps because that water goes back into the garden to be reused.

Source: Brief news