By Roelof Bezuidenhout
In line with predictions that climate change will bring more frequent and intense storms, South Africa recently experienced sporadic flooding in some areas – and, of course, severe droughts in others. But these floods have not brought us any closer to solving the country’s deepening – and still largely ignored – water crisis.
The predicted west-to-east “wiper effect” of global warming is already taking hold, and it is only a matter of time before different sectors start competing more fiercely for water – much of which is currently being wasted.
There is an Afrikaans folk song with the line, “Die water kom van ver af,” or “The water comes from far away.” In real life, along the way, too much goes wrong: Water is polluted with chemicals and waste; it leaks from old, poorly maintained pipes; and what’s left is often taken for granted. Too many of us don’t think of water beyond the fact that it comes from a tap.
We continue to underestimate the scale of river and dam pollution. Water-wise gardening remains the exception, not the norm, and few households or buildings have made meaningful efforts to retrofit plumbing or electrical systems with water- and energy-saving devices.
Missed opportunities
Since suspending our cloud seeding programme years ago, we are no longer doing research in that field. We are not yet recycling or reusing enough water; and rainwater harvesting – including artificial groundwater recharge – is not yet being widely implemented across the country. More large reservoirs could probably have been built when it was still affordable, despite resistance from anti-dam activists. But we can still store much more water underground, where it does not evaporate – unlike in surface dams, which are now drying up around the world, including in parts of China.
Even if we were somehow able to desalinate seawater at scale, or undertake improbable feats like towing icebergs from Antarctica or piping water from Central Africa, we would still need to use our existing freshwater sources far more sparingly. The idea that we can simply drill boreholes to tap into vast underground lakes is a myth. In fact, even desert countries like Libya and Saudi Arabia have significantly more groundwater than we do.
Even simple water-saving techniques can make a big difference. In Israel, rainwater harvesting – by diverting runoff from small catchment areas of about 100 hectares to intensively cultivated plots of just 1 hectare – has boosted sorghum yields by up to 5 tonnes per hectare. This method is labour-intensive, making it especially suitable for emerging farmers. More advanced options, such as treating and reusing wastewater for irrigation, offer further opportunities to supplement water supply.
But it’s not fair to place all the responsibility on agriculture. Local authorities also have a major role to play in conserving water. International experience shows that city residents rarely change their habits unless penalties are introduced. Households are far more likely to reduce water use when overconsumption leads to hefty fines. Likewise, leaks are often left unattended until there are consequences. Water losses due to neglect should no longer be tolerated.
We need a wake-up call
South Africans need to understand just how limited and precious our freshwater resources are – and where the water actually comes from.
Our average evaporation rate is four times higher than our annual rainfall, and globally we are classified as a water-scarce country. Yet too many people – farmers, industrialists, officials and the general public alike – still fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Water is wasted, rivers are polluted, and demand continues to grow, even as the health risks rise quietly in the background.
We must also rethink how we generate electricity. South Africa needs to tap into its vast potential for solar, wind and tidal power – renewable energy sources that are far more environmentally friendly than coal-fired stations, which also require a significant amount of water, primarily for cooling purposes. That said, coal is likely to remain part of our energy mix for years to come, at least until renewable sources can meet the demands of a growing economy.
The issue of water wastage extends across South Africa’s industrial sector – including factories and mines – where water-use efficiency is estimated at just 55%. In other words, a staggering 45 out of every 100 litres allocated to this sector are simply wasted. For context, producing 1 kilogram of paper requires 7 litres of water in countries like Germany and Sweden, whereas South Africa uses up to 700 litres to produce the same quantity of paper. Something is clearly wrong.
Water use in mining operations – and the potential to repurpose water from mines for use in other sectors – also needs urgent attention.
We cannot afford to face a water crisis of our own making. Yet despite growing pressure on supply, the Department of Water and Sanitation continues to downplay the severity of the problem. The truth is that demand for fresh water is already exceeding what is available, and without real change, the consequences could be severe.
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 | Roelof Bezuidenhout is a fourth-generation wool, mohair, mutton and game farmer and freelance journalist. Attended Free State University, majoring in animal husbandry and pasture science. Other interests include agricultural extension and rural development. |
