Civil Engineering August 2021 | Vol 29 No 7

14 August 2021 Civil Engineering A ccording to Dr Andrew Wood, partner and principal consultant in water management at SRK Consulting, the country’s under-valuing of water is reflected in its generally wasteful per capita consumption levels. Addressing the Rand Water Forum, Wood noted that South Africa’s domestic water use levels of 235 ℓ/person/day compared poorly with international targets and performance of around 110 ℓ to 150 ℓ. This is exacerbated by further losses of about 40% of the treated water supply due to municipal leaks and unaccounted water use. “Historically, we have not appreciated the real value of water – it has been wasted and abused. Gauteng has basically run out of water, while the demand for essential water services escalates daily,” said Wood. POLLUTION PROBLEM Eroding the available levels of our water resources is the growing impact of pollu- tion, which is placing the quality of water in our rivers and dams under risk. This implies an added cost to the country, as this poor quality water has to be treated before it can be used. The drivers of this pollution are both natural and man-made. Natural drivers include drought and floods, while earthquakes (including mine induced subsidence), fire, wind and sinkholes can damage water infrastructure, affecting water supply and contributing to pollu- tion. Among the many human factors are growing populations and economies, which continuously increase pressure on limited water resources and contribute to wastewater and land pollution loads. “National and local infrastructure ca- pacity does not meet the expectations for sustainable water supply and good water quality for all. The current absence of ef- fective water services, sanitation and solid waste services contributes to pollution, affecting human health and the broader ecology,” said Wood. Water stewardship can help SA value its water South Africa has not grasped the true value of its water resources, and the country will soon face a deficit as a result. The answer lies in effective water stewardship, which must address water pollution alongside a range of other challenges. The growing impact of pollution is eroding the available levels of our water resources