Despite international treaties, declarations, and national standards recognising clean water as a human right issue, according to Greenpeace.org as much as 19% of rural South Africans still do not have access to a reliable water supply, and 33% do not have basic sanitation services. The worst affected are rural citizens, as over 26% of schools (urban and rural) and 45% of clinics do not have access to water. This is predominantly as a result of inadequate investment and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure, but other aspects such as pollution, inefficient water use and waste mismanagement, compound the issue.
South Africa is also one of the driest countries in the world and it is facing a 17% water supply shortfall in less than a decade. Yet almost 25-30% of our water is being lost due to leaking pipes and neglected infrastructure in towns and cities nationwide, reveals an article by EARTH.ORG. This means 70 million litres of treated clean, drinkable water is lost daily as a result of leaks in our water piping system, the article continues to explain. Simple leaks. It is devastating and impacts millions of citizens’ basic human rights.
And the country’s water infrastructure is under even more strain, as reservoirs are not filling up fast enough due to power interruptions, ongoing vandalism and the lack of investment in basic maintenance.
Despite these glaringly obvious political and governance issues, we cannot ignore the reality that there are several other human activities that play a pivotal role in present-day water-related risks, and that these same virtues can be a focal point for change. South Africa’s strong and entrepreneurial private sector is known for driving innovation and solutions, and water opportunities can certainly be one of these catalysts.
Some of the other human activities impacting water scarcity include:
If we aim to preserve our water, it will require better recycling and reuse, as well as more effective wastewater management and water conservation strategies. As such, corporates and government need to find ways to provide solutions cost-effectively and efficiently.
This means ensuring that there are suitable resources to collect and treat industrial waste and municipal sewage effectively, which can be achieved if waste management companies take a proactive approach to inventing new ways to preserve, manage and repurpose water.
A perfect example of an effective wastewater management solution is Interwaste’s effluent recycling programmes within its operations that is used in areas such as irrigation and dust suppression. Through a variety of technologies, liquid waste or sewage can be treated to safe standards to replenish rivers and catchment areas and even be used as potable water in areas with low water supply.
Essentially, Interwaste devised alternatives for the disposal of liquid waste, and opened a specialised division that offers solutions to liquid waste generators including management of a variety of inorganic, acid, caustic and oil-based liquid waste streams.
But each one of us can do more to help towards improving our river conditions and the chemical waste that is being washed into the water. It will take collaborative effort from Government and corporate South Africa to build suitable infrastructure to support the water mix, find solutions that are most effective, at the most economic cost and at the highest efficiency rates as possible.
Habits that we can adopt in our households
In our households, we can start by using more organic-based products in our home – many more affordable options are becoming available - and educate ourselves around the ingredients used in household detergents and cleaners. We can also dispose of products correctly at proper recycling centres.
As we commemorate World Water Day, let us bear in mind the significant impact that a small act such as picking up litter and placing it in a dustbin, can make. Every action can help to ensure stormwater drains do not get over clogged and contribute to healthier water in our rivers.
Additionally, we each need to consider how our actions impact water supply, and perhaps look at adopting habits that will help us save water, such as turning off the taps in between washing your hands or brushing your teeth, reporting leaks straight away, and choosing water efficient products to use at home.
Solving our looming water crisis is complex and requires a multi-faceted and integrated approach across the entire water value chain from source through to consumption and re-use. Energy can be created but water is a finite resource that urgently needs to be treated as such!