Question NW751 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
26 March 2019 - NW751
Khawula, Ms MS to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Whether, in light of the current water consumption rates, his department commissioned any study to determine whether the country will have enough water to sustain the population, economic growth and development by (a) 2050, (b) 2075 and (c) 2100; if not, why not; if so, what are the details of the findings of the study?
Reply:
a) The Department undertakes various planning studies over 25-year horizons, including the period to 2050 to ensure water security for the country. Such studies include (i) Water Availability Assessment Studies (WAAS), which generate base input information for planning, (ii) long term water resource reconciliation planning studies for large and small demand centres, and (iii) catchment-based studies. These planning studies culminate in strategies that address water needs for the country, which are then continuously monitored and updated every 3 to 5 years to ensure that they remain current and relevant. The outputs of the studies inform the National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS), the instrument by which the minister gives effect to the National Water Act, as well as the master plans that emanate from the NWRS. The studies are available on the DWS website, at http://www6.dwa.gov.za/iwrp/projects.aspx..
(b) and (c)
For the perspectives 2075 to 2100, the planning horizon is longer, and this is accompanied by a high degree of uncertainty. The studies conducted as mentioned in (a) above provide indicative directions of strategies for the country’s water security, which are continuously firmed up on a progressive basis to make them dynamic high level water resource plans that address uncertainty.
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