In its updated forecast for the Water Research Commission, the ISS and the Frederick S Pardee Center for International Futures shows that water demand in South Africa will outpace supply every year. Economic water scarcity or social water scarcity (second-order water scarcity) is caused by a lack of investment in water or a lack of human capacity to satisfy the demand for water, even in places where water is abundant. 25 June 2019 by Tejvan Pettinger. They spend 200 million hours per day fetching water (UN Water, 2018) Contaminated drinking-water is estimated to cause 502 000 . There's a. Universal access to basic water and sanitation would result in $18.5 billion in economic benefits each year from avoided deaths alone. Instead, Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia have intensified . . 30 Jan. In many instances the lost farms have been changed to other land uses, or consolidated into larger farming units to achieve effective : . While the government wants to manage water well by enforcing reduced consumption of water it cannot afford the collapse of the economy. From that the group has been able to highlight the complex web of issues contributing to water scarcity in a warming world, both in Jordan and far beyond. So, if the problem of water scarcity is well-tackled, it would yield numerous benefits for Africa, such as access to safe drinking water and sanitation, higher standard of living and even economic progress. Those shared river courses cover 60% of the land masses in SA and we get 40% of our water from there. According to ESI Africa, "South Africa is approaching physical water scarcity in 2025 where they are expected to experience a water deficit of 17 percent by 2030, and climate change will worsen the situation." This article will look into the water challenges South Africa faces and whether we can avoid Africa's water crisis. Cape Town's water crisis got so bad last year that there were competitions to see who could wash their shirts the least. but water scarcity will remain a major concern for agriculture, power generation, and human . Scarce water also becomes more expensive. Contaminated water can transmit diseases such diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. Johannesburg, South Africa May 14, 2019 IFC, a member of the World Bank Group and Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), today launched a program aimed at addressing water scarcity in South Africa's agribusiness sector. The Water Project provides access to clean, safe and reliable water across sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2013 and 2014 the amount of electricity produced by Eskom has decreased by 1.82% whilst that produced by independent power producers has increased by 8.51%. It is induced by political power, policies, and/or socioeconomic relations. More than 2 billion people gained improved access to drinking water between 1990 and . Scarcity means we have to decide how and what to produce from these limited resources. . Lack of Food The provision of quality water to all communities is essential for human health and well-being, economic development and the realisation of the constitutional rights of all South Africans. Every 15 seconds Every 15 seconds a child dies from a preventable water borne disease such as diarrhea, cholera and typhoid (UN, 2018) 200 Million hours Worldwide, 80% of water scarce households appoint women and girls to fetch water. The World Health Organization has shown this in economic terms: for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, there is an economic return of between $3 and $34! The World Health Organization reports that every $1 investment made into clean water efforts leads to $3-4 dollars generated in regional economies [3] . Among the economic implications of water scarcity is the impact on businesses worldwide leading to higher operating costs and staying competitive. Kraemer, R. Andreas 2007: "Economic Impact of Droughts: Challenges for Water & Environmental Policies". The Water Crisis in South Sudan. Seasonal climate watch for July to September 2019. A trade agreement between SADC and the European Union enables many European products to enter South Africa duty-free or at lower rates than U.S. products. in: Water Scarcity and Drought - A Priority of the Portuguese Presidency, Volume 1, p. 62-68. Water is crucial to hygiene and hygiene is crucial to health, so households have a tendency to deteriorate when water is removed from the equation. The water scarcity is affected by many things like pollution, the growing population, climate change and at global changes. According to the World Health Organization, more than 842,000 deaths occur annually from people in lower- and middle-income families from a lack of clean water and poor sanitation. According to the UN website, this goal was met in 2010, five years ahead of schedule. There is also an analysis of the effects of liberalithe sation of the water sector on the citizenry, and how this can disempower millions of poo South r Africans. As of 2016, about four billion people, or two-thirds of the world's population, were facing severe water scarcity. A year on, the South African city's parched dams are now over 80% full. The UN Environment Program (UNEP) compares water scarcity and quality today with a projection for the future: Currently, access to safe water in sub-Saharan Africa is worse than any other area on . by . The current water crises in Cape Town has a far-reaching impact across the economy of South Africa, spanning both micro and macro environments, industries, and development initiatives. Impacts of water scarcity in Africa range from health (women and children are particularly affected) . Globally, at least 1.8 billion people use a drinking-water source contaminated with faeces. Poverty is a major factor in water scarcity and susceptibility to drought. A hole of $26trn will open up between 2010 and 2030, estimates the World Economic Forum, a think-tank. Impacts of water scarcity on Africa Water scarcity has resulted in a wide range of impacts, from health, agricultural, conflicts . In many countries people can pump as much water as they like from underground aquifers . A shortage of clean drinking water can be devastating for the population. This paper addresses these issues from three facets: (1) Economic aspectsthe multiple processes through which water is conceptualized and priced; (2) analysis of water pricing considering its . Table 3 shows the current electricity production figures for South Africa. . Rural-urban migration is a contributing factor. South Sudan is suffering from a water crisis. The long-term impact of water scarcity varies from one sector to another, with. economic and social impacts of, for instance, short-term water scarcity Marginalisation of certain groups Political system fragility, including the legitimacy of leadership and governance capacity . Much of Sub-Saharan Africa has economic water scarcity. The Informal Council of Environment Ministers on "Water Scarcity and Droughts" on 31 August and 1 September 2007 in Lisbon was designed to further . The Institutionalization of Water Scarcity . Unless urgent action is taken, South Africa's looming water crisis will prove far more devastating than the power crisis, potentially crippling the economy and costing lives, noted Eric Bruggeman, CEO of the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), which endorses IFAT. Your school, small group or even a few friends can make a huge difference! The drought devastating parts of South Africa will cause the country's farmers to lose up to R10 billion this year. Water scarcity and conflict: Not such a straightforward link . Finally, this study offers solutions for the lack of sustainable use of water in South Africa. . South Africa shares its river basins with five of the neighbouring countries. Moving into 2020, predictions are becoming more uncertain again. For global firms controlling costs is difficult but it worsens when the price of water increases exponentially to where margins shrink precariously. South Africa's planned IPPs could contribute as much as 20 GW of capacity. The lack of fresh water has left South Africa in a major water surplus since 2000, one solution to this problem is the MIYA organization . Your gift of $34 will change a life. Report to the . is needed to alleviate the drought's effects and secure more than . BOGOTA, Sept 2 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - From Yemen to India, and parts of Central America to the African Sahel, about a quarter of the world's people face extreme water shortages that are . 88% of SA households have access to water Statistics South Africa 's 2016 General Household Survey estimates 88.8% of South African households had access to piped water, compared to 81.2% in 1996. The United Kingdom signed a similar agreement last year that will also impact U.S. exports. The constant conflict within South Sudan has left the country's water systems neglected or destroyed. countries, especially South Africa. Worst affected are KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Limpopo, North West and the Northern Cape, where farmers growing white maize, yellow maize, soya beans and sunflowers have incurred major losses. Agriculture is one of the most pivotal economic sectors for Africa, employing the majority of the population. This can be illustrated in a number of ways. We follow a a NG photographer as they explore water scarcity in South Africa and new innovations to help tackle the issue. It means there is a constant opportunity cost involved in making economic decisions. Maponya P. & Mpandeli S., 2016, Drought and food scarcity in Limpopo Province, South Africa, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), . The FAO estimates that in Africa, overall water withdrawal is about 227 km 3 /year of which 220 km 3 are from freshwater resources and the rest is from desalination. As South Africa's economy grows and the population continues to rise, the demand for water increases among agriculture, mining, manufacturing industries, domestic, and environmental uses. Agricultural activities have an ability to provide nutrition, economic, social status and reduce rural poverty. The Economic Impact of Cape Town's Water Crisis Cape Town has been in drought for three years. Challenges and lessons A continuing challenge is the balance between the scheme's environmental and socioeconomic goals. Sanitation issues are one of the leading causes of disease transmission in Africa, especially with conditions like cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid. Eskom has already connected 32 projects totalling 1.6 GW, but it could become increasingly difficult and expensive to integrate IPPs. Moreover, withdrawals are forecast to increase in all three sectors (agricultural, industrial and municipal). The Africa Water Vision for 2025 is thus designed to avoid the disastrous consequences of these threats and lead to a future where the full potential of Africa's water resources can be readily unleashed to stimulate and sustain growth in the region's economic development and Water Research Commission. Climate change risks for run-off and irrigation demand vary significantly across South Africa, with some regions expected to experience increased drying and others flooding Smaller impacts on water resources by 2050 are expected if global emissions are mitigated Even under strong mitigation policies areas such as the Western Cape catchments, and regions with smaller less well integrated water . It's needless suffering. Access to water remains a pervasive development issue across the continent, as a 2019 report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) revealed: Indeed, addressing climate change and poor management. Declining farming profitability and water scarcity (drought, declin ing rainfall or overdemand for water) has left South Africa with less than twothirds of the number of farms it had in the early 1990s. At the present moment, water is being rationed by government agencies across most of South Africa. The main causes of water scarcity in Africa are physical and economic scarcity, rapid population growth, and climate change.Water scarcity is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. Water scarcity limits access to safe water for drinking and for practising basic hygiene at home, in schools and in health-care facilities. The. Water insecurity could multiply the risk of conflict. Of an estimated 800 million people who live in sub-Saharan Africa, 300 million live in a water stressed environment. Beyond this, water scarcity also increases food prices, which again disproportionally affects the most vulnerable members of our society. Attempts by government departments to involve the mining companies in the rehabilitation of the areas impacted by mining activities have been frustrated because of the mine companies' refusal to accept . Every $1 invested in water and sanitation provides a $4 economic return from lower health costs, more productivity and fewer premature deaths. Rural-urban migration to Cape Town, South Africa's second-largest city . Increase in Food Prices Barbara G. Schreiner, Eric D. Mungatana and Hannah Baleta . South Africa is already known for its high unemployment . The impact of climate change on water sources, livestock and crops is highlighted and mitigation strategies are recommended. The causes and impact of water shortage on the households of Ga-Kgapane Township in the Limpopo Province By ELLIOT MASOTO MACHETHE RESEARCH MINI-DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF DEVELOPMENT At the Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership University of Limpopo, South Africa Meanwhile, much of the country's water infrastructure is in disrepair and dam levels are dangerously low. In order for South African host cities to meet the Green Goal target of a 25% reduc- tion of water usage within the stadiums (LOC, 2008b), focus areas for improvement included: The construction or retrotting of venues with water efcient ttings Systems for the use of harvested rainwater Sustainable landscaping and irrigation practices. Some of the major effects of water scarcity can be understood as follows: Shortage of Drinking Water Clean drinking water is not just a privilege but a necessity. The mandate of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), as set out in the National Water Act of 1998 and the Water Services Act of 1997, is to ensure . These regions could see their growth rates decline by as much as 6% of GDP by 2050 due to water-related impacts on agriculture, health, and incomes. 663 million people rely on unimproved sources, including 159 million dependent on surface water. The social and economic effects caused by a lack of clean water are often the highest priorities of African communities when they speak of their own development. It is estimated that about two-thirds of the world's population may suffer from fresh water shortage by 2025. This is especially vital considering South Africa's worsening water scarcity. . Date issued: 28 June 2019. People might have to resort to drinking low-quality water which can be detrimental to their health. Poverty and economic policy. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail and the threat of contracting diseases like cholera surges. That is nearly 45% of South Africa's power-generating capacity from all sources in 2013. Target 7.C of the goals promises to, "Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation" (UN, 2013). Food price spikes caused by droughts can inflame latent conflicts and drive migration. South Africa is known for having a progressive constitution that goes beyond simply enshrining civil and political rights- for one, it includes a mandate that everyone has the right to sufficient food and water. Pienaar L., 2017, Economic Impact Assessment - Drought in . Restaurants and businesses were encouraging people not to flush after going to the toilet. Water Shortages in South Africa: Economic Analysis. The main cause of growing water scarcity is the growing demand resulting from population increase. In economic terms, the agriculture sector is likely to be hampered under severe water scarcity. Definition: Scarcity refers to resources being finite and limited. Socio-economic factors have played a role in exacerbating the water crisis. Scarcity is one of the fundamental issues in economics. Although Sudan has suffered from water scarcity for decades, it's descent back into war in 2013 after the country split has further exacerbated this.