Water Supply in South Africa – Formidable Challenges and Innovative Solutions

Gerhard OffringaWater Research Commission

South Africa

A dry country• Average of 450 mm/a; world ave. 860• 50 mm/a in west to 1250 mm/a in east• 65% less than 500 mm/a;

21% less than 200 mm/a• Evaporation: 1100 mm/a in east to more

than 3000 mm/a in west• 4-8 year drought periods• No suitable aquifers (10% groundwater)• Not near economic growth areas

Population distribution

• Geographical distribution• Income distribution (poverty)• Distribution in skills & education

Population distribution

• Geographical distribution

- Nearly 50% of population are rural

Population distribution

• Geographical distribution

- Nearly 50% of population are rural- Widely scattered in small villages

Population distribution

• Geographical distribution

- Nearly 50% of people are rural- Widely scattered in small villages- Rely on boreholes and springs

Population distribution

• Geographical distribution

- Nearly 50% of people are rural- Widely scattered in small villages- Rely on boreholes and springs

- Result: Difficult and expensive to supply piped water

Population distribution

• Income distribution (poverty)

- Big difference between rich and poor (second in world after Brasil)

Population distribution

• Income distribution (poverty)

- Big difference between rich and poor (second in world after Brasil)

- Poor cannot afford potable water

Result: Use untreated river water rather than pay

Population distribution

• Skills & education distribution

- People are skilled in cities, but unskilled in rural areas

Population distribution

• Skills & education distribution

- People are skilled in cities, but unskilled in rural areas

- Rural water treatment plants not well operated and in poor condition

Population distribution

• Skills & education distribution

- People are skilled in cities, but unskilled in rural areas

- Rural water treatment plants not well operated and in poor condition

- Rural people not educated to understand health hazards in drinking river water = sickness

Solutions to a dry country

• A good legislative framework

- Since 1994 drafted completely new legislation to ensure water supply to all people and protect the environment better

Solutions to a dry country

• A good legislative framework• Construction of large dams

- Have to prevent water flowing to the sea unused

- So far 539 registered dams

Solutions to a dry country• A good legislative framework• Construction of large dams• Inter-basin transfer schemes

- Transfer water from wetter catchments to dry or needy areas

- There are 18 transfer schemes- Lesotho Highlands Scheme biggest

Solutions to a dry country

• A good legislative framework• Construction of large dams • Inter-basin transfer schemes• Founding the Water Research

Commission in 1971

Water Research Commission• Funds research on whole water cycle• Obtain funding from approx. 1% levy• Research done by Universities,

research bodies and consultants• Currently funding 450 projects/year for

the improvement of drinking water, waste water and the environment

www.wrc.org.za

Solutions to a dry country

• A good legislative framework• Construction of large dams • Inter-basin transfer schemes• Founding the Water Research

Commission• The reuse of water

The reuse of water

• Legal requirement to return all used water to the rivers for further downstream use

• First plant for direct purification of sewage effluent to drinking water in 1969

• Large power stations converted from water to air cooling

• Industries reusing their wastewaters

Solutions to a dry country

• A good legislative framework• Construction of large dams • Inter-basin transfer schemes• Founding the Water Research

Commission• The reuse of water• Rainfall stimulation from clouds

Rainfall stimulation

• 10 Years research with two aircraft• Burn salt mixtures and seed from

below• Get a statistical average of 30% more

rain from clouds• Used a few times in north of country

Solutions to a dry country

• A good legislative framework• Construction of large dams (539)• Inter-basin transfer schemes (18)• Founding the Water Research

Commission• The reuse of water• Rainfall stimulation from clouds• Innovative technologies & demand

management

Innovative technologies & demand management

• Demand management (flow restrictors, pre-payment meters, leak detection)

• Dissolved air flotation for drinking water• Models to detect and manage ground

water• Innovative water treatment (rural

membranes; anti-fouling sea water desalination; fog harvesting; valvelessfilter, playpump)

Solutions to a wide population distribution

• Geographical/Poverty level distribution

- Stand pipes- The Hippo Roller (90 kg water)- “Water shops”- Free Basic Water: First 6000 l/month

(implemented for 62% of population)

Solutions to skills levels distribution

• Training: 1% of worker salaries to Skills Levy Fund for training

• Adapt advanced technologies to be robust and requiring low supervision

• Use of teams of skilled “roving technicians”

ConclusionIn spite of formidable challenges, succeeded during the last ten years to give 10 of the 14 million people without water, access to safe, potable water, employing good governance and using innovative and appropriate technologies

All people will have access to potable water by 2008