This is according Zama Siqalaba, programme manager of the Strategic Water Partners Network of South Africa (SWPN-SA). SWPN-SA is a public-private-partnership aimed at ensuring efficient use of water among businesses, industry and local government, as well as sectors such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture, among others.

Siqalaba says on the agriculture side, they are working towards the goal of helping farmers use better and more efficient irrigation technology to reduce wastage.

She explains that strategies rolled out in certain irrigation schemes, including the Vaalharts, Orange-Riet, Hartebeespoort and Sand-Vet Water users Association, have resulted in savings of nearly one million cubic metres of water per week.

“As a network, we have looked at, for example, implementing the Water Administration System (WAS). It is a system that was developed in partnership with the Water Research Commission (WRC), looking at improving irrigation water use efficiency.

“It is a system that helps the schemes to manage their water more efficiently. It also looks at helping to calculate the releases that are required for each of the different crop types, which then obviously makes the distribution more efficient.”

She says the drought has really driven home the reality of being without water but says it is important to look at the long term picture. Siqalaba says a report commissioned by the business community paints a scary reality.

“Even after the drought we cannot revert back to the inefficient practices that we have been relying on for so long.

“The principle upon which the SWPN was formed really came from the McKinsey report and that was looking at a 17% water deficit in 2030.”

She says climate change is a reality and one of the key messages is that initiatives should not just look at relieving immediate drought pressures but rather adapting to the future.

“I think going into the future there is going to be much more emphasis on research and development. On making sure that as a country we are moving towards more indigenous plants, for example, that are more drought tolerant and that can support the kind of environment that we live in, making sure that we uproot alien invasive vegetation…”

Sabrina Dean/OFM News