Threat to SA’s water source areas

THE country gets half the global average of rainfall and is ranked the 30th driest country in the world, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF).

At the current rate, 98% of South Africa’s water resources have been allocated and there will be a 17% shortfall in water supply by 2030.

The fund discussed water sources endangered by mining and alien plants, in a webinar hosted this week.

At least 10% of land produces 50% of land surface water.

Strategic water source areas sustain 50% of the population, 64% of the national economy and 70% of irrigated agriculture, the Fund said.

“Mountains receive more rain than the rest of the country that feed the groundwater and wetlands. We are speaking about strategic water source areas,” said the WWF’s Samir Randera-Rees.

Cape Town and Durban get 99% of the water they use from water source areas, while the figure for Joburg is 74%.

These water source areas are important for the country’s water security for 50% of the country’s population, 64% of the economy and 70% of irrigated agriculture.

The threat of day zero in Cape Town means that people would realise that it’s not just pandemics that could bring economies to their knees, Randera-Rees said.

The fund also stated that only 11% of our water source areas are protected.

But Randera-Rees warned that “these areas are starting to degrade from mining, invasive alien trees or human settlements among other issues”.

Mining could create acid mine leakage and could have an impact on water users downstream, said Randera-Rees.

The fund has formed “Water Source Partnerships” which include local communities, NGOs, businesses and government to help manage water source areas.

The Groot Winterhoek and Boland Mountains water source areas, which supply Cape Town with 97.1% of its water, cover the upper Breede River catchment.

“The key threat to these landscapes is the takeover of alien plants.

“Another point is large scale agriculture cultivation,” said the WWF’s Dr Klaudia Schachtschneider.

“Invasive alien plants affect river health and mostly use more water than indigenous vegetation,” said Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau.

Invasive alien plants affect river health and use more water

Sputnik Ratau WATER AND SANITATION