By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
15 April 2025- The Water Research Commission (WRC) said the National Water Week is a wake-up call to South Africa’s deepening water crisis. The commission said climate change is driving extreme weather, threatening water quality, impacting water security, and placing even greater pressure on a system already struggling to meet demand.
The CEO of WRC, Dr Jennifer Molwantwa said millions of people living in poverty, unreliable access to clean water, are not just an inconvenience—it’s a daily threat to health, livelihoods, and survival. Molwantwa said water insecurity has a ripple effect, crippling the economy, disrupting education, worsening food shortages and undermining the country’s overall stability.
She further said with existing resources under strain, the time to act is now. Molwantwa added that, the National Water Week coincided with the 14th annual international conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse in Cape Town between the 16 – 19 March 2025, coming at a time when the world is fast-tracking the direct use of treated effluents both for industry, agriculture and domestic purposes.
“The conference serves as a catalyst for sustainable change, showcasing the critical role of water reuse and innovation in South Africa’s water security pathway.
“Current and future engagements and action on sustainable water resource management in the 21st century demands a holistic and adaptive approach, integrating diverse water sources and innovative technologies to ensure resilience in the face of unprecedented environmental and demographic pressures,” she said.
Molwantwa said recognising the interlinked challenges and solutions for an efficient reuse future National Water Week culminates in the globally recognised World Water Day on 22 March. She said the Water Research Commission (WRC) is marking these occasions by intensifying its focus on critical research and innovation areas vital for South Africa’s water security, including accelerating the adoption of decentralised water reuse technologies, advancing climate-resilient water infrastructure solutions, strengthening community-based water conservation initiatives, and prioritising research into the sustainable management of groundwater resources, particularly in drought-prone regions.
“The demands of contemporary water resource management have highlighted the need for a reassessment of traditional strategies. While indirect water reuse has historically served as a cornerstone of global water security frameworks, its efficacy is increasingly challenged by the compounded risks of anthropogenic climate change and rapid urban expansion.
“The frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters, coupled with the water demands of burgeoning urban centers, are a testament to the fact that conventional approaches are increasingly becoming inadequate,” said Molwantwa.
She said consequently, making water reuse an integral part of comprehensive water security strategies, is no longer a matter of strategic foresight, but an immediate operational imperative. Molwantwa said a series of reports released by the Department of Water and Sanitation in 2023, supports the renewed emphasis on innovative reuse and water resource management.
“They revealed that in municipalities countrywide, 46% of drinking water systems did not meet microbiological standards. The reports also highlight that the percentage of water treatment plants facing high risk went up from 65% in 2021 to 70% in 2023.
“Meaning more plants were in danger of failing. In addition, 51% of critical state systems have received some form of enforcement notices ranging from cases reported, notices and directives issued, and criminal charges laid,” she said.
Molwantwa said furthermore, 24% and 29% of the national system were at critical and high risk respectively. She said the Blue- Green- and No-Drop reports found that “water demand is expected to sharply increase over the next 20 years while the water supply is likely to decline, therefore anticipating a projected supply deficit of 17% by 2030.”
The Guardian 