THE outcomes of the National Water and Sanitation summit, held over the weekend, are an attempt to address the water crisis facing South Africa.
The 2002 National Water Strategy document warned that by 2025, South Africa will not be able to meet the water requirements of its population.
Speaking after the conference, Professor Anthony Turton, a scientist specialising in water resource management, said that South Africa ran out of water in 2002.
Financial instability; ageing and inadequate infrastructure; contaminated dams, lakes and rivers; lack of co-ordination by stakeholders including government departments in the sector, have worsened the situation.
The summit resolved to set strict timelines to improve the state of water and sanitation service delivery. Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu will be tabling the resolutions of the summit on the Cabinet agenda.
The impending water crisis can be averted as long as all those involved in the sector commit and work towards sustainable solutions and treat this with the urgency it deserves.
VISVIN REDDY | Morningside
Daily News