A report published about a month ago argued that South Africa is staring a water crisis directly in the eye. Experts told the inaugural South African Water and Energy Forum in Johannesburg that we face the possibility of chronic water shortages as early as 2020. Now Eskom-esque tariff hikes loom.

The City of Johannesburg reportedly misplaced between 35% and 40% of its water last year as a result of the crumbling infrastructure and general household wastage of water.

In the 2009-2010 financial year, the Mother City could not account for roughly 83.4 million kilolitres of water. That’s about 33 360 Olympic swimming pools worth, in layman’s terms.

Water Affairs acting director-general, Trevor Balzer, while speaking on the eve of South African Water Week (21-27 March 2011), explained that our cheap water resources have been used up and that government was looking at ways to address the problem.

We are currently undertaking a study to establish the cost of water into the future. There is no doubt that the cost of water will be more expensive.

Richard Holden, a business analyst at water parastatal Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, reiterated the dire problem the crumbling infrastructure is posing too:

The infrastructure is old and needs to be replaced, but there is no money. Water tariffs are too low. We will go the same route as Eskom [by introducing huge tariff hikes].

There is a crisis brewing. It is like the acid mine drainage, like Eskom, and like the toll roads. These issues are well known but it seems like we have to have a crisis in order to deal with them.

He continued that the number of pipes bursting would persist and if not repaired and replaced, could result in large financial losses that would ultimately be detrimental to consumers.

Municipalities could implement water conservation campaigns and introduce gradual water price increases now, thereby breaking up the unavoidable increases into smaller, gradual increases.

But that is only a short term solution. SA Institute of Civil Engineering water division chairman Dr Chris Herold believes most water infrastructure in South Africa is well beyond its 50-year lifespan. “We are approaching a 10-year backlog. It’s old and getting older,” he said.

A Spokesperson for the Department of Water Affairs, Linda Page said bulk infrastructural requirements and maintenance backlogs across South Africa amounted to R1.3 billion. A presentation made by the department to parliament in January claimed municipalities owed water boards a ridiculous R1.7 billion.

Seeing as it is Water Week though, here are some very useful tips you can begin implementing right now to do your bit.

[Source: TimesLive]