Lack of fresh water in South Africa

by Ilya Slastnikovclass 804

Introduction of the issue

This issue is very important because of a number of political, economical, demographic and social factors.

The problem matters to local population and international community.

All South Africans are affected by this issue, most of them, especially children, are harmed by the lack of fresh water.

Producers of bottled water benefit from this issue.

Political concept

Southern Africa government introduces new strategies for balancing water resources and growing demand for fresh water.

Strategies for increasing supply: sequental water use, desalination, sanitation of open water basin

Strategies for managing demand: using efficient technologies, distribution efficiencies, community involvement, conservation

Additional strategies: legal and institutional reforms, slowing population growth

Growing population and consequently demand for water: rapid population growth and urbanization, increased demand, for food and water, conflicts on desertification, expanded agricultural activity

Poverty: unable to get fresh water, do not get educated because have to get daily fresh water, both a cause and a consequence of desertification, unable to bring high-tech water projects

Climate and geographical factors: increased droughts and floods, growing challenges for water storage, supply and distribution, water treatment, many people seek new places to live, farm or obtain firewood

Population concept

The end water charges do not reflect actual costs and are set high because water supply and development chain is regulated by different ways and different entities.

Developing sanitation is very expensive, government must embrace participation of private sectors in water provision.

The country doesn’t have professionals with the skills to construct water facilities, as well as engineering, drilling and construction equipment.

Un-Water/ Africa network sets up a directory of African water experts to manage and maintain water projects in the content.

Economic concept

There are four main types of natural disasters in South Africa: flood, storm, wildfire and drought.

Floods and storms are the most frequent ones. The greatest number of people (57,1%) were killed by floods. No deaths reported directly from droughts, but they affected 94,7% of the population and its agricultural activity.

People want to leave South Africa to keep away from disasters, stay safe and be able to grow food.

Social conceptpush factors

Social conceptpush factors

There are no recent war conflicts in South Africa. The last one, South African Border War, finished in 1990. Thus, it is not a factor for people to leave.

50% of the South Africans live in poverty and cannot afford daily fresh water. Almost 50% of households get welfare to make their living.

People are unhappy about quality of services for households: water supply and waste removal.

People want to leave because there are some improvements, but they are slow. They want to have better services and living conditions.

South Africa has one of the continent's biggest economies, which gives job opportunities and people move in to have better jobs.

The construction industry benefited and is still on the rise from a huge program of government investment ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

During the last decade there have been some improvements in living conditions: flushing toilets, regular waste collection, access to electrical high-tech equipment. This attracts people to come and live in the country.

Social conceptpull factors

There are physical barriers to migration in South Africa: Kalahari and Karoo deserts, South Atlantic and Indian oceans, large number of mountain chains.

Personal expenses to leave South Africa are high (over $1,000 per one-way air ticket).

There are no emigration quotas in South Africa.

Because of physical barriers, to leave the country people have to use airplanes. Most of them cannot afford it because they live in poverty and travel expenses are too high for them.

Social conceptbarriers

Water takes one of the essential places in South African religion rituals (washing, cleaning), so it has to be fresh all the time.

Most amount of water is used in low and mid-income households for toilets and showers.

It is clear that fresh water is essential to people’s everyday living and they need to have safe and easy access to it.

Social conceptculture

South Africa is facing a huge freshwater challenge. The lack of freshwater affects households, agriculture, country’s economy and social life.

There are still a lot of barriers, push/ pull factors for peoples migration to find fresh water.

During the last decade South Africa has made some progress but there is still a long way to go and invest in freshwater supply and services.

Conclusion

Bibliography1. “Disaster Statistics. South Africa.” Prevention Web. Web.

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/countries/statistics/?cid=160

2. Dovi, Efam.” Bringing water to Africa’s poor. Expanded access requires more funds, efficiency and capacity.” Africa Renewal. October, 2007. Web. http://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/october-2007/bringing-water-africa%E2%80%99s-poor

3. “Living standards in South Africa. A survey of households shows the limits of redistributive policies.” The Economist. August 31, 2013. Web. http://www.economist.com/

4. “National Water Policy Review.”Government Gazette.30 August, 2013.Web. http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Projects/WaterPolicy/docs/NWPR%20Public%20%20Notice%20gazette%2030Aug13.pdf

Bibliography

5. “Population and Water Resources.” Water Encyclopedia. Science and issues.Web. http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Po-Re/Population-and-Water-Resources.html

6. “United Nations Environmental Programme. Africa Environment Outlook 2” Web. http://www.unep.org/dewa/Africa/publications/AEO-2/content/086.htm

7. “Water Crisis. Towards a way to improve the situation.” The World Water Council. Web. http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/library/archives/water-crisis/

Thank you for your attention!

by Ilya Slastnikovclass 804