“South Africa is at risk if water is not taken seriously and interventions not applied timeously.” This was Department of Water Affairs, Fred van Zyl’s primary message when discussing the National Water Resource Strategy 2 at the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA) International  Conference on Water Reuse for Drinking Purposes taking place at the Gateway Hotel in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal  from 9 to 11 October.

South Africa is proceeding with the revision of the national water resource strategy during 2012, led by the Department of Water Affairs. The strategy will have a focus on the best use of our limited water resources, in a sustainable manner and to the benefit of society and the environment. Water reuse and recycling is one of the key pillars of using our limited water resources responsibly and efficiently.The Conference is aimed at providing a training, education and discussion opportunity and delegates include international specialists, local regulators and practitioners on the topic of portable reuse of water.

According to van Zyl, speaking on the first day of the conference, there is a perceived sense of water security, however the issue with this is that up until now the main focus has been on infrastructure development.

This despite the country facing a number of challenges in the water sector, the most pressing of which was a lack of appreciation for water, its role and current situation, as well as poor water values and inadequate status and inadequate management and governance.

Fresh surface water as a resource is at its limit in most areas and although sufficient alternative water is available, this requires improved efficiency and water loss management, reuse, local resource optimisation through the use of groundwater, desalination and improved control, according to van Zyl.

“However, accessibility is conditional and comes at a cost,” warns van Zyl, adding that it requires effort and timeous implementation. “We need to stretch water as a resource, water funding and infrastructure.”