A master plan to address South Africa’s water crisis has been released by Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Spokesperson Sputnick Ratau says the national water and sanitation master plan is about ensuring the security of water supply for all South Africans.

” It should be highlighted that it’s a call to action for all of us as South Africans to look at the issues of water in a different light. We need to understand that we are dealing with a commodity that is not necessarily easily available and for all time.”

It also aims to ensure universal access to water and sanitation services, guide investment in the water sector and facilitate development planning for water resources and the delivery of water and sanitation services to 2030 and beyond.

Ratau emphasises the provision of the necessary assistance at local government level, whether in terms of infrastructure maintenance, funding or technical assistance.

He says the water master plan must be viewed in tandem with the National Development Plan and the delivery of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

The master plan sets out nearly 100 key immediate, short-term and future-thinking action steps to ensure South Africa stabilises its struggling water sector, enables access to water for all and preserves the already stressed, valuable and scarce resource.

“We need to focus our attention and resources on maintaining our current infrastructure, securely guarding water sources and most essentially educating our people on the necessity of looking after their rivers, harvesting rain and caring for the environment,” Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu told delegates at the launch.

Some of the key action plans focus on reducing water demand and increasing supply; redistributing water for transformation; regulating the water sector; improving raw water quality and protecting and restoring ecological infrastructure.

Additional Source: Cape Talk