The close bond between humans and water is illustrated in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, where water meets the most basic of physiological needs. But despite its critical role, water is frequently overlooked and undervalued. “This always make me...
South Africa faces a formidable challenge as it contends with one of the driest climates globally, averaging a mere 464mm of rain annually, far below the global average of 786mm. The severity of this crisis is heightened by the climate catastrophe,...
Over the past few weeks, many celebratory videos and photos have been shared of overflowing supply dams for the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM). Kirsten Kelly talks to Matthew Hills, an engineer at NMBM about avoiding dry taps, the...
In keeping with the nautical theme of the WISA’s previous two conferences – ‘all hands on deck’ and ‘navigating the course’ in 2020 and 2022 respectively – WISA has chosen ‘turning the tide’ for its upcoming conference in 2024. By Dr Lester...
Over the past two decades, more than 80 metropolitan cities across the world have faced severe water shortages due to droughts and unsustainable water use. Future projections are said to be even more alarming since urban water crises are expected...
Access to water is a basic human right, as emphasised by World Water Day on 22 March, which focuses on solving the global water and sanitation crisis. “If you touch on the community aspect, load shedding is an inconvenience, but as soon as you do...
The demand for water will exceed the available supply by 2030 – that’s a 10% to 15% deficit. Kate Stubbs unpacks how creating a much more diverse and sustainable water mix can alleviate South Africa’s water crisis. Seven of the 13 major water...
Groundwater management is critical to keeping water supplies available and safe for future generations. By Dr Roger Parsons Groundwater is the most extracted material in the world, providing about half of the drinking water supply worldwide....
South Africa’s water finance account has been in the red for years and the numbers are staggering: R898 billion is needed to fund the National Water and Sanitation Masterplan (NW&SMP). Alarmingly, we are adding to that total daily, as the...
