Water Shortages Approaching Fast, but can be mitigated Sustainably and Affordably
Thursday 1st July 2010
South Africa points the way forward
The 2030 Water Resources Group has released its report ‘Charting our Water Future,' which concludes that water scarcity can be mitigated affordably and sustainably. Scarcity can be a result of both physical and economic reasons. If business continues as usual, by 2030 global water demand will be 40% in excess of current supply. This statistic will not be spread evenly, precipitating in one-third of the world population having only half of the water they need. This factual insight is hoped to guide policy discussion and help stakeholders make informed investment decisions.
The difference between supply and demand is described as the water gap. The size of the gap will depend on the growth of demand. There are various approaches to close the gap, from most cost effective, to the most palatable. Different places will have different solutions. ‘Charting our Water Future' compiles case studies of the fastest emerging economies, Brazil, South Africa, India and China, often amalgamated to BASIC. Juliette Jowitt, in a commentary for the Guardian, disbelievingly noticed "that 42% of all project demand will be required by [these] four countries."
Solutions in India will achieve the highest impact by reducing the amount of water agriculture uses. In China, it is industrial and residential uses which are increasing rapidly, here building water infrastructure and pushing through water saving reforms are the best solutions.
Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Chairman of Nestlé and signatory of the report, argues water needs a more representative price. Writing in the Guardian, Brabeck-Letmathe advances "no country understands the water crisis better than South Africa." One of South Africa's progressive policies is a two tear pricing structure. There is a subsidised price for the amount of water needed for basic sanitation, cooking and drinking, and charging the full cost of infrastructure for additional use. Brabeck-Letmathe explains:
"While it is a basic human right to have access to subsidised water for hydration and hygiene, why should washing your car, filling a swimming pool or watering a garden be priced in the same way? Full cost recovery for these activities will not only ensure that we are more judicious in our use, but will also, crucially, help repair our leaking infrastructure. In the poorest areas, it will also help to extend pipes so that water reaches more homes."
Jowitt describes the level of investment proposed as gargantuan, but "the big question...is how to get it done;" that is to say few politicians would relish the spectre of raising the price of water.
Website links: guardian.co.uk/Brabeck-Letmathe; guardian.co.uk/Juilette Jowitt and nestle.com
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