Page 50 - Risk Report 2024

IRMSA
50 RISK REPORT 2024/25

8.6 Water

SA’s water risk relates to insufficient availability, pressure and distribution of quality
water to meet demand where needed at affordable cost. Coherent, integrated investment,
management, and conservation, underpinned by good governance is needed to address it.

Risk is driven by the following:
Insufficient water availability, pressure, and distribution to meet demand when needed:
• Rapid urban population growth causes increased demand straining infrastructure and leading to inefficient
distribution networks across the water value chain (bulk water supply, water boards, municipalities).
• Deteriorated availability, reliability, and quality of electricity affects potable water supply by interrupting
filling of reservoirs to capacity. Frequent plant start-ups cause equipment failures, reduced availability,
increased maintenance costs, overflowing reservoirs, excessive discharge to rivers, and non-compliance to
quality standards.
• Climate change induced extreme weather events require adaptation through the design and build of more
resilient water infrastructure. Urgent resource capacitation is needed to convert the influx of climate related
funding into meaningful water projects. Erosion of construction industry capacity suppresses the ability to
implement large, technically complex capital water infrastructure projects, leading to increased reliance on
foreign capacity for execution.
• Criminal intimidation and extortion of contractors and officials at construction sites (in the form of a
‘protection levy’ payable to ‘local business forums’) occur nationally, causing delays, cost increases, and
abandoned projects. Attempts by the State to combat this, are reflected in new policies and legislation, inter
alia the CIPA, the NIP, and the CIP.
Water quality
• Pollution and faulty treatment plants make water unsafe for consumption and increase purification costs,
exacerbating the risk of water borne diseases. Sporadic incidents are likely to continue unless all at-risk water
supply systems are improved.
• The Vaal and Orange River systems are becoming more saline, resulting in a new species of being reported,
with new reports also from Hartbeespoort Dam. These species grow faster than existing dominant genera of
blue-green algae because of its saline tolerance and produce potent toxins that are not yet fully understood.
Water management agencies are forced to dilute water using more costly Lesotho Highlands Water Project
water versus removal of salts at water sources.

PROF. ANTHONY TURTON DAWID BOSMAN ALLARICE BOSCH
Director Senior Manager Acting General Manager
Nanodyn Systems Trans-Caledon Tunnel Legal & Risk
Authority Rand Water