by Munetsi Madakufamba
This is the third in a four–part series on water, based on the book Water in Southern Africa published by SADG IUCN and SARDC in February 1997.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries face great challenges in managing water resources to ensure that rural and urban populations have access to clean water, says a new book on water issues in southern Africa.
With the average annual population growth rate of three percent, the impact on demand and supply of water will escalate. At the current population growth rates, the SADC region will experience chronic water-shortage by the year 2030, water experts forecast.
“The challenge for the region is to ensure adequate water supply for all the people in the region,” says the book, Water in Southern Africa, which was launched at the SADC Consultative Conference in Namibia in early February.
The amount of water consumed in the region’s rural and urban communities varies considerably from country to country and from city to city.
But in all cases, says the book, the management of water resources should be a responsibility of individual citizens, as it is of communities, civic society, the public and private sectors, as well as regional groupings and international organisations.
“All of the region’s 145 million people have a role to play, mostly as resource-use managers,” says the book, warning that if consumption of water among its competing uses is left uncontrolled, it can be a potential source of conflict both within and between countries.
Management of water resources is often fragmented among different government departments, some of which have competing interests. “SADC countries have to harmonise water management, first nationally and then regionally.”
There is need to develop sustainable and integrated water-management strategies that involve all stakeholders in a participatory rather than a restricted approach.
“People should be empowered not only to make decisions but also to own the problems,” advises the book, adding that when this happens, people are better motivated to help find solutions.
The book notes that while governments have several departments at both the central and local levels dealing with provision of water, recurrent droughts often expose weaknesses in terms of conservation and supply.
Conservation measures that are introduced during drought periods are often lifted as soon as adequate rains replenish reservoirs, resulting in abuse and wastage of water.
Unlike in the past, the demand for water is increasingly becoming competitive between domestic, agricultural and industrial uses as populations increase and economies expand.
Given that water is a finite resource while its demand is always increasing, allocation strategies should therefore be evaluated in terms of feasibility and economics, without compromising on basic needs as well as environmental considerations, says Water in Southern Africa.
Water supply is either the responsibility of the state, municipalities or private companies. While the last two supply on a fee-for-service basis, the state has an additional social responsibility toward disadvantaged groups, especially rural communities where water may be supplied for free.
However, warns the book, a top-down approach without active participation of beneficiaries can work against its objectives as there will not be a sense of ownership and hence responsibility on the part of those who use the resource.
“This situation leads to unwelcome developments where in a majority of cases the (water) projects are regarded by the beneficiaries as belonging to the government. All maintenance programmes are, therefore, seen as the government’s responsibility,” says Water in Southern Africa.
In recognition of this shortcoming, it is important that all stakeholders be involved in the management process to instil a culture of ownership for purposes of sustainability.
The book also says a sound water tariff policy is needed in order to deter users from unnecessary wastages, especially through excessive watering of gardens and avoidable leakages in reticulation systems at home.
The major objective of a national water tariff policy should be directed at encouraging the consumer to appreciate the true value of water and participate fully in measures to conserve it.
In cases where the full cost to supply water cannot be recovered from the consumer, at least the operating cost component should be recovered. The book argues that in commercial undertakings such as mines or large industries, water should be considered just like any other production input and as such must attract the full economic tariff.
The book also says integrated, combined use of water resources in a systematic manner allows for more efficient utilisation.
However, the book warns that while modern technological ingenuity makes it possible to transfer water from long distances or build as many dams as financial resources may allow, this should not be done without proper consultation with all interested parties as this can endanger lives of people and ecosystems downstream. (SARDC)
