United Nations’ Aquastats data shows that South Africa has more renewable freshwater resources than Botswana and Namibia. In 2013, it had a total of 44.8 billion m³ of water available - a quarter of the capacity of the Kariba, Africa’s largest dam.
Experts have pointed out that most people in Africa rely on surface water, yet the continent lacks the financial capability and technology to invest in groundwater harnessing such as the digging of wells.
Households in the Western Cape are most likely to have access to piped water, while those in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape are the least likely to have access to piped water. 2. Piped water in less than 50% of SA homes
Rainfall distribution is uneven across South Africa – the eastern side of the country is considerably wetter than the western half. South Africa also experiences alternating periods of droughts and floods, which affects the amount of water across the region.
South Africa has less water per person than Botswana & Namibia. United Nations’ Aquastats data shows that South Africa has more renewable freshwater resources than Botswana and Namibia. In 2013, it had a total of 44.8 billion m³ of water available - a quarter of the capacity of the Kariba, Africa’s largest dam.
Since 1904, rainfall in all nine provinces has averaged 608 mm per year, while South Africa received only an average of 403 mm (66% of the annual average) in 2015. Previously, the lowest rainfall received in ...
South Africa is the 39th ‘driest’ country in the world. The average rainfall a country receives in a year is one way to measure how dry a country is. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation ’s Aquastat database provides comparable figures for 182 countries around the world.
While residents in South Africa’s economic capital of Johannesburg seek shelter from current rains, Cape Town residents are being pressured to further reduce their water consumption. Cape Town is currently trying to stave off “ Day Zero ”, when the taps run dry and residents will be forced to queue for water rations.
Water is an essential basic need that must be available in order for human beings to survive the next day. Africa has a serious water crisis, despite the continent boasting of having numerous natural water sources such as lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, springs, rainwater, aquifers, and ocean waters.
Experts have pointed out that most people in Africa rely on surface water, yet the continent lacks the financial capability and technology to invest in groundwater harnessing such as the digging of wells.
The Challenge: Clean and Safe Water. “Water is colorless and tasteless, but you can live on it longer than eating food.”. – African Proverb. In 2010, the United Nations officially declared water a fundamental human right. “This means that for the UN, the right to water and sanitation is contained in existing human rights treaties and is, therefore, ...
One of the UN’s SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) includes ensuring all humanity has access to clean and safe drinking water. By 2030, it is estimated that the population of Africa will have reached 1.7 billion and, therefore, water issues on the continent need to be urgently addressed.
Over 300 million Africans lack access to clean and safe water for drinking and 700 million are living in poor conditions without adequate sanitation. Lack of access to clean and safe water has frustrated poverty reduction efforts and hindered economic prosperity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 40% of Africa’s Sub-Saharan population still lacks access to safe water. Africa’s population has grown from 800 million in 2000, to a whopping 1.2 billion today.
For instance, Sub-Saharan Africa loses 5% of its GDP per year as a result of water-related challenges. In addition, 40 billion hours per year, which could have otherwise been used on productive activities, are spent searching for water.