The water crisis in South Africa and its implications for health and sustainable development
The water crisis in South Africa and its implications for health and sustainable development
Access tosafe drinking wateris a fundamental pillar for stabilizing urban systems and ensuring public health, as the availability of this resource is closely linked to the path of sustainable development and the ability of societies to confront contemporary challenges. With the escalation of climatic and demographic pressures, the decline in the quality and continuity of water supplies is emerging as a pivotal development issue that touches on the essence of social justice and the human right to a decent life.
The South African experience provides a revealing example of this transformation, as the accumulated challenges in major cities reveal how the deterioration of water services can turn into a social and health stress factor that threatens the path of sustainable development.
The water crisis in South Africa and its urban repercussions
In South Africa, problems with the availability and quality of drinking water in major cities have been widely documented, and these conditions have often led to public protests over poor services.Ethekwini, a coastal city and major port, has witnessed repeated protests as a result of power and water outages, andJohannesburg, the country’s economic center, has not been spared from similar waves of anger.
The seriousness of the water crisis lies in the contamination of available water and not only in the interruption of supplies. Water may contain pathogenic organisms and toxic chemicals that threaten public health, which makes the crisis have clear health and social dimensions, intersecting directly with the goals of sustainable development, especially with regard to good health and well-being.
Deterioration indicators and future scenarios
The quality of water provided to citizens in South Africa continues to deteriorate due to aging infrastructure, weak water and sanitation treatment systems, a lack of qualified personnel, and uncontrolled sources of pollution. Data issued by the Ministry of Water and Sanitation indicate a clear decline in the performance of a large number of water supply systems, compared to an increase in the percentage of systems classified as critical, compared to previous years.
In the same context, independent tests conducted by AfriForum during 2024 in hundreds of cities and towns showed a decline in the percentage of drinking water suitable for human consumption compared to the previous year, which reflects the erosion of confidence in the ability of public services to guarantee the right to access safe water.
The water crisis does not stop only at the deterioration of quality, it also extends to availability. Large areas have witnessed frequent and prolonged water outages as a result of drought linked to climate change, population growth, and mismanagement, which has prompted authorities to adopt water rationing policies and reduce supply pressure. Official reports also warn that major regions, such as Gauteng and the Western Cape, are likely to face increasing water scarcity in the coming years, driven by a rise in population as a result of internal migration, which portends deeper economic and social challenges.
Drinking water between daily use and the right to health
The effects of these indicators and warnings extend to public policies and the future of resources, in addition to the details of citizens’ daily lives, most notably the uses of drinking water related to health and hygiene, as the concept of drinking water also extends to include the water needed to brush teeth, wash food, and wash hands, especially when dealing with children, in addition to washing eating utensils. In light of the scarcity of clean water, priority should be given to these basic uses, as a condition for maintaining public health and preventing the spread of diseases.
Through these simple daily uses, the dimensions of thewater crisis are revealed as a crisis that directly affects public health, as its danger is linked to the ability of individuals to maintain basic hygiene and food safety practices. It makes the crisis of safe water shortages a multiplying factor for health risks, especially for children and the most vulnerable groups, transforming water from a basic service into a crucial element in preventing diseases and protecting human health.
In light of this reality, many residents find themselves forced to search for temporary solutions to deal with available water, especially during periods of emergency and outages, which opens the door to the question of what can be done to protect public health in such circumstances.
Temporary solutions in light of the water crisis: What can be done in times of emergency?
In disaster or emergency situations, residents may be forced to purify drinking water themselves for limited periods. In this context,Joe Barnes, honorary lecturer at Stellenbosch University and a researcher specializing in water, health and drinking water quality issues, shares some simple home methods that help purify water and reduce pollution factors, knowing that purifying home water daily by individual means is not a practical solution in the long term, given Due to their high cost and the effort required to implement them, which makes these measures temporary solutions imposed byWater Crisis only in exceptional moments.
The most prominent measures that can be resorted to in times of emergency include the following:
Water filtration to remove primary impurities
Filtration is a necessary preliminary step when water is not subject to any formal treatment system. This step can be carried out using simple methods available in homes, such as passing water through a regular filter lined with layers of clean cloth or paper tissue, which acts as a filter that helps remove dust and suspended particles that may hinder subsequent purification processes or reduce their effectiveness, but it is not enough alone to make the water safe for health.
Boiling water to eliminate pathogens
After filtration, the water can be boiled long enough to eliminate most disease-causing microorganisms. Boiling is one of the most effective ways to confront biological risks, despite its limitations in dealing with chemical pollutants, which confirms its temporary preventive nature.
Water sterilization using unscented household chlorine
If boiling is not possible, measured amounts of unscented household chlorine can be used to sterilize drinking water. This procedure contributes to eliminating a large percentage of pathogens, provided that the recommended doses are adhered to, and any cleaning products that contain additional substances that may pose a health risk are avoided.
Solar water disinfection in appropriate environments
Solar disinfection depends on exposing water to direct sunlight for sufficient periods of time, taking advantage of heat and ultraviolet rays to reduce the microbial load. This method is an option in sunny areas, but it remains limited in scope and is not suitable for large amounts of water.
Although these methods contribute to reducing health risks associated with water pollution during emergencies, they do not replace the need for safe and stable water systems. Sustainably addressing the water crisis remains dependent on repairing infrastructure, improving management, and ensuring the right to access safe drinking water as an integral part of the path of sustainable development.
In conclusion,The water crisisin South Africa reveals a structural imbalance that goes beyond daily supply to the core of sustainable development, where water intersects with poverty, health, social justice, and good governance. Ensuring equitable access to safe drinking water represents a fundamental pillar for achieving the sixth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (clean water and sanitation), and an indispensable pillar of social stability and economic growth.
In this context,The Earth Guards Foundation believes that protecting water resources and enhancing their sustainable management is a key entry point to building more resilient societies, by supporting community awareness, encouraging fair policies, and linking water issues to human rights and comprehensive development, ensuring that water scarcity does not turn into a permanent factor for reproducing poverty and inequality.
