National Water Resource Strategy

The National Water Resource Strategy 2 (NWRS2) addresses South Africa's status as a water-stressed country by prioritizing equitable water allocation, sustainable resource protection, and the implementation of water conservation and demand management (WCWDM). It proposes a shift from traditional engineering solutions toward a 'water mix' including groundwater, desalination, and water re-use to meet growing demands from the energy, mining, and agricultural sectors. The strategy details a significant institutional realignment, including the establishment of nine Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) and Regional Water Utilities, and estimates a total sector investment requirement of R700 billion over ten years.

• South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world, with high rainfall variability and evaporation rates, and is facing critical water scarcity.
• The total investment required for the water sector over the next ten years is estimated at R700 billion, averaging R70 billion per year, comprising R670 billion for infrastructure and R30 billion for sustainable management programmes.
• Surface water resources are reaching full utilization, with more than two-thirds of the country's mean annual runoff already stored in dams, and few economically viable sites remain for new dams.
• Water conservation and water demand management (WCWDM) is identified as the top priority to balance supply and demand and postpone the need for expensive new infrastructure.
• Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in urban supply systems averaged 36.8% over six years, with some municipal schemes reporting losses up to 90%.
• The irrigation sector is the largest single user of water, accounting for 60% of total use, but suffers from losses between 35% and 45%.
• Climate change is expected to reduce overall water availability, increase temperatures, and lead to more intense and prolonged droughts and floods.
• The strategy proposes a new institutional model involving nine Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) and nine Regional Water Utilities to decentralize and professionalize water management.
• Water Allocation Reform (WAR) is central to redressing past racial and gender imbalances, with a national target of 30% of water in the hands of black and women citizens.
• Freshwater ecosystems are severely threatened, with 60% of river ecosystem types and 65% of wetland ecosystems identified as threatened.
• The strategy advocates for a 'water mix' to reconcile supply and demand, incorporating groundwater, desalination, water re-use, and rainwater harvesting.
• Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a significant pollution threat but also presents an opportunity to increase water availability if treated and managed.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2013). National Water Resource Strategy. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DWS-National-Water-Resources-Strategy-2013.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. National Water Resource Strategy. 2013. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DWS-National-Water-Resources-Strategy-2013.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=National Water Resource Strategy |date=June 2013 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DWS-National-Water-Resources-Strategy-2013.pdf?x21779 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights2013national, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{National Water Resource Strategy}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2013}, month = jun, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DWS-National-Water-Resources-Strategy-2013.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }