A case for integration: water resource and development planning in the Berg Water Management Area

This policy brief examines the disconnect between water resource management and economic development planning in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA). It warns of severe economic losses and job deficits by 2040 due to water constraints and advocates for integrated planning, the potential creation of a regional water utility, and increased support from the Western Cape Government to help municipalities manage water augmentation and financing.

• The Berg WMA is a constrained catchment where all readily available water is already allocated, and it is projected to require 45% more water by 2040 due to climate change and population growth.
• By 2040, the City of Cape Town will be the primary driver of water demand in the region, accounting for 45% of total water requirements and 80% of all urban water requirements.
• Agricultural water needs will increase for key crops due to temperature and rainfall changes, with citrus fruit, grapes, and stone fruit requiring 35%, 34%, and 29% more water respectively.
• Without new water resource development, the region faces a forecast supply deficit of approximately 300 million m3 per year by 2040, which could result in an annual economic loss of over R146 billion and nearly 650,000 jobs.
• Current planning systems in the Berg WMA are not equipped for integrated decision-making, as water resource development and economic planning are treated as separate, independent variables.
• Several factors limit integrated planning, including a top-down approach with few feedback loops for local municipalities, a first-come first-served basis for project assessment, and the fact that Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) are not required to consider water availability and demand.
• Local municipalities struggle to implement water infrastructure projects because they often lack the creditworthiness and capacity to raise off-budget finance for projects deemed 'commercial'.
• The brief recommends that the Western Cape Government support the development of a regional water utility or water board to coordinate supply needs and prioritize cost-effective interventions.

APA

GreenCape (2018). A case for integration: water resource and development planning in the Berg Water Management Area. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/BERGRIVER-POLICY-BRIEF-WEB3.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. A case for integration: water resource and development planning in the Berg Water Management Area. 2018. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/BERGRIVER-POLICY-BRIEF-WEB3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=A case for integration: water resource and development planning in the Berg Water Management Area |date=2018 |url=https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/BERGRIVER-POLICY-BRIEF-WEB3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencape2018case, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{A case for integration: water resource and development planning in the Berg Water Management Area}}, institution = {GreenCape}, year = {2018}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/assets/Uploads/BERGRIVER-POLICY-BRIEF-WEB3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }