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This synthesis report by GreenCape examines the economic impacts of water scarcity in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) and evaluates the governance failures that hinder integrated water and economic planning. It projects severe economic losses by 2040, primarily driven by urban water deficits in the City of Cape Town, and recommends institutional reforms, including the establishment of a Regional Water Utility and the adoption of hydro-economic decision-support tools.

The Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle (LAC) Campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights, groundWork, and Earthlife Africa, submitted a response to Minister Jeff Radebe on 8 August 2018. The letter argues against the construction of new coal-fired power plants, specifically the Thabametsi and Khanyisa projects, asserting that they are not the least-cost option and would undermine South Africa's climate commitments and public health.

The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018 is a strategic update to South Africa's electricity infrastructure development plan, extending the planning horizon to 2050. It evaluates various energy mix scenarios to balance security of supply, cost, and environmental impact, specifically focusing on the transition from coal to renewable energy and gas. The document also includes a Medium-Term System Adequacy Outlook (MTSAO) for 2018-2023 and a specific climate change and water resources assessment for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights examines the negative environmental and social externalities of coal-fired power generation in South Africa, with a primary focus on water use, pollution, and the associated economic costs. It argues that current energy planning, specifically the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), fails to internalise these costs, leading to a misrepresentation of the total cost of coal compared to renewable energy alternatives.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for groundwork, Earthlife Africa, and Concerned Citizens of Lephalale, submitted comments on 15 June 2018 objecting to the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and Waste Management Licence (WML) Variation Application for the Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Retrofit Project at Medupi Power Station. The CER argues that the FEIR is deficient due to missing data, a 'piecemeal' approach to environmental authorisations, and a failure to adequately assess water and waste impacts.

This fact sheet provides a municipal snapshot of the Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM), focusing on water constraints, water intensity across economic sectors, and the projected economic impact of water deficits by 2040.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a statement to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs on May 22, 2018, opposing the approval of coal-fired Independent Power Producers (IPPs), specifically Thabametsi and Khanyisa. The CER argues that these projects are unnecessary, economically damaging, and environmentally catastrophic, citing high greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity, and air pollution in priority areas.

This fact sheet provides a municipal snapshot of the Drakenstein Municipality (DM), detailing the critical constraints water scarcity and climate change pose to its future economic development, urban growth, and agricultural productivity by 2040.

This fact sheet provides a municipal snapshot of Cape Town's water usage, economic contribution, and projected water supply deficits through 2040, emphasizing the city's role as the primary economic driver and water user in the region.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and groundWork, submitted supplementary objections on 5 March 2018 against the Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) and Integrated Water and Waste Water Management Plan (IWWMP) for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station. The objections argue that the project is unnecessary due to excess electricity capacity, poses severe risks to the water-stressed Mokolo Catchment, and fails to account for climate change impacts and toxic coal ash disposal risks.

This fact sheet analyzes the impact of water scarcity on the Stellenbosch Municipality (SM), highlighting that high urban growth and irrigated agriculture could lead to a significant water deficit by 2040, potentially costing the local economy R10.3 billion per year and 56,602 jobs.

This GreenCape briefing argues that investing in water efficiency and alternative water sources is financially sound for businesses even after droughts end. Using three business models (office, medium manufacturing, and large manufacturing), it demonstrates that solutions like smart metering, retrofitting, and effluent reuse can reduce municipal water reliance by up to 70% and costs by 60%, with most solutions paying back within six years.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has notified the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs of its intention to challenge the Minister of Environmental Affairs' January 30, 2018, decision to uphold the environmental authorisation for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station. The CER argues the decision is unreasonable and unlawful, as it relies on an outdated energy policy to justify a project with very high greenhouse gas emissions and water scarcity risks, contradicting a previous High Court judgment regarding the necessity of independent climate impact assessments.

A case study by GreenCape detailing how Quality Beverages, a soft drink manufacturer in Cape Town, reduced its water use by 27% through staff education and the reuse of bottle rinsing water.

This fact sheet by GreenCape analyzes the impact of water scarcity on the Swartland Municipality (SM), highlighting that high urban growth and irrigated agriculture could lead to severe economic losses and job deficits by 2040.

This guide by WWF South Africa provides instructions for securing safe drinking water for residents of Cape Town facing a 'Day Zero' water crisis. It details the risks associated with untreated alternative water sources, the necessity of testing and treatment, and methods for safe storage.

This fact sheet analyzes the water intensity and future water security of the Bergrivier Municipality (BM), warning that failure to augment water supply or implement conservation measures will severely constrain economic development and employment by 2040.

This technical note by the World Resources Institute proposes a three-step methodology to estimate water withdrawal and consumption for thermal power plants in data-scarce regions. The approach integrates the visual identification of cooling and fuel types via satellite imagery with empirical water-use factors. When tested against 200 U.S. power plants, the method demonstrated high precision in identifying technology and fuel types, though it faced more challenges in accurately estimating water demand for specific cooling systems.

This report is a peer review conducted by EOH Coastal & Environmental Services for the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding the Climate Change Study and Palaeontological Impact Assessment (CCSPIA) for the proposed 1,200 MW Thabametsi Coal-Fired Power Station. The review evaluates the adequacy of the Greenhouse Gas Assessment (GGA) and the Climate Resilience Assessment (CRA), concluding that while the technical assessments are comprehensive and follow international best practices, there are discrepancies in the overall impact rating and omissions regarding the social cost of carbon.

This Water Use License Application Report (WULAR) details the water requirements and environmental impact assessments for the proposed 630 MW Thabametsi coal-fired power plant near Lephalale, Limpopo. The report seeks authorization for various water uses under the National Water Act, 1998, including water abstraction, storage, and waste disposal. It emphasizes the use of dry-cooled technology to achieve zero liquid effluent discharge due to regional water scarcity and proposes sourcing water through a permanent transfer of allocation from Exxaro Coal (Pty) Ltd.