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The document identifies water as a critical constraint to development in the Saldanha Bay Municipality (SBM), projecting that a growing water deficit will severely impact the local economy and jobs by 2040. It highlights that urban water requirements are expected to increase by approximately 99% by 2040 due to population and economic growth, while climate change is projected to increase agricultural water requirements by 44% between 2015 and 2040. The report warns that by 2040, the water deficit could cost the local economy R8.7 billion per year and 44,640 jobs annually, with the highest costs stemming from the urban water deficit.

The document analyzes water demand in the Berg WMA, highlighting that climate change will increase the water requirements of key crops like grapes, stone fruit, and citrus. It identifies a significant future water supply deficit, particularly in the municipalities of Swartland, Stellenbosch, and Drakenstein, and argues that the low economic 'value per drop' of agriculture compared to urban use will make securing additional water allocations difficult. The report recommends crop switching to low-water, high-value alternatives and investing in water efficiency technology to mitigate these risks.

The Drakenstein Municipality faces significant water constraints due to urban growth and climate change, with urban water requirements projected to grow by 129% by 2040. Agriculture, particularly grapes which consume 80% of irrigated water, is a major driver of demand. By 2040, the estimated water deficit could cost the local economy approximately R10.5 billion per annum and 57,218 jobs.

The document highlights that while Cape Town's economy is less reliant on water-intense sectors than others, its massive scale makes it the region's primary water user and the area most affected by supply deficits. By 2040, the water deficit in Cape Town could cost approximately R100 billion in GVA and 403,877 jobs annually, representing 29% of the local economy.

The document warns that Stellenbosch Municipality faces a severe water deficit by 2040, driven by high urban growth and the water-intensive nature of its agricultural sector, particularly grape production. This deficit is projected to cost the local economy R10.3 billion per year and result in the loss of 56,602 jobs. Climate change is expected to further increase agricultural water requirements by 38% by 2040. The report recommends that the municipality decouple population growth from water consumption through conservation and demand measures to mitigate these risks.

The Swartland Municipality faces significant water scarcity risks by 2040, driven by high population growth and the water-intensive grape industry. Projections indicate a potential water deficit of approximately 50 million m3 per year by 2040, which could cost the local economy R12.8 billion annually and result in the loss of 68,091 jobs.

The Bergrivier Municipality faces significant economic risks due to high water intensity in its key sectors, particularly agriculture. Projections indicate that changing climatic conditions and population growth will increase water requirements by 2040, potentially leading to a water deficit that could cost the local economy R3.1 billion and 16,229 jobs per annum.

The document details the stakeholder engagement process and technical data used to develop a regional tool for integrated water and economic planning in the Berg WMA. It includes records of workshops and meetings with provincial government, local municipalities, and academic institutions. Technical appendices provide marginal values of water by crop, estimated irrigated agriculture water requirements, and forecasts for urban water demand for 2025 and 2040. The text also validates these bottom-up estimations against the WARMS database and Aurecon's Water Resources Simulation Model, while assessing the economic opportunity cost of potential supply deficits in terms of GVA and employment.

The document outlines systemic failures in the integration of water resource and development planning in the Berg WMA, highlighting a top-down planning approach, a lack of municipal capacity to secure off-budget finance, and a disconnect between Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and water availability assessments.