Can SA afford to continue polluting its water resources? – With special reference to water pollution in two important catchment areas

Abstract

The reuse potential of industrial, agricultural and domestic return flows in any region is directly dependent on the quality of treatment processes and the intended reuse applications. Although the direct recycling of polluted water for potable use does not occur in South Africa, water users downstream of polluted water resources are indirectly exposed to such reuse and suffer the consequences of poor pollution control measures in numerous catchments. It is often assumed that the cost of polluted return flows for environmental release and polluted water resource remediation for reuse is justified within a water scarcity context such as South Africa. However, a current CSIR investigation (funded by the Water Research Commission) indicates that South Africa cannot afford the increasing costs associated with such remediation strategies due to the sheer magnitude of ongoing water pollution.