Water Research Commission calls for agricultural revolution in South Africa to solve water crisis

Residents of South Africa are facing rising inflation, increased food prices, and soaring electricity tariffs, yet the issue of the country's water crisis remains underestimated.

The Water Situation in South Africa

South Africa ranks 33rd globally in terms of aridity. The Food Indaba 2026 conference, themed 'Water and Food Systems,' was held this week. During this event, experts, scientists, and stakeholders from various sectors discussed ways to prevent the depletion of the country's water resources.

The Concept of Water Bankruptcy

Deshni Pillay, Head of the Nature, Climate, and Energy Portfolio at the UN Development Programme in South Africa, noted that the water crisis has gone beyond simple water scarcity and has begun affecting the cost of food on tables. Pillay recalled the 'Day Zero' situation in Cape Town in 2018, when the threat of the water supply running out was real.

She explained that people tend to think a water crisis only begins when the water stops flowing, whereas in reality, it starts with rising food prices. Although the consequences of water bankruptcy may be unnoticed now, farmers are the first to feel the difficulties when they have to drill deeper wells, pumps require more effort, and yields decrease due to limited water access.

Pillay emphasized that water bankruptcy does not develop instantaneously. Similar to financial bankruptcy, it begins subtly: small deficits accumulate, natural resources are depleted, warning signs are ignored, and suddenly the entire system fails. The most dangerous aspect is that most people do not realize the approaching catastrophe until the very last moment.

Signs and Economic Impact

The first signs of water bankruptcy are often not empty reservoirs, but an expensive loaf of bread, reduced harvests, factory closures, or a monthly decrease in a family's grocery basket. Pillay explained that the link between these phenomena is often not established because water is an invisible component of everything, even though every meal starts with it.

When water reserves decline, crop yields fall, food prices rise, farmers' incomes decrease, agricultural jobs disappear, nutrition worsens, and poverty and inequality deepen. Pillay cited the example of Cape Town, stating that food security is impossible without water security. This lesson is now manifesting across South Africa, including water supply disruptions in Gauteng, infrastructure problems in eThekwini, and recurring droughts in several provinces, which degrades the ecological state of critical catchment areas.

She concluded that South Africa's water challenge is not just a climate change issue, but also an infrastructural, ecological, managerial, and developmental one. Water bankruptcy threatens the future prosperity of the nation, affecting not only households and farms.

Solutions to the Problem

Pillay noted that despite the grim picture, there is hope. Various steps are being taken across South Africa: communities are restoring traditional methods, catchment areas are being rehabilitated, nature-based approaches are being implemented, and investments in climate resilience are being made. She stressed that healthy ecosystems are vital ecological infrastructure requiring more sustainable management.

The expert highlighted the importance of collaboration with communities involved in water conservation. Pillay stated that the future is shaped upstream, and efforts should be directed there. She clarified that the history of water bankruptcy is less about scarcity and more about the choices and decisions made by policymakers regarding the management of the future, food production, and investment in the economy.

Pillay added that South Africa is not starting from scratch: farmers nationwide are adopting sustainable practices, scientists are improving forecasting and developing early warning systems, and municipalities are beginning to explore new approaches to water scarcity. Businesses are investing in innovation, but most importantly, citizens are demanding change. Solutions exist, and everyone needs to unite to ensure decision-makers have the necessary knowledge to achieve water and food security.

The water crisis in South Africa has become one of the most pressing issues facing municipalities today. Across the country, towns and settlements are grappling with rising demand, climate instability, aging infrastructure, and shrinking financial resources. These factors have placed local authorities at the center of a national emergency. However, despite the enormous scale of the difficulties, the crisis presents significant opportunities for collaboration and shared responsibility.

Causes and Scale of the Problem

The crisis is viewed not as a failure of municipalities, but as a symptom of pressure on the entire nation. Experts believe the solution lies in updating the social contract between municipalities, the public, industry, youth, and national partners, which is reflected in the WRC campaign 'A WaterWise Nation.'

South Africa loses 37 percent of treated water due to leaks, pipe bursts, vandalism, and illegal connections. This volume of water was obtained, treated, and pumped at great cost, yet it disappears before reaching consumers. For municipalities, already struggling with budget shortages, such losses are catastrophic.

Infrastructure and Regional Challenges

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, 105 municipalities face a combined water infrastructure deficit of approximately 400 billion rand. Many treatment plants and pipelines have reached or exceeded their service life, while accelerated urbanization and climate change intensify the strain on fragile systems. Despite investments of nearly 100 billion rand over the past five years, repair and modernization efforts are not keeping pace with growing demand.

Tension is felt across all provinces. In Gauteng, residents of Mogale City, Westber, Ebony Park, Tsakana, and Johannesburg South have experienced prolonged outages due to dwindling reservoirs during periods of intense heat. In the eThekwini region of KwaZulu-Natal, more than fifty districts continue to face instability due to infrastructure failures and power interruptions. In the Eastern Cape, Nelson Mandela Bay is caught in cycles of drought, with reservoir levels frequently dropping below 20 percent.

Free State continues to battle multi-day water supply disruptions in towns such as QwaQwa, Welkom, and parts of Mangaung, often linked to pump failures and aging main pipelines. Limpopo and North West face similar issues, as frequent breakdowns occur in Polokwane, Mahikeng, and Clerksdorp due to the collapse of old networks under pressure.

A New Social Contract for Water Security

Given the circumstances, municipalities must take the lead, but they cannot do so alone. South Africa requires an updated municipal social contract where responsibility is shared, not delegated. Civil society organizations, businesses, and government must act as partners in safeguarding the water future.

Municipal leadership remains a key element. Local governments are responsible for water distribution and treatment, planning infrastructure investments, and initial response to system failures. Their ability to communicate transparently, interact constructively with communities, and collaborate across sectors lays the foundation of trust that is critical for joint action.

Communities also play an increasingly vital role. When residents promptly report leaks, conserve water during peak hours, protect infrastructure from vandalism, and understand municipal limitations, water supply systems become more stable and manageable. Community forums on water issues, volunteer groups, and neighborhood patrols have already demonstrated their effectiveness in supporting municipalities in several regions.

The private sector is also a crucial part of this partnership. Local industries can implement water-efficient processes, invest in on-site reuse systems, and collaborate with municipalities on smart metering and network monitoring. These measures reduce the burden on municipal supply and support economic sustainability.

The A WaterWise Nation Campaign

The WRC campaign 'A WaterWise Nation' provides municipalities, communities, industries, and educators with a unified framework for building a water future. The campaign emphasizes behavioral change as one of the most powerful tools for reducing demand and protecting supply. It offers municipalities informational materials, data, case studies, and tools to mobilize households and businesses. It supports communities with accessible knowledge about responsible water use, encourages industry to adopt efficient and sustainable methods, and provides young people with information and inspiration to become stewards of water resources.

Furthermore, 'A WaterWise Nation' reinforces a fundamental principle: water security is not just a government task. It is a collective responsibility shaped by the daily decisions of millions of South Africans. If every household, business, school, and community adopts even small water-saving habits, the cumulative national effect will be immense.

Call to Action and the Future

South African municipalities are navigating some of the most challenging conditions in democratic history, yet they remain the bedrock of local resilience. Their work deserves recognition, and their challenges require partnership, not criticism. This is a moment for collective responsibility, where residents, businesses, and government unite to protect the systems that sustain us.

The path forward will require honesty, innovation, and collective commitment. But it is a path they are fully capable of taking. If they align their goals, support local leadership, and embed water-saving behavior in society, they can change the trajectory of the crisis and create cities that are both sustainable and future-ready. South Africa's water future will be determined not only by built infrastructure but by the choices made today. Urgent action is needed, in partnership and with the understanding that water security belongs to all of us.

The international conference WISA 2026 will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from July 22 to 24, 2026. The event will bring together delegates from the water sector under the theme 'Rethinking Amanzi – Securing Our Future.'

Context and National Agenda

Against the backdrop of water supply infrastructure, service provision, and long-term water security remaining priorities in South Africa's national agenda, the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) is organizing a three-day conference that will attract over 2000 specialists.

Government Commitment and Investment

The conference follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's launch of several water supply programs and announcements of new commitments in water infrastructure, jointly with Vice President Paul Mashatile. Ramaphosa pledged R156 billion for water supply and sanitation infrastructure over the next three years. He also warned that municipalities and officials who fail to properly manage water services could face legal consequences, as the government intensifies efforts to combat the escalating water crisis in South Africa.

Conference Program and Participants

Ramaphosa noted that these investments are part of a broader strategy aimed at increasing water accessibility in underserved communities and addressing water insecurity. The conference program will begin on Wednesday, July 22, with an opening address by Ian Palmer, Chairman of the WISA Organizing Committee, followed by a presentation from Dr. Lester Goldman, CEO of WISA, and an official opening by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina.

Deputy Ministers David Makhubo and Dr. Jack Bloom, as well as Dr. Shaun Phillips, CEO of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), will also be present. A keynote speech will be delivered by the President of the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO), Refilwe Buthelezi (Pr. Eng), who will call on water resource experts to lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution in water use, focusing on rethinking governance, technology, and investment in Africa's water future.

Technical Aspects and Discussions

The technical program includes over 80 sessions across specialized tracks, workshops, and high-level meetings. Topics under discussion cover microplastics, groundwater sustainability and managed aquifer recharge, including the Cape Flats aquifer, as well as climate resilience, droughts, floods, alternative water supply services, and water infrastructure upgrades.

Furthermore, the conference has scheduled a high-level panel discussion on water sector financing, meetings with the Department of Water and Sanitation, consultative sessions related to the UN Water Conference in 2026, and sessions from the Commission for Water Research, focused on South Africa's agenda for water research and innovation.

Expert Views on the Sector's Future

Goldman emphasized that the water sector challenges in South Africa cannot be solved by one organization alone. He stated that as pressure on water resources grows, collaboration between different disciplines and institutions becomes critically important. WISA 2026 provides a valuable opportunity for the sector to exchange experiences, showcase innovations, and find practical ways to improve water security and service delivery. Goldman added that the necessary knowledge, innovation, and commitment to improving South Africa's water future already exist within the sector, and the collective task is to accelerate the implementation of good ideas to achieve tangible results.

Ian Palmer noted that in these complex times, countries are restructuring, and international cooperation organizations are losing legitimacy amid climate instability. There is economic, social, and political uncertainty at the national level, which affects the capacity of key state institutions in the water sector, including local authorities. In Palmer's view, water professionals need to act, and holding meetings to present new ideas and discuss sector challenges is necessary. He concluded that WISA 2026 serves as an important platform for such interactions, being a flagship event for the South African water community and international water resource specialists interested in the region.