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implications of major investments in water and sanitation schemes. Cost factors are of
vital importance in South Africa*. It is clear that the cost of water per se - and the cost
of delivery - will increase markedly over time, partly as an economic rationing mechanism
to contain excessive demand, and also with reference to future droughts. Higher water
revenues will be used to fund the supply of purified water to approximately
12 000 - 15 000 rural, peri-urban and urban settlements.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry recently launched a National Water
Conservation Campaign to facilitate the efficient, sustainable and equitable supply as well
as use of water (see later in the chapter). A core objective is to educate consumers to
save water. The detection and repair of leaks in major urban networks is accordingly
essential**. Strategies include water audits; incentives for good .conservation
practices/penalties for poor water management; higher tariffs, and stricter control of
pollution. Several projects are underway such as a schools water awareness programme,
the removal of invasive alien vegetation in selected river catchments, and an investigation
into prepayment metering for low income households.
12.2 Animal, domestic and industrial water consumption in South Africa
Some relevant water consumption information is presented in this section. Tables L1 and
L2 provide data for wild animals and livestock .respectively. Domestic (both urban and
peri-urban/rural) data are outlined in Tables L3 - L6, while industrial consumption data are
presented in Table L7. The latter table includes industrial water quality information (see
the chapter on water quality, elsewhere in this publication). Further domestic (design)
*
**
Useful publications/papers on the costs of water and water systems include the following: Mirrilees,
R.I., Forster, S.F. and WilJiams, C.J., 1994. The application of economics to water management in
South Africa, WRC Report No. 415/1/94. Water Research Commission, Pretoria, various pages. as
well as Schur, M.A., 1994. The need to pay for services in the rural water sector, South African
Journal of Economics. VOl 62(4), p. 419 - 431 .• read together with Schur, M.A., 1994. The cost
of rural water supply: a case study in South Africa, Water SA, VOl 20(3), p. 179 - 186. See in
addition: Stephenson, D., 1995. Factors affecting the cost of water supply to Gauteng, Water SA,
VOl2114l, p. 275 - 280., plus Van Ryneveld, M.B., 1994. The current extent of coverage and the
costs of water supply and sanitation provision in the urban areas of South Africa, Water SA, VOl
20121. p. 99 - 106., and Van Ryneveld, M.B., 1995. Costs and affordability of water supply and
sanitation provision in the urban areas of South Africa, Water SA, VOl 21 (1 I, p. 1 - 14.
A brief, non-technical overview of water loss procedures can be found in Malan, G.J.• 1994.
Municipal water loss management: guidelines for water supply authorities, Municipal Engineer, VOl
25(71. p. 23 - 26. (See the bibliographic database).