Overcoming Water Scarcity With Dynamic Water Flow Rate Control (DWFRC): Case of South Africa

Introduction

Over the past decade, due to the adverse effect of uncontrolled natural resources (petrol, gas, heavy industrialization) utilization, the natural biosphere system has been heavily affected and the direct consequence is the increased sunlight radiation on the earth system resulting in climate change pattern as well as increased desertification. Based the geographical coordinate and the geological characteristics of each area of the planet, some countries are more affected than others. A direct consequence of the dryness is the overheating of not only the natural water sources, but all other water related products. This is the mere source of a dangerous phenomenon causing water scarcity problem all over the world. Water scarcity is becoming a real issue nowaday. Most countries in the world are facing it in their own way based on their own geographical coordinate and condition. Many countries are facing a challenge of a growing water demand as a result of not only an increased population, economic growth, but also as a pressure of the population dynamic and urbanization. Based on current statistics, the global water demand is expected to increase by 40% in the year 2030. Furthermore, under the “business-as-usual” approach, more water demand pressure is still ahead because the world’s population is predicted to reach 9.1 billion people by 2050 from the current 7.7 billion (WWAP, 2015). Looking into it in this perspective, South Africa (SA) is not least affected. Moroever, not only SA is a semi-arid country, it is also a highly water-stressed country, with extreme climate and rainfall fluctuations (WRI, 2015). SA is ranked as the 30th driest country in the world. Some part of the country dries up completely, especially in the summer period, making it very difficult for people to embark on their daily activities. The SA water demand is expected to growth to 17.7 billion m³ by 2030 which is theoretically equivalent to 17% gap between supply and demand (WRG, 2009; Wikipedia, 2020) This very precious resource is vital for any living thing on this earth, without water, there is no life. Because of its geographical and geological characteristics, SA has insuficient natural source of water and the important part of water used in SA (Gauteng) are bought from neighbor country (Green Cape, 2019). This situatuation makes it more costly for the country to be able to provide its citizens with good quality water a all time. Beside the high trading cost as well as the cost associated to the water treatment plant, just like many countries in the world, a good chunk of this precious liquid is loss every year in a form of leakage and non revenue water. The World Wildlife Fund South Africa’s (WWF-SA) 2016 report titled “Water: Facts and Futures… Rethinking South Africa’s Water Future”, developed by Big Issue (2019) and Riante (2017), stated that 37% of water in the urban piped water systems leaks out or is used illegally. In fact, SA is being losing at lot of money in this field for the past decade. With the population growth compounded with the fast urbanization effect, the gap between the demand and the available is increasing seriously and the population has already starting feeling the effect of the scarcity in their respective pocket due to regular and progressive increase of m³ water prices years after years. Since 2013, water losses Leaks in SA water systems have been costing the economy approximately R7.2-billion per year (S. A. Brand, 2013). This is very serious and alarming issues, especially in this time of economic recession. Therefore, in an attempt to reverse this negative effect generated by excessive water loss, the Second National Water Resources Strategy (NWRS2) of 2013 provided a framework for the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources in South Africa. Core Strategy 6, in the NWRS2 spells out that “… implementing water use efficiency, conservation and water demand management is a non-negotiable principle” (DWS, 2017). This strategy highlights the need to reduce water losses and increase water use efficiency; promote water saving through incentive-based program, including smart technology and rebates for water savings; fast-track the implementation of water conservation and water demand management (WC/WDM).