A deliberate pro-poor focus on water access and job creation is needed.Ī workshop was convened today in Cape Town, bringing together selected high-level stakeholders who participated in the preparation of the report to share the hydro-economic study's methodology and results with other cities and provinces, identify opportunities for its application, and chart the next steps to follow up on the recommendations.Operation and financing of the alternatives (aquifers, water reuse, and desalination) should consider the economic benefit beyond direct supply and the increase of assurance for the entire WCWSS.Confidence in the system and trust in the process are also needed for investment. Augmentation alone is not necessarily sufficient to catalyze the full economic development benefits.The Western Cape province’s planned augmentation program must urgently be implemented to mitigate the risk of economic loss and to create economic value.The hydro-economic study has shown promising opportunities to integrate water issues into overall city planning, making it a valuable tool. The Western Cape Water Supply System provides water to businesses and over four million people in Cape Town, as well as to agriculture and businesses in Stellenbosch, Drakenstein, Swartland, and Saldanha Bay municipalities. For the Cities Support Programme (CSP) this work is welcomed as an important lens for cities to build resilience at the local level,” said Sibongile Mazibuko Program Manager of the National Treasury’s CSP. “The preparation of hydro-economic studies for water supply systems supports the integration of water resources, and the reliance of all water users on these resources, into economic planning. This can be achieved through collaborative governance by South Africa’s national, provincial, and local governments, water users, and key stakeholders. The findings demonstrate the economic benefits of augmentation and a reliable water system, as well as opportunities and requirements for building a climate-resilient water system and economy. The direct economic impact of the drought on the Western Cape economy was estimated to be nearly R15 billion, which is about 3.4 percent of provincial GDP and 0.3 percent of national GDP in 2018," said Asmeen Khan, Manager of Operations for the World Bank in Southern Africa. This has been clearly illustrated by the hydro-economic study. "For a water-stressed country such as South Africa, understanding the close relations between water and the economy is key for sustained economic growth. In recognition of the strong interdependence between the economy and water system, a multi-year hydro-economic study was completed for the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) and launched today. CAPE TOWN, JSouth African cities are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which jeopardizes the reliability of their water systems, ultimately impacting their competitiveness, quality of life for residents, and prospects for economic development.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |