South African Water Problem

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Currently, South Africa has been utilizing policies supported by scientific information in order to solve the problem. One such policy is the National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS). This strategy is being applied in order to limit the usage of water, prevent further pollution, and decrease environmental degradation (Tibane 2016). This policy and the National Water Act raises South Africa’s hopes in having a sustainable amount of water in order to support their nation’s ecosystem and economy.

D. Innovative and Creative Solutions for the Future

Over the past decade, the South African government have been coming up with new policies in order to solve this crisis. One solution that has been working well throughout the last ten years has been employing citizens to cut down any invasive vegetation (Moyers 2001). Not only has this decreased water consumption, but also the amount of nitrogen produced. Since the invasive species have been slowly decreasing, nitrogen levels have gone done, therefore creating cleaner air by adding the amount of oxygen. By doing this, South Africa has not only been improving their ecosystem by limiting water consumption and nitrogen production from plants, but has also been improving their economy by temporarily employing many citizens in their country.

In addition to employing citizens, the South African government has been creating several associations and agencies, along with building important structures. The government has built over five hundred damns along with water boards, allowing the government to manage the usage of water more effectively (Tibane 2016). Along with these building, agencies such as catchment management agencies, water-user associations, the Water Trading Entity (WTE), and many others have started to properly overlook and manage water usage, some of them through scientific steps. The WTE is in charge of properly distributing water throughout South Africa, along with sanitizing any contaminated water supplies (Tibane 2016). With the WTE looking over its area of responsibility, along with the other associations managing theirs, South Africa’s ecosystem and economy has been slowly improving until recently. In 2015, South Africa has suffered from an excessive heat wave caused by El Nino, therefore causing the nation to experience a drought which has been becoming worse in 2016 (Tibane 2016). In conclusion, South Africa has made several steps to solve its water crisis, but now are experiencing outside effects that is out of their control. In order to save their ecosystem and nation, they must look on different ways to combat this situation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, South Africa has constantly suffered from a lack of water, and now must endure the effects of El Nino. Although South Africa is experiencing this drought, their solutions to the original problem were slowly working. Therefore, by continuously identifying the problem, understanding what is causing the problem, and identifying scientific solutions, South Africa may be able to overcome the water scarcity and once again recreate their ecosystem.

Works Cited and Annotations

Braun, David M. "Water Crisis Looms in South Africa." National Geographic. November 5,

2010. Accessed September 20, 2016.

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2010/11/05/water_crisis_looms_in_south_africa/.

This source describes the water contamination in South Africa and how its citizens are reacting to the shortage.

Chevallier, Romy. "The Importance of Valuing South Africa's Natural Riches." South African

Institute of Internal Affairs. October 10, 2012. Accessed September 20, 2016.

http://www.saiia.org.za/opinion-analysis/the-importance-of-valuing-africas-natural-

riches.

This source describes the natural resources South Africa contains, along with the pressure it takes from foreign nations to industrialize.

Masando, Sipho. "Water Crisis by 2020." Times Live. February 14, 2011. Accessed September

20, 2016. http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2011/02/14/water-crisis-by-2020.

This source briefly describes what South Africa can possibly become in 2020 if they do not solve their water crisis.

Moyers, B. 2001. Earth on Edge, Films for the Humanities and Sciences, Princeton, NJ.

This source describes several ecosystems and the problems they faced in 2001.

Richardson, and Van Wilgen. "Invasive Alien Plants in South Africa: How Well Do We

Understand the Ecological Impacts?" Researchspace. January 2004. Accessed September 20, 2016. http://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/handle/10204/2088.

This source goes into the scientific aspect of the invasive species. It describes how to measure the overall impact of the invasion, along with its effects.

Tibane, Elias. "Water and Sanitation." Pocket Guide to the South African Government. 2016.

Accessed September 20, 2016. http://www.gcis.gov.za/content/resourcecentre/sa-

info/pocket-guide/pocket-guide-south-africa-20142015.

This source is published by the South African government, which provides information on everything occurring in their country today.