New report sounds alarm on impact of climate change on SA's water sector

Adams was part of the panel that released the Presidential Climate Commission report in Johannesburg.

The report provides a detailed analysis of climate change impacts and South Africa's progress towards limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

It projects that climate change impacts on the water sector will continue to grow.

"Evidence suggests that recent droughts and floods could be attributed to climate change, with more such events expected in the future. Climate change is contributing to the frequency and intensity of these events,” Adams said.

The report found that climate change made the 2015–17 Cape Town drought three to six times more likely to occur.

Recent analysis shows that climate change exacerbated the heavy rainfall, leading to the 2022 KZN floods.

“These events impact the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption and economic activities and can also damage water-related infrastructure," says Adams.

Adams emphasises that climate change-induced changes to rainfall and temperature patterns may increase water scarcity.

"The country is generally classified as water-scarce, with annual average precipitation roughly 52% of the global average.

“Regional climate conditions vary, with rainfall ranging from 100 to 500 mm/year in different regions. Growing water demand exacerbates this scarcity.

“Just 8% of South Africa’s land accounts for 39% of its water flow. Water management is further complicated by transboundary water considerations, as 45% of South Africa’s river flow is shared through international river basins with neighbouring countries," explained Adams.

He said South Africa primarily relies on surface water, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to increased evapotranspiration rates. 

"Many of the country’s large dams are already fully allocated to existing water users, and recent reports show a decrease in some dam yields. The Western Cape Water Supply System, one of the national integrated systems of large dams, is projected to face a 25% reduction in yield due to climate change.

“At the national level, the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan projects water shortages of up to 30% by 2030. Increased temperatures and drought conditions also lead to higher water demand, adding further stress to the water supply. Therefore, building water resilience in the face of anticipated declining water availability is critical,” Adams said.