Assessment of the ultimate potential and future marginal cost of water resources in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa is rapidly approaching the full utilisation of its fresh water resources, and most of the remaining potential has already been committed to be developed. The good news, however, is that it is highly unlikely that our country will run out of water resources, although we could end up paying a lot more for fresh water due to the planning, development and intervention initiatives that will be required to sustain the requirement for water, according to a report, An Assessment of the Ultimate and Future Marginal Cost of Water Resources in South Africa, that was commissioned by the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) last year.