Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

Question by: 
Hon Isaac Sileku
Answered by: 
Hon Anton Bredell
Question Number: 
7
Question Body: 
  1. What percentage of the province’s water supply is currently sourced from alternative sources such as (i) desalination plants, (ii) groundwater extraction and (iii) rainwater harvesting, (b) what is the provincial government’s target for this percentage in the next five years, (c) what is the latest update on the progress made with achieving this target, (d) what is the number of new projects that will be rolled out in the next five years, (e) what will these projects cost and (f) what volume of water will potentially be generated by these projects?
Answer Body: 

Many towns within the Province have exceeded their water allocations and are required to apply for reallocations. Likewise, the use of alternative water sources within the province differs from town to town.

 

  1. The percentages of the Western Cape province’s water supply can be estimated to be distributed as follows:
    1. 1% for desalination plants,
    2. 32% for groundwater and 67% for surface water.
    3. Rainwater harvesting is still scantly utilised, and its scalability is to be further explored throughout the province.

 

  1. The Provincial governments target is to have a multi-source/water mix in terms of water supply within the province in future and alleviate dependence on one source of supply.

 

  1. The appointment of professional geohydrological services as part of the implementation of the Water Resilience Plan will ensure an increased variation of supply source.
  2. Due to climate change the exact number of projects to be implemented cannot be pinned down at any point time. The number of projects to be rolled out are determined through the bi-annual assessments as well as from the recommendation based on the outcomes during the implementation phase of the Water Resilience Plan, that is currently underway. Projects to be implemented will aim to ensure a water resilient province.
  3. An amount of R 22.316 million has been allocated over the MTEF period. Projects to be rolled out will include recharging of groundwater source, wellfields development, drilling and equipping of boreholes.
  4. The volumes of water to be generated will be guided by the demand projections in the Water & Sanitation Master Plans of municipalities.
Date: 
Friday, May 19, 2023
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