Water insecurity in Johannesburg (and beyond?)

Abstract

This Commentary draws upon news and other published information primarily from the last few years. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate that the water sector is complex, and that it sits at the interface of politics, science, engineering, social and behavioural science, economics, and public health. The lack of attention paid to maintenance and upgrades in the water sector, whilst demographic shifts occur, has resulted in water insecurity in South Africa’s most populous province – Gauteng. The long-term prognosis for this situation is not good, unless we can mobilise society towards changing its understanding of how to fully reuse water and embrace the reuse of fully treated sewage. This represents a challenge that may take some time and will certainly require all the disciplines (and more) listed above.