Botswana adopts new water policy 

Travelling through Botswana, it is difficult to believe that the country suffers from a dry climate which necessitates careful management of its scarce water resources. One can see open canals and large reservoirs for irrigation where the water evaporates in the hot sun, leaking water pumps and pipes, and toilets where the water runs all day and night.

Comments COWI hydrosociologist Charles Pendley: "It is astonishing how much water is wasted in a country where it is a scarce, costly resource due to irregular rainfall, rising urban and industrial demand and significant loss through evaporation, leaks etc. The people of Botswana act as if the country has an unlimited supply of water."

New policy aims to change attitudes to water consumption

But water shortages will be a problem in the future for Botswana, where population, urban and industrial water consumption and its cost are increasing Therefore, the Government of Botswana, with financing from Danida, will prepare a new water conservation policy and strategy.

Much will have to change – including at the highest political and administrative levels – before Botswana's future water resources are assured.

Use existing water more efficiently

Continues Charles Pendley: "Conservation implies a radical change in the way people think about water. So far government, with its tendency to favour large, costly solutions for the water sector, such as dams and water transfer schemes, have not set a very good example. There is a one-sided focus on finding new water sources instead of utilising existing water more efficiently, with the result that the cost of finding and delivering water and prices to consumers keep rising."

Pay a realistic price for water

COWI's task is to draft a water conservation policy for Botswana. In addition to the policy, it will be critical to change the attitude of the population towards water. "To get people to begin to treat water as a valuable commodity rather than a cheap and infinite resource, realistic prices and water loss control measures will be introduced along with water conservation campaigns and public education," says Charles Pendley.

Other measures include introducing innovative technical and managerial solutions for water conservation and reform and strengthening the Department of Water Affairs's awareness of and ability to implement these measures.

The water conservation policy will also lay the foundation for revising legislation, bye-laws and guidelines, rehabilitating existing plant and equipment, new investments in water reuse and recycling and measures such as standards, licensing large water consumers, monitoring water use and quality and introducing fees and fines for excessive use, misuse and pollution.

Published: 01.07.2004
Af: Janne Toft Jensen, jaje@cowi.dk