This week's official declaration of the water crisis as a national disaster highlights the magnitude of the water security challenge facing the economy and society at large. The water crisis requires collaborative and results-oriented action between the government, business and civil society. It should not be politicised. This is because it is everyone's problem. It requires urgent and lasting solutions if the economy is to grow at higher rates of sustainable and inclusive growth. It is even a global issue. The World Economic Forum's Global Risks report estimates that about a third of the world's population live in water-stressed areas and about a billion people have no access to safe drinking water. Global water demand is projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030. The crisis is partly a result of a multi-year drought that is linked to climate change. It is exacerbated by poor planning and lack of investment in new and existing infrastructure. According to Piotr Wolski, a hydrologis...
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