Even without the present man-made contribution to climate change, the climate will change in future as it has done for the past 3,000 million years. For Southern Africa a long (100-s of years) dry period is predicted. Concentrate on things which people can actually control: Reduce water losses from the distribution system (presently over 30 %); make users eliminate waste and reduce water consumption (don't let taps run; apply strongly progressive tariffs); recycle waste water; aim for efficient water use in agriculture (irrigation technology, choice of crops); invest in desalination techniques and systems. Nothing of this is new or novel; much can be done (maybe unglamorous and unspectacular). Thinking about climate change is very interesting and exiting, but does not provide the solutions the local people need now.
Published by Johan H. STAAL, MSc
Even without the present man-made contribution to climate change, the climate will change in future as it has done for the past 3,000 million years. For Southern Africa a long (100-s of years) dry period is predicted. Concentrate on things which people can actually control: Reduce water losses from the distribution system (presently over 30 %); make users eliminate waste and reduce water consumption (don't let taps run; apply strongly progressive tariffs); recycle waste water; aim for efficient water use in agriculture (irrigation technology, choice of crops); invest in desalination techniques and systems. Nothing of this is new or novel; much can be done (maybe unglamorous and unspectacular). Thinking about climate change is very interesting and exiting, but does not provide the solutions the local people need now.