An analysis of the social-economic effects of a water crisis on households in the Western Cape: Evidence from Paarl

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dc.contributor.advisorMkhize, Mbekezeli Comforten_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorMadumi, Phathutshedzoen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorJoseph, Darren Christopheren_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Science. School for Defence Organisation and Resource Management.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-18T07:29:05Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-16T12:44:29Z
dc.date.available2022-11-18T07:29:05Z
dc.date.available2023-01-16T12:44:29Z
dc.date.issued2022-12
dc.descriptionThesis (MMil)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: Water crises affect human beings differently from one country to the next. Many studies have investigated the causes and consequences of water crises, yet the Western Cape’s water crisis remains a serious problem. This study aimed to analyse the socio-economic effects of the Western Cape’s water crisis on households in Paarl. Existing literature, including books, journal articles, conference papers, and Internet articles, was reviewed to gain insight into the phenomenon of water crises. In support of the existing literature, the study employed the qualitative research approach to collect empirical data. Qualitative data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 20 residents, five municipal officials, and five engineers. Each sample had its own interview guide to gather information from these participants. The study employed the Homer-Dixon environmental scarcity theory and the demand management theory to understand and explain the concept of water crises. The thematic analysis method was used to analyse the qualitative data. The key findings revealed that the water crisis affected all the participants; some had lost their jobs, while others were socially affected. Most respondents believed that the water crisis was caused by a combination of climate change and related and consequent low rainfall, overconsumption, human overpopulation, and water wastage factors. Furthermore, the participants pointed out measures that assisted with managing the water crisis, including water restrictions, increased water tariffs, and water meter monitoring. The respondents also suggested ways how water can be used more sparingly, such as using the same water for multiple purposes and using greywater for non-human consumption purposes, such as watering gardens and filling pools, to name a few. Many of these implemented measures and strategies were successful; however, some residents did not comply and were fined by their municipalities. Participants from across the three cohorts sampled agreed that drilling boreholes, recycling water, and building new dams and reservoirs will assist with the stable supply of water in the long term. Furthermore, the engineer participants indicated that the management and maintenance of dams and reservoirs are crucial for storing water. The relevant authorities should upgrade all existing early warning systems and install them in places that are not yet active. These systems should not only be used to indicate pending crises or disasters but should also be used when there is more than enough water to ensure that contingency measures can be taken. The national government should invest more funds in water desalination plants so that seawater can be made safe for human consumption. Local municipalities should constantly remind the public of water-saving methods to decrease domestic consumption. This should be communicated to all stakeholders to secure buy-in from all affected parties. Further investigation is needed on how regional or local water crises influence both national and local economies. The water crisis in the Western Cape has had a significant impact on the local agricultural sector, which, in turn, influenced the country’s economy. Mitigative measures and solutions require urgent investigation, such as finding a more affordable seawater desalination process.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Waterkrisis beinvloed mense verskillend van land tot land. Die oorsake en gevolge van waterkrisisse is al deur verskeie studies ondersoek. Tog bly die Wes-Kaapse waterkrisis ’n netelige problem. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die sosio-ekonomiese gevolge van ’n waterkrisis op huishoudings in die Paarl, Wes-Kaapprovinsie, te ontleed. Bestaande literatuur, waaronder boeke, tydskrifartikels, konferensie-artikels, en Internetartikels, is geraadpleeg om insig rakende die verskynsel van waterkrisisse te verkry. Ter ondersteuning van die bestaande literatuur het hierdie studie ’n kwalitatiewe benadering gevolg om empiriese data te versamel. Kwalitatiewe data is deur middel van aangesig-tot-aangesig-onderhoude met 20 gewone inwoners, vyf munisipale amptenare, en vyf ingenieurs versamel. Elke groep het hul eie onderhoudvoeringsgids gehad om inligting van die deelnemers in te samel. Die studie het die Homer-Dixon-omgewingskaarsheidsteorie en vraagbestuursteorie gebruik om die waterkrisis te verstaan en te verduidelik. Tematiese ontleding is gebruik om die kwalitatiewe data te ontleed. Die belangrikste bevindings toon dat al die deelnemers deur die waterkrisis geraak is; sommige het hul werk verloor en ander is sosiaal geraak. Die meeste respondente was van mening dat die waterkrisis veroorsaak word deur faktore verwant aan klimaatsverandering en gevolglike lae reenval, oorbenutting, menslike oorbevolking, en watervermorsing. Verder het die deelnemers maatreels uitgewys wat gehelp het met die bestuur van die plaaslike waterkrisis in die Wes-Kaap. Hierdie maatreels het onder andere waterbeperkings, verhoogde watertariewe, en watermetermonitering ingesluit. Die respondente het ook maniere voorgestel waarop water spaarsamig gebruik kan word, soos om dieselfde water vir veelvuldige doeleindes te gebruik, en gryswater, wat ongeskik vir menslike gebruik is, te benut om, onder andere, tuine nat te maak en swembaddens vol te maak. Baie van hierdie maatreels en strategiee wat geimplementeer is, was suksesvol. Sommige inwoners het hierdie maatreels egter nie nagekom nie en is deur hul munisipaliteite beboet. Deelnemers vanuit al drie steekproefgroepe het aangedui dat die boor van boorgate, die herwinning van water, en die bou van nuwe damme en reservoirs op die lange duur sal help met die stabiele, langtermynvoorsiening van water. Die ingenieur-respondente het voorts aangedui dat die bestuur en onderhoud van damme en reservoirs baie belangrik is vir die opberging van water. Die owerhede moet alle bestaande vroee waarskuwingstelsels opgradeer en dit installeer op plekke waar dit nog nie bestaan nie. Hierdie stelsels moet nie slegs gebruik word om naderende rampe aan te dui nie, maar moet ook gebruik word as deel van gebeurlikheidsbeplanning wanneer daar meer as genoeg water is. Die regering moet meer geld bele in waterontsoutingsaanlegte sodat seewater ontsout kan word vir menslike verbruik. Plaaslike munisipaliteite moet gemeenskappe voortdurend herinner aan waterbesparingsmetodes wat hulle kan benut om hul huishoudelike verbruik te verminder. Dit moet aan alle belanghebbendes gekommunikeer word sodat almal wat deur watervoorsiening geraak word, saam kan werk. Verdere ondersoeke is nodig oor hoe ’n waterkrisis die ekonomie as ’n geheel beinvloed. Die Wes-Kaapse waterkrisis het ’n groot invloed op die landbousektor gehad, wat op sy beurt ’n invloed op die ekonomie van die land gehad het. Krisisresponsmaatreels, soos ’n goedkoper proses vir ontsouting van seewater, behoort ondersoek te word.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extentxii, 135 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/125988
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subjectDroughts -- Households -- South Africa -- Paarl, Mounten_ZA
dc.subjectPaarl, Mount (South Africa) -- Economic conditionsen_ZA
dc.subjectPaarl, Mount (South Africa) -- Social conditionsen_ZA
dc.subjectWater consumption -- South Africa -- Paarl, Mounten_ZA
dc.subjectClimatic changesen_ZA
dc.subjectGraywater (Domestic wastewater)en_ZA
dc.subjectUCTD
dc.titleAn analysis of the social-economic effects of a water crisis on households in the Western Cape: Evidence from Paarlen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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