Curbing water loss in agriculture: Q&A with Christine Colvin

Christine Colvin

Present at the forum was Christine Colvin, WWF's freshwater specialist and she told us more about the current situation and commented on its far reaching consequences.

With the increasing size of the population and the rise in demand for food and water, what kind of strategy should we have in place to ensure adequate supply of water? Do we have such a strategy in place?

Christine Colvin: We need to focus on minimising non-productive losses from our water systems and preventing degradation of precious water resources. We have clear strategies to address these issues in our National Water Resource Strategy (Dept of Water Affairs) and the No Drop campaign and War on Leaks. However, we need clearer guidance from other departments and industries on their role in the implementation of these strategies to have the necessary effect. Other departments, such as DMR, who can prevent pollution from mines, or COGTA who can assist local governments mitigate sewage pollution are critical implementing agents for our future water security.

From a farmer's perspective, how will water scarcity effect agriculture processes and livelihoods?

Colvin: Water risks are a key threat to livelihoods and agri-business. Agri-business will need to be increasingly water-wise and plan for more extreme events in the face of climate change. For business and livelihoods this could include: 1 - ensuring buffer zones are healthy and intact around rivers and water sources to protect from pollution; 2 - using multiple sources of water including groundwater during times of drought; 3 - installing water-efficient irrigation technologies and more effective soil monitoring techniques.

What role will the agriculture sector play or what can be done in the agriculture sector to minimise the impact of water scarcity?

Colvin: The agricultural sector is the largest water consumer (66%) and, therefore, is critical in improving water-use efficiency and in better managing our catchment areas. Best practice needs to be widely understood and supported in agricultural landscapes and this is a practical challenge with limited agricultural extension support in most areas. High-level guidance is given to farmers in WWF's water stewardship online tool which will be launched in October.

How effective can precision agriculture and water irrigation techniques be in preserving water resources? Does South Africa have the necessary expertise and technology to ensure effective implementation thereof?

Colvin: Precision irrigation and better measurement of water use and plant water requirements are critical to optimising food production in our water -scarce environment. We have an excellent understanding of what can be done and we need to narrow the gap between what we know and has been researched in agricultural water-use and what is widely implemented. We need to transfer the latest knowledge more effectively to farmers.

What is the "worst case scenario" we are looking at if current population growth and climate change trends continue? What can be done to make sure we don't reach that point?

Colvin: Government predicts that our water demands will outstrip supplies by 2025. Climate change is likely to exacerbate the situation. Beyond water efficiency we need to be more water-aware in our economic development planning - why are we still planning coal mines in our precious water source areas? Coal mining activity in these areas will permanently damage the heart of our water bearing infrastructure and compromise our water security. We should be protecting our water source areas (the 8% of our land area that generates half of our river run-off) and enabling better production in healthy landscapes through water stewardship. We also need to relook at our food system to minimise food waste, this is a 'fruitless' use of precious resources.

Is there anything that people in general and other businesses can do to aid in conserving water, above and beyond using it sparingly?

Colvin: Once we are doing the best we can with the least possible water, we need to look at issues that require collective action. Partnerships are necessary to tackle the big issues of alien plant invasion, land-use planning and better sanitation in informal areas. Working through water stewardship, different partners from communities, government and business are able to pool resources to overcome shared risks to water security.

Christine Colvin has been leading WWF's Freshwater programmes for four years. Colvin is a hydro-geologist, with a Master's degree from University College London. She worked in scientific research for 15 years with the CSIR and led a multi-disciplinary Hydro-Science research group before moving to WWF South Africa. As a hydro-geologist Colvin was vice president of the International Association of Hydrogeologists for sub-Saharan Africa and contributed to new knowledge on groundwater dependent ecosystems. WWF South Africa's Water Programmes, under Colvin's leadership, include Water Stewardship, Water Source Areas, the Mondi Wetlands Programme and the Water Balance Programme.