The aging water infrastructure and poor maintenance in KZN have led to ongoing water supply disruptions, which have been further exacerbated by recent extreme weather events and the 2021 riots.
ACTING alone, industrial companies in KwaZulu-Ntal are finding it harder to mitigate water risks related to supply and quality; what is now required is a collaborative approach to build the necessary resilience.
According to Tamaryn Hale, principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting’s Durban practice, the recent extreme weather events and the 2021 riots have only aggravated the water supply interruptions being experienced as a result of ageing water infrastructure and poor maintenance.
“We have seen more clients struggling with the reliability of their water supply and adequate water quality – factors that pose considerable risk to their businesses,” said Hale.“These companies are responding individually as best they can, but many of these challenges are outside of their control. It now needs a shift towards a more collaborative approach, which can build not only their corporate resilience but that of other stakeholders in their catchments.”
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