South Africa is approaching physical water scarcity in 2025 where it is expected to reach a water deficit of 17% by 2030. Without action, by 2050, 75% of the world’s population could be facing drought.

Levels of water scarcity are soaring including in South Africa, which faces multiple water crises as annual water use has risen by around 3,500 billion m3 globally over the last century. Action to increase water circularity through global collaboration and innovation could help tackle this. Doing so will bring wider benefits – including reducing drought risk, supporting climate goals and advancing social development to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals – according to new research by BSI and Waterwise.

Thirst for change: securing a water positive future notes that water provision and use contribute around 10% of global carbon emissions, while drought could affect as many as 75% of the world’s population by 2050, meaning that inaction now could be as detrimental to the planet as not tackling the climate crisis.

The report sets out the key steps that could have a positive impact to help society meet this challenge, including recognizing tackling water scarcity could be a sustainability opportunity as large as reducing climate change, making it easier for consumers to choose water-saving products and embedding a circular economy mind-set.

The study by BSI, the business improvement and Standards Company, in partnership with Waterwise, a leading voice on the efficient use of water, includes an Indicator evaluating water scarcity in 40 locations. Whilst water is abundant on Earth, just 0.5% is available as fresh water, and the report finds that a combination of population growth, climate change and economic development is driving demand and putting growing, unsustainable pressure on this supply.

Yet in a positive sign, the findings come amidst recognition of the importance of water management. According to polling commissioned by BSI, two-thirds of consumers and 80% of small business leaders identified clean water and sanitation as ‘part of sustainability’, while half of the former and 44% of the latter placed it in the top five issues to focus global resource and effort on.

Water is one of the earth’s most fundamental and precious resources. We have launched this partnership to understand more about how we can collaborate to uncover opportunities to improve water availability by providing solutions that will benefit people and planet,” says Jonathan Chocqueel-Mangan, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, BSI.

“At BSI, we understand that ensuring a water-secure future could be as big an opportunity as reducing carbon emissions. As an organization focused on driving business improvement, we hope we can have a significant positive impact on society and organizations alike by advancing this debate.”

The research identifies that using water wisely can bring important benefits, including enabling equitable global access, protecting precious habitats and making us more resilient to climate change and drought. It makes a series of recommendations, including:

Recognize water wastage as a serious challenge – Acknowledge the issue and act, with utility companies leading the way to reduce network leakage

Ensure it is easy to choose water-saving products and make sustainable choices – for example learning from countries including Australia and Singapore, which apply mandatory product water efficiency labelling systems, aligned with the relevant standard

Embrace innovation and make better use of data – smart meters have the potential to be a game changer when it comes to saving water

Encourage a water saving culture – Prioritize protecting our planet through water management, whether that is at home or in the workplace, and across different sectors

Close the loop – Make water recycling and reuse the norm where possible, using techniques such as water recycling and water reuse in new buildings, or rainwater harvesting

Partner for impact – Collaborative effort across a wide range of players from government and regulators to the water industry and ultimately all of us as water users can help us address the growing challenges around water availability.

Collaboration and a move towards a water-saving culture can accelerate progress. The report sets out affordable and accessible actions by individuals, organizations and society to address water scarcity, including the increased use of smart meters and installing alternative water supply systems (rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling) or sustainable urban drainage solutions (SuDS) into new buildings. 

Theuns Kotze, Managing Director, Assurance IMETA at BSI, says: “Water is one our most fundamental, precious and undervalued resources – it is the blue thread that connects our world – and using it wisely can bring important benefits, helping us to maintain good health and a biodiverse natural environment, ensure we have sufficient food supplies and contributing to economic growth. But it is becoming increasingly clear that it is not sustainable for demand for water to continue to rise without action to ensure we are using it wisely and managing it efficiently.

“Due to the water crisis, South Africa is already highly alert to the impact of water scarcity and the importance of conserving water, but now is the moment to come together as a global population and give this the same attention we give other environmental issues. If we partner we can turn ambition into action and accelerate progress towards a sustainable water future.”

“Water is fundamental to life. Yet we face huge challenges across the globe in ensuring water is available for people, organizations and the environment. The United Nations report that a quarter of the world’s population already live in countries under water stress. It is increasingly clear that we can’t go on as we have been. It is just not sustainable,’ says Nicci Russell, Chief Executive, Waterwise.

“A key part of the solution is making sure that we use the water that we do have wisely in our homes and workplaces; avoiding water wastage. By doing this we can help ensure that we adapt to the impacts of the climate emergency climate change; reach net zero emissions; secure water supplies for people and businesses and enhance protect and improve the environment.”

BSI provides support across a number of areas of water management, including Water Safety Plans, which is a critical foundation for effective risk management and control for all types of biological, chemical, physical and radiological hazards.