originally posted on April 16, 2016

JOHANNESBURG – African economies lose up to 25 percent of Gross Domestic Product to floods and droughts every year.

At the same time, 35 percent of people on the continent don’t have access to clean drinking water.

The Institute for Security Studies says research shows South Africa is exploiting its water resources — with devastating effects.

And over the next 20 years, that consumption will increase substantially as the population grows.

Although government has proposed interventions to increase supplies and reduce demand — it’s just not enough.