Most South Africans are familiar with load-shedding, but lately, a new term has been making the rounds: water-shedding. It sounds similar, and in many ways, both the terms, ‘load-shedding’ and ‘water-shedding’ refer to the scheduled interruption of a basic utility service. But is water-shedding really something you need to worry about?  

The short answer is yes. And here’s why. 

What Is Water-Shedding? 

Water-shedding is the deliberate and controlled restriction of water supply to certain areas, usually on a schedule, due to limited availability. This intentional restriction is typically caused by issues such as ageing infrastructure, low dam levels, drought, or overuse. Unlike an isolated water outage that’s caused by a burst pipe, water-shedding is part of a broader plan to manage water demand – especially when supply can’t meet it. 

Many are surprised to learn that South Africa is a water-scarce country. In fact, South Africa ranks among the 30 driest countries in the world, with an average annual rainfall significantly below the global average.  

You may be wondering how it has come to this, surely, we have more than enough rainfall around the country? Essentially, South Africa receives an annual precipitation of around 450 mm, which is significantly less than the global average of 860 mm. Not only is our rainfall on the lower end, but it is also highly unpredictable, with common periods of drought further limiting water resources.  

When you combine our low and unpredictable rainfall with a rapidly increasing population, it’s starts to make sense that municipalities across the country – from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal – have already begun implementing scheduled water cuts.  

Why Should You Care?

Water scarcity poses a significant risk to South African businesses, as almost every industry relies on a reliable water supply. In turn, this can lead to social unrest, joblessness, and deepening poverty, as well as impact food security and the ecosystem. It is easy enough to shrug off water-shedding, that is, until it hits your own home.  

Here’s how water-shedding impacts households: 

• Hygiene issues (a lack of water for handwashing, toilet flushing, or cleaning). 

• Appliance damage from running without water (like geysers and washing machines). 

• Increased costs for alternative water sources, like bottled water and storage tanks. 

• Plumbing strain if water returns with pressure surges or contains debris. 

• Stress and time loss from having to plan around water availability. 

What Can You Do To Prepare? 

In areas where water-shedding is already occurring, residents have had to adjust their routines dramatically, and often at a cost. Rather than waiting for water-shedding to hit your neighbourhood and reacting to these shortages, it’s far better and less expensive to prepare now. 

For starters, you can consider how to store water wisely, such as by investing in sealable containers that you can use to store clean drinking water and buckets or tanks that you can use to store non-potable water for flushing toilets or watering plants. Speaking of which, there are a few greywater systems that you can consider which would allow you to easily reuse water from washing machines or showers for gardening or cleaning.  

A larger but nonetheless worthwhile investment is a water tank. Installing a JoJo tank or similar storage solution helps collect rainwater or store municipal water when it’s available. 

Another worthy expense is to upgrade your plumbing fittings to eliminate leaks and incorporate low-flow taps and water-saving shower heads as this will reduce your everyday consumption.  

Feeling Informed? 

The reality is that water-shedding isn’t just a temporary hiccough. It’s part of a growing pattern that highlights South Africa’s fragile water supply, just as load-shedding has reshaped how we use electricity, water-shedding will likely change how we use and value water in the years to come. 

It makes more sense to be proactive than to endure the disruptions with frustration and pay more in emergencies. We trust that this information will help you stay one step ahead. 

If you’re looking for more practical advice, budget-friendly ideas, and planning tools then please take a few minutes to explore AA Inform.