TST Issues Brief: Water and Sanitation

“Water is central to human needs, equitable growth and development. It is one of the key drivers of sustainable economic growth through contribution to activities such as agriculture, manufacturing, mines, energy and transport. It contributes to social activities such as productive use of water within households (poverty alleviation), water for drinking, sanitation and health, etc. It should therefore be managed in a manner that is sensitive to and supportive of the many competing demands that is placed on it. Further, the management activities should not compromise the requirements of the future as well as ecological requirements. Based on these elements, water should be central to the integrated planning and development processes – South Africa.”