Abstract
Cheap as it is compared with other products, water has historically been undervalued. It is often taken for granted outside times of drought. Exponential population growth and development has impacted on water security in most urban areas, with more people and higher demand increasing the overall human water footprint. International focus on the value of water has been underlined by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals many of which are related to water supply. Water is also under the spotlight for the risks to water security introduced by climate change. These may not be easily or accurately quantifiable, but climate scientists agree that extreme weather events are likely to occur much more frequently, and with far higher intensity. Furthermore, water quality is poorly understood, and it is often taken for granted that the potable water reticulated for human consumption should be fit for purpose, without much regard for the process and effort required. When recognising that all water is precious and part of the same closed loop environmentally, it is impossible not to respect water, and use it in a manner commensurate with how precious it is.
Water is the driving force of all of nature
–Leonardo da Vinci
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Kaiser, G. (2021). The Value of Water. In: Parched - The Cape Town Drought Story. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78889-6_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78889-6_2
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