Prof Paul Oberholster, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), believes the ‘Blue Revolution’ may be the answer to South Africa’s current challenges in the wastewater sector. This comprehensive strategy is aimed at revitalising South Africa's water sector and underscores the pivotal role of advanced water management in fostering global peace and stability.
Water is the lifeblood of the planet – a crucial resource that sustains all forms of life and underpins human health, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. Yet, as the world grapples with escalating water scarcity, pollution, and the daunting challenges posed by climate change, the need for innovative solutions in water resource management has never been more urgent. This is where the work done by Prof Oberholster, also known as the Green Professor, in the realm of ecological engineering – a discipline that seeks not only to protect, but also to regenerate and enhance natural ecosystems through the integration of human ingenuity and the inherent wisdom of nature – plays a crucial role.
South Africa's water challenges
Prof Oberholster is the former Director of the UFS Centre for Environmental Management; his work, which is aligned with this year’s theme for World Water Day 2024 (celebrated on 22 March every year) – 'Water for Peace' – where the critical nexus between water, peace, and sustainable development comes to the fore, is a clarion call to recognise water as a resource and a fundamental cornerstone for global stability, cooperation, and prosperity.
“South Africa's challenges, characterised by water stress resulting from inadequate infrastructure, unequal access, and the pressing impacts of environmental change, mirror the global concerns encapsulated in this year's World Water Day theme. Operation Vulindlela, a key government initiative, emphasises the urgent need for governance reforms and enhanced investment in water infrastructure as critical steps towards addressing these challenges,” says Prof Oberholster.
Aligned with the 2024 World Water Day theme, the initiative stresses the importance of collaborative efforts, especially crucial in a world where more than three billion people depend on transboundary water sources. In the face of climate change and burgeoning population pressures, the cooperative ethos championed by the Blue Revolution is indispensable. This includes a spectrum of efforts, from upgrading water infrastructure and enabling alternative treatment options to promoting sustainable water use, all of which contribute to a more harmonious and stable global community.
Water can catalyse peace, development, and prosperity
Furthermore, explains Prof Oberholster, the Blue Revolution's emphasis on ecological solutions, exemplified by the successful regeneration of the Zaalklapspruit Wetland, demonstrates the profound potential of nature-based solutions in improving water quality and bolstering ecosystem health. These endeavours advance water security and contribute to peace by mitigating potential conflicts over water resources.
“Reflecting on the transformative impact of initiatives such as the Blue Revolution in South Africa becomes imperative. Water can catalyse peace, development, and prosperity by nurturing cooperation, enhancing governance, and committing to sustainable water solutions. Incorporating nature-based solutions and ecological engineering into the fabric of the Blue Revolution heralds an innovative approach to water management that resonates with the ethos of 'Water for Peace',” says Prof Oberholster.
These strategies go beyond addressing infrastructural needs, weaving in the delicate interplay between human societies and natural ecosystems, and fostering a harmony conducive to sustainable development.
Prof Oberholster's advocacy of such approaches, primarily through the lens of ecological engineering, illuminates the way forward. The regeneration of the Zaalklapspruit Wetland stands as a beacon, illustrating how ecological engineering can not only rehabilitate water quality and biodiversity, but also serve as a bulwark for peace and stability by precluding conflicts over diminished water resources.