Priority water research questions for South Africa developed through participatory processes

Authors

  • RM Siebrits Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
  • K Winter Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
  • J Barnes Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
  • MC Dent School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
  • G Ekama Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
  • M Ginster Sasol Group Services, PO Box 5486, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
  • J Harrison eThekwini Water and Sanitation, PO Box 1038, Durban, 4000, South Africa
  • B Jackson Inkomati Catchment Management Agency, 8th floor, Maxsa Building, 13 Streak Street, Nelspruit, 1200, South Africa
  • I Jacobs Water Research Commission, Private Bag X03, Gezina, Pretoria, 0031, South Africa
  • A Jordaan Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
  • HC Kasan Rand Water, PO Box 1127, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
  • W Kloppers Resource Protection, Western Cape Department of Water Affairs, Private Bag X16, Sanlamhof, Cape Town, 7532, South Africa
  • R le Roux Breede Overberg Catchment Management Agency, 51 Baring Street, Worcester, 6849, South Africa
  • J Maree Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
  • MNB Momba Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
  • AV Munnik Independent Research for Water, Climate and Environmental Justice, 258 Highland Road, Kensington, 2192, South Africa
  • J O’Keeffe Environmental Learning Research Centre, Education Department, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa
  • R Schulze School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
  • M Silberbauer Resource Quality Services, Department of Water Affairs, Private Bag X313, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
  • D Still Partners in Development, PO Box 11431, Dorpspruit, 3206, South Africa
  • JE van Zyl Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v40i2.2

Keywords:

research, questions, collaboration, prioritisation, South Africa

Abstract

This paper describes a collaborative process of identifying and prioritising current and future water research questions from a wide range of water specialists within South Africa. Over 1 600 questions were collected, reduced in number and prioritised by specialists working in water research and practice. A total of 59 questions were finally proposed as an outcome of the study and are categorised under the themes of change, data, ecosystems, governance, innovation and resources. The questions range in scale, challenge and urgency, and are also aligned with prevailing paradigms in water research. The majority of the questions dealt with relatively short- to medium-term research requirements and most focused on immediate issues such as water supply, service delivery and technical solutions. Formulations of long-term research questions were sparse, partly because some of the principles and methods used in this study were difficult to apply in the South African context, and also because researchers are influenced by addressing what are believed to be the more immediate, short-term water-related challenges in South Africa. This is the first initiative of its kind to produce a comprehensive and inclusive list of research priorities for water in South Africa.

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Published

2025-03-30

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 2 April (2014): Water SA

Section

Research paper

License

Copyright (c) 2025 RM Siebrits, K Winter, J Barnes, MC Dent, G Ekama, M Ginster, J Harrison, B Jackson, I Jacobs, A Jordaan, HC Kasan, W Kloppers, R le Roux, J Maree, MNB Momba, AV Munnik, J O’Keeffe, R Schulze, M Silberbauer, D Still, JE van Zyl

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License

The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

RM Siebrits (2025) “Priority water research questions for South Africa developed through participatory processes”, Water SA, 40(2 April). doi:10.4314/wsa.v40i2.2.