Surface water is, by far, the largest source of water for major development schemes in the Limpopo River basin (LBPTC 2010). The demand for water throughout the Limpopo River basin is high and unevenly spread (Ashton et al. 2001a). In particular, water demands by the agricultural (irrigation) sector accounts for over 50 % of the total water demand, followed by urban water supply at 30 % (LBPTC 2010). The remaining water demand in the rural, mining, and power sectors are equally spread at approximately 4 to 6 % each.
The total estimated water use by the riparian countries is 4 % by Botswana, 6 % by Mozambique, 60 % by South Africa, and 30 % by Zimbabwe (LBPTC 2010). The table below presents the sectoral use of water in the four riparian countries in the Limpopo River basin.
Present water use by sector in the Limpopo River basin for each riparian countries (Mm3/year).
Country
Urban
Rural
Irrigation
Mining
Power
Other
Total
Botswana
60
12
20
9
*
0
101
Mozambique
4
9
270
0
0
0
283
South Africa
665
140
1 485
230
215
295
3 030
Zimbabwe
690
6
640
*
*
0
1 366
Total
1 419
167
2 415
239
215
295
4 750
Source: LBPTC 2010 * Included as part of urban.
WATER RESERVOIR IN THE LIMPOPO RIVER BASIN. SOURCE: ARA-SUL 2008
A study undertaken by DWAF South Africa examining the percentage increase in water demand by sector for shared river basins in South Africa, indicated that between the year 2000 and 2025 there will be an increase in demand in all sectors in the Limpopo River basin, as presented in the following table.
Sectoral Water Needs in the Limpopo River basin (106m3/year).
