Water resilience for business

Why the time to act is now

Water security has moved from a background infrastructure concern to a central business risk. As climate pressures intensify and infrastructure reliability declines, businesses across South Africa are increasingly exposed to operational disruption, financial risk and long-term uncertainty.

In response, Investec, in partnership with Proparco, convened senior leaders from government, business and development finance for an Out of the Ordinary conversation focused on one question: how do we sustain business while securing our most essential resource?

The business case for action

A clear message emerged early in the discussion: South Africa’s water challenges are no longer theoretical.

Nationally, raw water supply remains broadly balanced, but local systems are failing. Municipal infrastructure losses, declining water quality and rising demand are converging − creating real risk for businesses that depend on reliable water access.

"The challenge is not a lack of solutions − it is moving from intent to implementation. These themes were reinforced by perspectives from across government, development finance and the private sector." − Dr Sean Phillips, Director-General, Department of Water and Sanitation

Speakers highlighted that water disruption does not announce itself slowly. By the time taps run dry or production halts, the cost is already material − in lost output, damaged assets and reputational harm. 

The question, then, is not whether the risk exists, but how organisations respond before disruption becomes structural.

From diagnosis to implementation

Opening the discussion, Investec emphasised that infrastructure risk has become impossible to ignore. As the energy crisis has shown, when core systems fail, the economic impact is immediate and widespread.

The conversation stressed that water resilience is not only about mitigating risk. Well-designed investment in efficiency, reuse and resilience can reduce costs, stabilise operations and unlock long-term value, provided solutions are implemented early and at scale.

Partnership was a recurring theme − between government, business and development finance − not as a theoretical ideal, but as a practical necessity.

Key takeouts for business leaders

Taken together, these responses point to a clear shift in how water should be understood and managed − not as a peripheral sustainability issue, but as a core driver of operational resilience and long-term value.

1. Water risk is already material
   Disruption is not hypothetical. Reliability failures translate directly into lost production and value.
2. Early action matters
   Businesses that invest early in monitoring, efficiency and reuse are better positioned to absorb shocks.
3. Data enables decision-making
   Visibility − across sites and supply chains − is the foundation of resilience.
4. Collaboration is essential
   No single actor can solve the problem alone; progress depends on coordinated action.

These themes were reinforced by perspectives from across government, development finance and the private sector.

Assess your water resilience exposure

For organisations operating at scale, water resilience is no longer a peripheral issue. It directly affects operational continuity, asset performance and long-term value.

If you represent a medium to large enterprise, you are invited to complete a short assessment developed in partnership with Proparco. The questionnaire is designed to provide context on your organisation’s exposure, preparedness and potential areas for strengthening resilience.

Completion allows for a structured review of your organisation’s position and, where relevant, consideration for further engagement

Water resilience as a strategic business issue

Where water risk becomes a boardroom issue

In this special post-event episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, hosted by Jeremy Maggs, senior leaders discuss how water risk is moving from the margins of sustainability into core business strategy and resilience planning.

Guests include Dr Sean Phillips (Director-General, Department of Water and Sanitation), Helen Hulett (water-security strategist) and Melanie Humphries (head of Sustainable Solutions at Investec)

Partnership in action

This discussion reflects Investec’s role in convening critical national conversations that connect policy, capital and implementation.

Through its partnership with Proparco, Investec brings together long-term financing, technical expertise and advisory capability − helping businesses move from awareness to action in an increasingly constrained water environment.

Building resilient organisations: what works, what scales and what matters now

This panel focused on practical implementation − where capital is being deployed, which resilience solutions are gaining traction, and what business leaders should prioritise now rather than later.

Participants: Oliver Petersen, executive director, Thesele Group; Helen Hulett, founder, ANDWATR; Co-Founder, Resolve Water and Gerrie Brink, founder and managing director, AQUAffection.

Watch the  panel discussion here

Scaling resilience across mining, property and FMCG

This panel explored how water resilience is being embedded into operations across water-intensive sectors − and how businesses are balancing risk, regulation and commercial return.

Participants: Jaco Schoeman, chief operating officer, DRDGOLD; Derrick Pautz, head of developments (Gauteng), Atterbury Property; Natasha Ramkirpal, group lead: Water Security, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa and Molatelo Motau, sustainability project manager, HEINEKEN Beverages.

Watch the panel discussion here

Turning water risk into implementable solutions Melanie Humphries, head of Investec Sustainable Solutions

If you would like to explore how your organisation can strengthen water efficiency, resilience and long-term security, Investec Sustainable Solutions can support you in assessing risk, identifying opportunities and navigating implementation.

Strengthening resilience from here

Water resilience is not a once-off intervention. It is an ongoing capability that must be embedded into planning, operations and investment decisions over time.

For businesses exposed to water risk, the next step is understanding where vulnerabilities sit − across sites, supply chains and financing structures − and identifying practical pathways to strengthen efficiency and reliability.