Impacts of extreme weather events on water resources in South Africa: a systematic review

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Introduction Water resources play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, as they are critical for domestic use, agriculture, and economic development in South Africa. An increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events is one of the commonly anticipated and acknowledged effects of climate change and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which significantly affects Southern Africa. These extreme weather events can include floods, droughts, and heatwaves, each of which can affect water quality, quantity, and infrastructure. Methodology This review thus examines the extent to which extreme weather events affect water resources through a detailed literature review using the PRISMA method, appraised by a three-tier system. A literature search was conducted across four databases between July 2024 and June 2025, identifying 103 records, of which 47 met the inclusion criteria. Results The review found that the three most common extreme weather events (floods, droughts, and heatwaves) in South Africa affect water resources in terms of quality, quantity, and water infrastructure, thereby affecting water supply. This highlights the urgent need for adaptive measures to mitigate the effects of these events on water resources and water supply. Discussion The findings demonstrate that South Africa’s water resources need integrated water management that brings together climate science, infrastructure resilience, hydrology, and governance to adapt to the ongoing occurrence of extreme weather events.

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