Anthropogenic pollution due to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in SA has been investigated using the ‘water pollution level’ (WPL) as defined by Hoekstra et al. (2011). WPL is the ratio of the total grey-water footprint in an area (typically a watershed,or a catchment or a river basin) to the actual run-off of the watershed under study. For WPL values exceeding 1.0, ambient water quality standards are violated. From Fig. 6, it can be seen that in all river basins considered the WPL for N is higher than 1.0 (for the study year 2000). Particularly high N-related WPL levels are found in the Limpopo basin and in basins along the coast. The situation has been found to be similar for pollution due to phosphorus (Fig. 6).