Centre for water Supply & Sanitation r esearch ( Cw S r )

The CWSR is the hub of CPUT’s water and sanitation network for:

• The identification and establishment of waterrelated niche activities/units/centres based on regional and national priorities

• The facilitation and execution of interdisciplinary projects which generate research, income and graduate opportunities

• The development and maintenance of partnerships on behalf of CPUT with relevant stakeholders in the water sector regionally, nationally and internationally in March, as part of Water Week. The seminar, attended by 80 delegates, was the culmination of research activities through the new WRC funded research projects focusing on: 1) The combined effects of urbanisation, industrialisation and population growth on water quality of the Palmiet River and its tributaries, and 2) Approaches for emerging farmer participation in water resource management.

The CWSR incorporates the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Unit (CWSS). The CWSS is a nationally recognised, well-networked and multidisciplinary unit offering a range of development and collaboration opportunities to staff and students within a framework of commissioned projects based on sector, community and client needs.

• Two CWSR doctoral fellows spent short sabbaticals at Unesco-IHE and Wageningen University.

Highlights for 2014

• As part of the Nuffic Niche Integrated Water Research Management (IWRM) Programme, two new Water Research Commission (WRC) research projects were started in the BreedeOverberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) area. Catchment instrumentation and laboratory equipment were commissioned in partnership with the University of Twente, Unesco-IHE and the University of Wageningen.

• The CWSR and BOCMA co-hosted a seminar called IWRM Partnerships in Action in Caledon

• The CWSR hosted an international seminar titled Adapting and piloting concepts of community led total sanitation (CLTS) in the South African municipal environment in Johannesburg in February. The seminar was attended by 45 delegates from a number of institutions which included the DST, Oxfam, Amatole District Municipality (ADM), Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, Mvula Trust, eThekwini Municipality, Department of Water and Sanitation, Plan International in Uganda, as well as the WRC and local project partners.

• The WRC Project 2098 titled An approach towards developing technical sanitation solutions for informal settlements was completed and the final report accepted.

• The CWSR designed and facilitated a full day workshop titled Skills planning, supply and demand side arrangements and professionalisation at the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) 2014 Biennial Conference held in Mbombela in May.

• Integrated Water Resources Management

(IWRM) Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and piloted CPD courses were developed in partnership with Unesco-IHE. The course topics included: 1) Integrated risk assessments in catchments, and 2) Integrated water quality monitoring and assessment.

• The CWSR hosted the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) profiling and curriculum workshops for the development of occupational qualifications for water quality control officers.

• Prof Alvin Lagardien received WISA’s 2014 Aqua Vita Est award at the WISA 2014 conference for the work he has done to complete an initiative on the professionalisation of process controllers.

• Training in water treatment and reticulation continued through the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), with supervision of a new batch of BTech projects.

• Prof Lagardien continued participation on the WISA Board, EWSETA Skills Planning Committee, Water Sector Leadership Group (WSLG) Task Team and numerous WRC reference groups. Unit staff participated as WRC reviewers and reference group members.