PRESIDENT’S COMMENT
IMESA
Water creates life and economies The unpredictability of climate change makes planning for future water demand scenarios especially challenging worldwide. In South Africa’s case, more frequent and prolonged droughts pose a serious threat to water security unless proactively managed. There is, however, an upside.
T
he positive aspect of this is that there are a range of options beyond conventional dam-sourced supply, such as wastewater reuse and desalination, which
can and probably will be far more common in the future. Either way, there are immediate priorities that must be addressed. With water being a finite resource, city planners and water engineers need to factor in current and future urbanisation trends and population growth. Both are rising at an unprecedented rate. That places increasing pressure on our ageing water and wastewater infrastructure. To put this in perspective, the latest National Water and Sanitation Master Plan (NW&SMP) states that an estimated 56% of wastewater treatment works and 44% of water treatment works are in a poor or critical condition. Overall, 11% are said to be dysfunctional. Compounding issues include excessive organic loads due to the illegal dumping of industrial effluent into sewer systems and rivers, plus maintenance backlogs and budget constraints.
NRW losses
Bhavna Soni, president, IMESA
An overriding concern is the extensive loss of potable water, caused predominantly by pipeline leaks. It’s a terrible waste in terms of non-revenue water (NRW) losses – estimated at around 41% nationally – and sustainable resource management. According to the NW&SMP, around 33% of NRW is due to
technical losses, like leakages. The balance can be attributed to scenarios like faulty water meters, incorrect billing, non-payment and illegal connections. NRW negatively impacts on the budgeted water tariff revenues that each municipality depends on for the bulk of their infrastructure maintenance. Incurring the cost of producing high-quality drinking water only to lose it along the way is tragic, particularly when a portion could go to servicing the free basic water and sanitation needs of indigent communities. The upside is that, across South Africa, numerous municipalities are forging ahead with leak detection and repair initiatives, Nelson Mandela Bay being a case in point, as Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and surrounding towns experience one of their worst droughts on record.
War on Leaks Combined with these initiatives, a renewed focus on the Department of Water and Sanitation’s War on Leaks programme will make a major difference. In addition to tackling NRW, the War on Leaks programme positively engages and informs communities on the significance of water as a socioeconomic enabler. It also serves to create jobs through the training of non-technical monitors, and technical specialists acquiring a formal trade in plumbing. The overall objective is that all stakeholders take collective social responsibility for the vital importance of the water and wastewater that surrounds and enables them. Water conservation and utilisation forms a central component of IMESA’s asset management and outreach initiatives. Together we can achieve a real difference through a change in water consumer behaviour, supported by ongoing investment for essential water and sanitation infrastructure.
