CEO’s comment

Poised for a water renaissance

With significant political changes (a new minister, impending new director general and new local government) as well as a revitalised outlook from business and society due to Covid-19, an opportunity for a renewed approach to the water crisis has presented itself. By Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA

Professional services firm PwC has published its latest economic outlook for South Africa, including forecast scenarios for the country’s lockdown levels and their likely impact on the economy. While all scenarios plan for a fourth wave of infections, with varying severity, during the summer holidays, they forecast the lifting of all lockdown restrictions by at least June 2022.

As we exit lockdown, the water sector can use this opportunity for renewal. Like a sector emerging from a cocoon, how should we spread our wings? • Water and sanitation services cut across a number of government departments, including Cooperative

Governance, Environmental Affairs,

Human Settlements, Agriculture,

Science and Technology, Health, Public

Works and Rural Development. New

Department of Water and Sanitation leadership can facilitate improved and focused leadership of this vital sector, and work with other departments to use water efficiently, secure supply and create economic growth. • Many residents living in informal settlements do not have adequate access to safe water and sanitation – this must be improved, as communities are despondent. • Non-revenue water is at an unacceptably high level and rising, and this will have unfortunate spiralling effect on service provision. • The condition of existing assets across the sector is deteriorating and requires attention, while at the same time people remain without adequate access to safe water and sanitation.

The tension between spending funds on existing assets for those with access and on new assets for those without must be focused upon, and balanced. Large capital investments and new approaches to the provision of these services are urgently required. • Tariffs, affordability and regulation require attention to improve efficiency in the sector. • Competent management, engineering professionals, artisans and treatment works operators are needed. Both water and sanitation are critical factors in achieving a sustainable future for South Africa – so we cannot improve the economy without improving this sector.

Hydrology has evolved as a transdisciplinary, data-driven science in a remarkably short period of time. What is needed now is a renaissance regarding our attitudes towards – and management of – water. As a precious resource, water will always be intertwined with politics. But society also needs to take responsibility. Water is our responsibility. We need to act to conserve and restore water resources. Let’s embrace a water renaissance and a better, new approach to water.