WRD

Water Reuse Division launches provincial chapters

According to the National Water and Sanitation Masterplan, South Africa will need 17% more water than is currently available by 2030. The National Water Resource Strategy cites water reuse as an important component of ensuring water availability for future generations.

Implementing new strategies for managing public perceptions, technical expertise and economic sustainability is very important. Therefore, WISA’s Water Reuse Division (WRD) aims to provide a communication forum for information and knowledge sharing in order to facilitate the implementation of safe water reuse practices in Southern Africa.

Led by Dr Esper Ncube (Rand Water), the WRD has engaged with international and local partners, such as the Water Research Commission, to develop information and has assisted in facilitating the distribution of this information to decision-makers for planning and implementing reuse initiatives.

The WRD aims to provide a platform to bring people from diverse backgrounds together to allow them to engage on the issues of water reuse and water sustainability. In doing so, it was found that provincial chapters were required to network with provincial stakeholders so that information could feed to a national level.

Provincial chapters

So far, there are Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal chapters. Objectives around instituting provincial chapters are to: • allow for easier engagement with the platform, which will aid in increasing the stakeholder network and involvement • develop better relationships with stakeholders on a provincial level • engage with diverse stakeholders in different contexts. Violent protests and Covid-19 restrictions have put Kwazulu-Natal under a negative spotlight, but very few people are aware of the great strides the province is making with the implementation of innovative water and wastewater projects. The new KZN WRD Chapter aims to bring attention to these initiatives and create a space for role players, which include all interested parties, to engage, stay informed and discuss water reuse.

“The protection and maintenance of our water resources, coupled with diversifying conventional water sources, will help us reach sustainable water security.” – Limakatso Thakalekoala, committee member, KZN WRD Chapter Dr Esper Ncube, chair of the Water Reuse Division (WRD) at WISA

“Implementation and mindset change are crucial to ensuring sustainable access to water.” – Megan Schalkwyk, committee lead, KZN WRD Chapter

“Putting the mechanisms in place now to ensure water security is the biggest gift that we can give future generations.” – Lungi Zuma, committee member, KZN WRD Chapter