to Water&Sanitation Africa .

“The biggest challenges facing the water and sanitation sector is the theft and vandalism of water infrastructure, the ‘Water Tanker’ mafia, the ‘Construction Mafia’, the theft of water through bypassing water meters or slowing them down as well as the illegal discharge of effluent. As the new Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu has his hands full – and we should make sure that they kept busy with tackling some of these problems.” Kirsten Kelly, editor, Water&Sanitation

“It is absolutely critical that women play a leading role in water management, particularly because it is women and girls that are responsible for collecting water in 80% of households without access to water on premises. This task can take several hours each day, limiting their opportunities for education, employment, and participation in community activities. Moreover, inadequate access to clean water and sanitation disproportionately affects women, leading to health issues, increased vulnerability, and social marginalisation. Achieving SDG 6 is closely linked to gender equality in the water sector.” Dr Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA

“As a South African company, APE Pumps supplies water boards and electricity suppliers across the country. This is because firstly, we have been in operation for 72 years, plus, we are part of the global WPIL Group in India with extensive backing and leverage from our sister OEMs in regions that include Australia, the United Kingdom, Thailand and Italy. We are constantly investing in our company through buying new equipment, adopting the latest technology and training our staff. To the best of our knowledge, few pump companies match our local capacity.” John Montgomery, general manager for the APE Pumps and Mather+Platt Group

“I am honoured to be appointed as the new WISA chairman and am looking forward to the continued collaboration of professionals in the sector in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: Clean sanitation and water for all.”

Dr Harrison Pienaar, Chairman, WISA

“The water sector is filled with passionate and knowledgeable people, and our job also entails informing the public about water. When we do our work right and follow our code of integrity and ethics, we improve lives, and we need to continue our efforts for the betterment of human beings, and to encourage the public to be conscientious about water.” Carin Bosman, water and environmental governance advisor

“Leachate needs to be safely captured, managed and treated. However, this is difficult because the composition of leachate can vary significantly depending on the type of waste in the landfill, the age of the landfill, climatic conditions, and the landfill's management practices. Due to the varied make up of leachate, there is no one-size solution to manage it. The treatment process requires flexibility to manage variability in quantity and quality.”

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“Mine closure planning needs to start from day one. There is zero tolerance for the kind of contamination historically caused by mining. There is also a growing concern in metals markets about ethical and sustainable supply chains in mining. Industry benchmarks such as the Copper Mark have become essential for mining companies to understand current trends in customer expectations. Responsible sourcing of minerals–especially those related to battery and renewable energy technology – is becoming entrenched in the supply chain of key markets like Europe. Mining responsibly has wide-ranging implications that include water management, so the leading mining companies and their industry bodies are embracing water stewardship principles to ensure they are good neighbours in the catchments where they operate.” Ismail Mahomed, partner and principal hydrogeologist at SRK Consulting

“The Blue Drop national report reveals a clear correlation between the presence of qualified technical staff and high scores for water systems. Systems with a substantial number of qualified technicians, technologists, process controllers, engineers, and scientists achieve high scores, whereas those with a significant shortage of technical staff tend to receive lower scores. Furthermore, the Western Cape has a ‘training culture’ where all personnel at the plants, depots and head offices are subjected to regular and relevant training.” Dewald van Staden, process controller, WISA

“It is important to note, that while water quality is a dominant category within the Blue Drop Report, it is not the only aspect that is measured. There are categories like financial management, risk management, capacity management and technical management. So, while we had thirteen systems that were placed within the critical and medium risk categories, they all produced good water quality, but scored low in other areas.”

Boniswa Hene, director: Regulation, Department of Water and Sanitation 30 PAGE

“Since Veolia has been appointed as the O&M contractor for Overstrand’s water and wastewater infrastructure, there has been improved monitoring and improved reaction time in case of emergencies, with the creation of more than 20 additional full-time posts. There is a respectful, open-door relationship between Overstrand and Veolia where we tackle any problems that arise together, in a collaborative manner. There are dedicated, professional people on both sides that have a common interest. The team from Overstrand LM have an excellent knowledge of water infrastructure, making communication and understanding of any problems that arise that much easier.” Coenie Loubser, operations manager at Overstrand for Veolia Services Southern Africa

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“CMAs are not just organisations; they are the guardians of the most precious resource–water. Water is the essence of life. It flows through our rivers, nourishes our land and sustains our eco-systems and supports our livelihoods. However, in recent years, pollution, climate change, overuse and mismanagement has left many of our water systems on the brink of collapse. It is in this context that CMAs become indispensable.” Dr Thava Kelly, chairperson, Pongolo–uMzimkhulu CMA 40 PAGE

A part of Rand Water’s proactive infrastructure maintenance project comprised the refurbishment of pumps and electrical boards at the Lethabo Intake Pumping Station. This key facility pumps water to ESKOM Lethabo Power Station and supplies over half of Gauteng via the Vereeniging Pumping Station.