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Classification of the thermoplastic material and pipe stiffness are important for selecting the right material for an application, determining the load-bearing capacity, and predicting the longterm performance of the pipe. P6
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Editor Kirsten Kelly kirsten.kelly@3smedia.co.za
Managing Editor Alastair Currie
Editorial Coordinator Ziyanda Majodina
Head of Design Beren Bauermeister
Chief Sub-editor Tristan Snijders
Contributors Jo Burgess, Ralf Christoph, Sydney Clarke, Lucy Fenn, Lester Goldman, Laurah Gutu, Lubabalo Luyaba, Chetan Mistry, Dan Naidoo, Mendy Shozi
Production & Client Liaison Manager Antois-Leigh Nepgen
Distribution Manager Nomsa Masina
Distribution Coordinator Asha Pursotham
Group Sales Manager Chilomia Van Wijk
Advertising Sales Hanlie Fintelman
c +27 (0)67 756 3132
Hanlie.Fintelman@3smedia.co.za
Publisher Jacques Breytenbach
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Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. All material herein is copyright protected. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of WISA or the publishers.
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In the spirit of this edition’s theme – Smart Water – I asked ChatGPT to write a 500-word column on the use of technology within the water and sanitation sector. It started like this:
The use of technology has revolutionised many industries, and the water and sanitation sector is no exception. In recent years, innovative technologies have been developed to improve water and sanitation systems, particularly in developing countries where access to clean water and adequate sanitation facilities remains a major challenge. Innovative technologies are transforming the water sector and providing new opportunities for water companies, consumers, and the environment. By using these technologies, we can improve water quality, reduce water wastage, and ensure a sustainable water supply for future generations.” Yawn, thanks for stating the obvious, ChatGPT. Fortunately, the rest of the magazine is filled with some new, original and interesting opinions, projects and technologies:
My child once dropped my iPhone into the toilet. It was not a great day when I learned that water and phones (and children) should not interact with each other. But page 16 tells us otherwise, where we read about how mobile technology and the internet of things (IoT) are used to bring clean water to people.
We all know about the dismal state of Durban’s beaches and, in true South African style, the University of KwaZulu-Natal has developed a ‘poo predictor’ website to inform locals and tourists if beaches are safe on page 20.
On page 32, we learn that green hydrogen production is not a threat to water security.
And Derrick Kgwale, COO of Joburg Water, gives an overview of the utility’s operation on page 34.
Deploying technology within the water space
When asking leaders and experts within the industry for advice on adopting new technologies, and the reason why these technologies are not deployed more often, I find different versions of the same answer:
Business-as-usual approaches and traditional technological choices are insufficient to address the current water crises. The sector has historically been conservative, risk averse, and slow to adopt and disseminate new technologies. It remains underfunded and water service providers are frequently resource-limited, lacking sufficiently skilled staff and financing to invest in researching, testing and deploying new technologies.
Improving digital transformation in the water space requires a comprehensive approach where users are aware of their digital maturity, have a digital strategy, are committed to improving everyone’s digital capabilities, and embrace a culture of collaboration.
To conclude, I decided to ask ChatGPT to give me a quote on the importance of innovation, and it did a much better job than the 500-word column: “Adopting new technologies is not just about staying ahead of the curve; it's about gaining a competitive edge, improving efficiency, and unlocking new opportunities for growth and innovation.”
- Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
COVER OPPORTUNITY
In each issue, Water&Sanitation Africa offers companies the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the magazine. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story and maximum exposure. For more information, contact Hanlie Fintelman on +27 (0)67 756 3132, or email Hanlie.Fintelman@3smedia.co.za.
You said it in WASA
The opinions and statements shared by thought leaders in the water industry to Water&Sanitation Africa.
“We must develop our leaders. No one can state that they do not need development. Leadership development and governance training should be on the agenda of every board or accounting authority in our sector. If not, a vital opportunity is missed.” Dr Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA
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“Municipalities across South Africa require more effective ways to manage their infrastructure, maintenance, compliance and billing. Previously, this would have been a big ask. But modern data systems offer new ways for towns and cities to do more with less, improve service delivery and water security, and improve their revenue.” Chetan Mistry, strategy and marketing manager, Xylem Africa
“If municipalities provided a value statement to citizens with the correct, timely and accurate price as well as a promise on delivering rapid, reliable services, there would be far less non-payment. Municipalities need to build trust with the people they serve, they need to lose any arrogance, bureaucracy and stamp out all fraud and corruption. That is one of the ways to increase payment levels.” Dan Naidoo, chairman, WISA
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“Data should never die with a paper printed drawing. Often, work is done digitally, and a paper printed drawing is created. Then, later, someone extracts information from the paper print and tries to put the data back to digital format. This is an inefficient, time-consuming process and not conducive to digital project delivery (BIM).” Peter Webb, director, Technocad
“Many water systems in sub-Saharan Africa are not working because there is no funding to operate or maintain them. So, while 93% of people living in the area have access to a mobile phone, 2 300 people die every day from waterborne diseases. A digital solution is therefore needed.” Dr Jo Burgess, head: Trial Reservoir, Isle Utilities
“Information on water quality is often out of date by the time it reaches beach users, either because samples are not collected daily or because of the time it takes (minimum of 24 to 48 hours) to culture and count bacteria in a laboratory and then publish the results on beach notice boards or online. Heavy rains and strong winds can also change pollution levels overnight. And sampling is costly.” Dr Justin Pringle, senior lecturer, University of KwaZulu-Natal
“The colorimetric method for COD testing is the most popular. Although colorimetry requires a spectrophotometer or photometer, it offers convenience since most manufacturers offer premixed reagents, so it is easy to run samples with the digestion chemicals and have minimal contact. Since all the analyst needs to do is digest the samples and let the instrument do the work, colorimetry is the most common method to measure COD.” Ralf Christoph, GM, Hanna Instruments South Africa
“Businesses, urban and rural areas all require water storage solutions that are versatile, technologically advanced and deliver water fast. Professionals in the water space need to look for quicker and more costeffective alternatives to concrete reservoirs for their water storage projects. Modular, bolted-steel-panel water tanks, which can be commissioned immediately and do not need road infrastructure in advance of their installation, are an ideal alternative.” Chester Foster, business sales director: SBS Tanks
“When municipality X has been performing poorly for the last 15 years, why is it that we keep blaming only the municipality (council and officials) and not those who are constitutionally charged with supporting and intervening? Surely, they have failed more than the municipality itself?” Lubabalo Luyaba, specialist: Water and Sanitation, SALGA
“To make green hydrogen, one needs an electrolyser, renewable energy and water. It takes 9 kg of water to make 1 kg of hydrogen. However, due to contaminants in water, we estimate that between 10 kg and 12 kg of water will be needed for every 1 kg of hydrogen. If solar energy is used, even more water will be needed to clean the photovoltaic panels, so approximately 15 kg of water will be needed for every 1 kg of hydrogen.”
Thomas Roos, senior research engineer, CSIR
“Partnerships with the private sector are of extreme importance to Johannesburg Water. This is because we need further investment into our infrastructure to meet increasing water demand. Our rate of investment into infrastructure is smaller than the rate of deterioration. For example, we would like to replace 925 km of pipes in the next five years (185 km/annum); we can only replace 117 km with our current funding. Water losses have increased from 24% in 2019 to 31% in 2022. The lack of capital investment has continued to have an impact on the infrastructure failure rate. The increase in the infrastructure failure rate has resulted in an increase in physical losses.” Derrick Kgwale, COO, Johannesburg Water
“Roughly 80% of the destructive river blockage in the KZN April 2022 floods was due to alien invasive plants rather than solid waste or litter. Since these alien invasive plants have shallow root systems (in contrast to the deep-rooted indigenous vegetation), they can be stripped out easily, leaving the soil exposed. During large storm flows, the aliens wash away easily, causing further erosion of larger trees and sandy soils, which blocks culverts further downstream.”
Dr Sean O'Donoghue, senior manager: Climate Change Department, eThekwini Municipality
“There is no doubt that the recent severe flooding has increased the focus on climate change as a matter of urgency. Extreme weather events are likely to become more extreme and common in future. It speaks to the need for resilient infrastructure and risk mitigation, as well as bringing environmentally aware design to bear.”
Dr James Cullis, sustainability expertise leader, Zutari
Resourcing the world – THERMOPLASTIC PIPE MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION AND STIFFNESS
Classification of the thermoplastic material and pipe stiffness are important for selecting the right material for an application, determining the load-bearing capacity, and predicting the longterm performance of the pipe.
Every thermoplastic polymer has a unique CRRC (creep rupture regression curve), which is plotted on a log-log scale as shown in Graph 1 – it is the ‘fingerprint’ of the polymer. The graph’s abscissa is the logarithm of time in hours while the ordinate is the logarithm of rupture stress in MPa. From this graph, the MRS (minimum required strength) of the polymer at 20°C and 50 years (438 000 hours) is determined – the design protocol according to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) for all thermoplastic pipes.
The CRRC is determined by extensive pressure testing and mathematical extrapolation, conforming to ISO 9080 ‘Determination of the long-term hydrostatic strength of thermoplastics materials in pipe form by extrapolation’. The design coefficient (C), also known as factor of safety, is determined, conforming to ISO 12162 ‘Classification and designation – Overall service (design) coefficient’. These two values are used in a simple formula (i) to determine the allowable design stress (σ) for the pipe: σ = MRS/C (i)
Improvement of thermoplastic polymers
Thermoplastic polymers have improved over time, as shown in Table 1. For example, PVC-O has been developed over more than 40 years, through five classifications. The classification of a thermoplastic is 10 times its MRS at 50 years and 20°C. For example, PE100 has an MRS of 10 MPa at 50 years and 20°C. PVC-U and PVC-M have an MRS of 25 MPa at 50 years and 20°C, and should therefore be called ‘PVC-U 250’ to be strictly technically correct.
PVC-M is also a ‘Classification 250’ material because it has precisely the same regression curve as PVC-U 250. Its increased allowable design stress (σ) is because of its reduced design coefficient (C), which is justified by the improved material impact strength resulting from the addition of impact modifiers to the polymer that produce tough and ductile characteristics in the pipe during the extrusion process.
Stress strain curves
It is important to note the difference in the stress-strain curves in Graph 2 between Molecor’s TOM®500 and other lower PVC-O orientation classifications where the yield point has not been eliminated. The stressstrain curve of PVC-O Classification 500 exhibits a fundamental change, compared to other thermoplastics, that produces:
• increase in modulus of elasticity
• elimination of the yield-valley.
Graph 2 shows the yield-valley of other lowerclassification thermoplastic polymers and its elimination with Molecor’s TOM®500 PVC-O Classification 500. It is critically important
GRAPH 1 CRRC TOM®500, PVC-U and PVC-M and PE100 (Note: PVC-O TOM®500 line is 55 MPa at 50 years and 53.8 MPa at 100 years; proof that service life is >100 years)
to understand ‘Classification’ refers to the material and ‘Class’ (PN) refers to the pressure class of the pipe.
As the allowable design stress (σ) increases, the resulting minimum wall thickness (e) of the pipe decreases. The pipe’s stiffness is proportional to the wall thickness. Therefore, the pipe’s ring stiffness (SR) decreases as the wall thickness decreases. However, clause 11.3 in SANS 16422, which is applicable to all five PVC-O Classifications, states the minimum allowable SR shall not be less than 4 kN/m² to ensure the pipe will not distort while empty during constructing or when drained, for whatever reason. Because the PVC-O pipe will be subjected to imposed soil and traffic loading while empty that it must withstand without assistance from internal pressure to resist these imposed loads.
Pipe stiffness
go below 4 kN/m² for the lowest pressure class of pipe. The two lines representing SANS 791 S&D PVC-U sewer pipes ‘Normal Duty 51’ and ‘Heavy Duty 34’ have been included to provide perspective to the pressure pipe stiffnesses. The SANS 791 TABLE 1 Thermoplastic
Graph 3 shows the ring stiffness (SR) of PVC-O 500 (Classification 500) pressure pipes, of various pressure classes (PN), plotted against their respective ring stiffnesses (kN/m²). It shows the ring stiffness does not
STRESS-STRAIN CURVES
SIZABANTU PIPING SYSTEMS #FOLLOWTHELEADER
Established in 2002 and initially opened in South Africa’s coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, Sizabantu now has 11 divisions that are strategically located across South Africa as well as an Export Division that services Southern Africa. A Level 1 BBBEE company, Sizabantu offers various piping solutions and a wide range of fittings.
3 Ring stiffness vs pressure class (PN)
GRAPH 2 Thermoplastic pipes stressstrain curves
PVC-U S&D pipes are specifically engineered to withstand superimposed loading from trench backfill and traffic while operating in a partially or completely empty condition. The PVC-O 500 (Classification 500) pressure pipes are predominantly of a higher ring stiffness than the PVC-U sewer pipes. The SANS 791 S&D pipes have a pipe stiffness (SP) of 100 kPa and 300 kPa respectively; equivalent to a ring stiffness (SR) of 1.86 kN/m² and 5.59 kN/m² respectively. The applicable standard for PVC-O SANS 16422, taken from ISO 16422, is a standard that specifies all the critically important attributes of all classifications of PVC-O pipes and piping systems. It ensures the products conform strictly to all the requirements, are suitable for their intended purpose and will have a service life of not less than 50 years –TOM®500 is not less than 100 years as proven in the foregoing.
GRAPH
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN OUR SECTOR
Capacity is the ability of people, organisations and the sector to manage service delivery successfully. Capacity development is the process where these people, organisations and the sector develop, action, maintain, strengthen and adapt over time. Together, capacity and capacity development contribute toward an enabling environment for success and delivery. By
Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA
Ioften wonder about the people in this process, and whether we sufficiently pay attention to them. Some questions I ask myself are: Do we hire the right people? Does the brain drain really exist? Do we measure performance and accountability? Consequence management – is this just a management excuse? Do we really empower our people? Leadership – is this something we define and measure?
Innovation
Innovation can lead to the creation of new and improved technologies, approaches, and strategies in the water sector. However, for these innovations to be successfully implemented and scaled-up, it is essential to have the necessary capacity within the water sector. This includes having skilled and knowledgeable professionals, well-functioning institutions, and supportive policies and regulations. There are many modern automated
tracking systems available, and they should be utilised within our sector. They should help to find the best candidate, track the process, then work through the process of recruitment. We learnt from our various commissions recently that mistakes in recruitment have cost us a lot. We must take extreme care of who we are employing, but even more importantly, who we do not want to employ. How is it that people can jump from one employer to the next, despite poor track records? This goes against the grain of best practice.
I recall the topic of brain drain being discussed in the 1990s, and it is still relevant today. Even more scary now is that the gap between urban and rural skills required has increased. Surely this is an empowering tool to get young graduates to gain experience. The medical sector uses this very effectively; we should learn from them.
I believe that performance management (and there are many innovative ones) seems to be a
tool only used to determine annual increases or bonuses. I may be mistaken. However, it really should measure employee objectives along with organisational objectives, while enhancing the skills and development of employees. Is this your experience? Consequence management is a necessary intervention tool, to improve and develop individuals –not only a tool to mitigate irregular expenditure, or a disciplinary tool. We need to train and develop our people more. We cannot ignore the fact that we are losing skills, and that we must fill this skills bucket. We must allocate more money to training, and show our people that we value it, by developing them.
Lastly, we must also develop our leaders. There is no one person who can state that they do not need development. Leadership development and governance training should be on the agenda of every board or accounting authority in our sector. If not, a vital opportunity is missed.
Going back to basics
Non-payment of municipal bills is a serious issue that has a detrimental effect on everyone. While the reasons for non-payment of municipal bills in South Africa are complex and varied, many individuals and businesses simply do not pay municipal bills due to dissatisfaction with the quality of services provided. It is therefore important for municipalities to view their citizens as customers.
By Dan Naidoo, chairman, WISA
When state enterprises like water utilities and municipalities cannot sustain themselves, the taxpayer must bail them out. This significantly affects future investments and sets the sector and economy back. It also becomes increasingly difficult to maintain and build new water infrastructure, while we deal with the deficit of the past. New infrastructure like dams and treatment plants take years to plan and build. By failing to provide basic services, the most vulnerable citizens suffer, while others who can afford to pay for basic services will use alternatives like solar power and boreholes to have access to more consistent, betterquality services – ultimately resulting in even less payment to municipalities.
Another reason why municipalities are receiving less revenue is poorly managed tariff setting and consultation processes, that does not reflect the reality and needs of the economy and its citizens. Tariffs are supposed to include costs like maintenance, upgrades and new infrastructure, but most municipalities do not have a tariff model that takes these
components into consideration. Some municipalities therefore price water based on influencing factors that are not directly linked to sustaining service delivery, as they believe that they can always access grant funding as a backup. However, grant funding should only be allocated for people who cannot pay for basic services. A big issue is the fact that there are often very few price increases for basic services during ‘election years’. This incorrect pricing results in poor and inconsistent service delivery, which results in non-payment by citizens. It is a vicious cycle that seems to continue unless a long-term view is taken for infrastructure financing over the life of these types of assets.
they are providing the correct product or service at the correct price.
Customers not just citizens
In commerce, there is a willing buyer and a willing seller; people pay for products or services that give them value. Businesses spend a lot of time and effort in engaging with their customers and ensuring that
However, with many municipalities, there is often a lack of workable meters and consistent, timely billing systems and this results in inaccurate statements and discontented citizens. As discussed, municipalities often price their services incorrectly. They also very seldom communicate with their citizens. If there is a complaint, there is a huge amount of bureaucracy to even file that complaint, let alone have it resolved. If municipalities provided a value statement to citizens with the correct, timely and accurate price, as well as a promise on delivering rapid, reliable services, there would be far less nonpayment. Municipalities need to build trust with the people they serve, they need to lose any arrogance, bureaucracy, and stamp out all fraud and corruption. That is one of the ways to increase payment levels.
Without a public sector, there is no functional society and the private sector cannot exist without infrastructure provided by the public sector. On the other side of the coin, the private sector invests and grows the economy for the municipality. There needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship between the two. If more municipalities can show their ratepayers a level of respect and appreciation – as customers and not just citizens – they would receive better support.
SUCCESSFUL PROCESS CONTROLLER WORKSHOP
WISA and its Process Controllers Division, in collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS: Western Cape) hosted the Process Controller Workshop after a two-year hiatus.
The winners AWARD WINNER
Best On-site Laboratory
Best Internal Municipal Laboratory
Best WTW (<10 M ℓ /day)
Riversdale WWTW
Drakenstein Scientific Services
Uniondale WTW (George Municipality)
Best WTW (>10 M ℓ /day) George New WTW (George Municipality)
Best Wastewater Pond System
Best WWTW (<5 M ℓ /day)
Slangrivier WWTW (Hessequa Municipality)
Riebeek Valley WWTW (Swartland Municipality)
Best WWTW (5-10 M ℓ /day) Malmesbury WWTW (Swartland Municiplaity)
Best WWTW (>10 M ℓ /day) Hartenbosch WWTW (Mossel Bay Municipality)
Best Process Controller (WTW <10 M ℓ /day)
Best Process Controller (WTW >10 M ℓ /day)
Best Process Controller (WWTW <10 M ℓ /day)
Best Process Controller (WWTW >10 M ℓ /day)
Process Controller Honours Award
Special Awards: Tony Bowers Award
Bonzile Nzuzo: Constantia Nek WTW (City of Cape Town)
Eugene Williams: Wemmershoek WTW (City of Cape Town)
Hendrik Strydom: Malmesbury WWTW (Swartland Municipality)
Dawid September: Borcherds Quarry WWTW (City of Cape Town)
Mansoer Davids: Faure WTW (City of Cape Town)
Graham van Niekerk Wastewater District Manager: North West Area (City of Cape Town)
Special Awards: Ronald Brown Award Nonkululeko Tyantsi Chief Chemist: Drakenstein Scientific Services
The event was aimed at transferring knowledge and skills to process controllers, while providing a platform for the recognition of excellence. Hosted in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, approximately 150 delegates attended the workshop.
The theme was ‘The Role That Process Controllers Play in the Blue Drop/Green Drop Programmes’. Process controllers were given insight into how their work feeds into the plans and documentation required to manage a system based on Blue/Green Drop principles. They were given guidance on how they should interact with those plans and documents to ensure optimal implementation of these management systems.
Awards
There was also an awards evening that recognises excellence in the workplace. Process controllers are unsung and selfless heroes who ensure that treatment processes function optimally, thereby providing safe drinking water to communities, while ensuring the protection of water resources by treating effluent to set standards.
The awards evening was hosted by DWS: Western Cape and attended by Zanele Bila-Mupariwa (provincial head: Western Cape) and Anet Muir (chief director: Regulation Compliance and Enforcement).
Congratulations to all of the winners, and thank you to all of the sponsors who were key to making the event possible: AL Abbott & Associates, Agua Africa, BioCure, Enviro Metsi, Second Opinion, as well as Veolia.
SCHOOL VISITS IN KZN
Representatives from YWP, Borda and Umgeni Water held the ‘Walk With Me’ school shoes drive and visited schools in the Wushwini, Kwangcolosi, area that were heavily affected by the KwaZulu-Natal floods in April last year.
These floods left many families stranded and in dire need of essential goods and basic needs. In an attempt to assist, the Umgeni Water Peer Educators visited Laboure Primary School and Isihlangusabasha Primary School to offer assistance and investigate their immediate needs. From these two schools, more the 65 learners were identified as being in dire need of full
Handing over the school shoes to Isihlangusabasha Primary School with Makhawula of the Umgeni Water Peer Educators, Vuyokazi Zungu (WISA YWP-KZN) and Lindiwe Nkabane (WISA YWP-KZN)
school uniforms that were damaged during the April 2022 floods.
The team – through the sponsorship of Borda-SA and led by the WISA YWP KZN Chapter – donated school shoes to both schools. These schools expressed great appreciation to the team for their hard work and generosity. The children from both schools showed their excitement and gratitude through song and ukusina (Zulu dancing).
Jubilant school HODs receiving school shoes from Borda-SA’s Alvin Anderson (far right)
The main aim of the initiative was to give schoolchildren hope and an indication that they are not alone. Organisations such as WISA, Borda, Umgeni Water and YWP are committed to community work and improving people’s lives. The team members have expressed how they wish undertake more work that intends to give back to the community in most regions within KwaZulu-Natal.
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EMPOWERING WESTERN CAPE’S POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS
By Laurah Gutu, YWP (Western Cape Chapter)
THE PRESENTERS
The YWP (Western Cape Chapter) hosted a the first postgraduate colloquial to showcase research in wastewater treatment and sustainability. The presenters were:
• Njabulo Thela, Department of Civil Engineering, UCT: ‘Growing an Enhanced Culture of Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms using a University of Cape Town Membrane Bioreactor (UCTMBR) System’
• Emily Nicklin, Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, UCT: ‘Using nature-based processes to clean and recycle polluted run-off from an informal settlement’
• Nosisa Zincume, CoCT and UCT: ‘Developing modelling tools for Bellville Wastewater’
• Tariro Marekwa, Future Water Institute, UCT: ‘Using a living lab approach to determine pathways towards a water sensitive campus – University of Cape Town as a case study’.
The presentations covered a broad range of topics – from wastewater modelling, growing enhanced cultures, nature-based solutions in water
treatment as well as pathways to a sustainable future through a living lab approach. The presenters also came from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, which made for a truly interdisciplinary event.
The colloquium was also attended by a diverse group of professionals at all stages of their careers, including engineers, scientists, researchers and academics, who came together to share their knowledge and insights on the various topics, discussions and debates. This event further demonstrated the importance of collaborations in addressing the challenges.
We would like to extend our thanks to the Scientific Services, City of Cape Town (CoCT) for sponsoring the venue on this occasion, as well as the other professionals and students who joined us on the day. It was a great experience for all involved, as they gained valuable insights and practical knowledge that will undoubtedly be useful in their future research and work. We were impressed by the quality of the research presented and the commitment of everyone involved to creating a more sustainable future.
Emily Nicklin
Njabulo Thela
Tariro Marekwa
Nosisa Zincume
Six young water professionals from South Africa – from WISA and South Africa Youth Parliament for Water (RSAYPW) – attended the UN Water Conference in March. By Mendy
Shozi,
president of South Africa Youth Parliament for Water
SA youth at UN Water Conference
Akhona Xotyeni took part in the opening talk show hosted by the Dutch national government on ‘Why a UN conference on Water in 2023?’ She brought forward the South African youth perspective
As a co-host of the UN 2023 Water Conference, the Netherlands places importance on inclusiveness in the preparatory activities of the conference as well as meaningful participation of all groups, particularly those voices that are usually underrepresented in global processes and decision-making on water-related matters. Therefore, five of the delegates chosen to officially represent RSAYPW were fully funded by the Netherlands to attend the conference through the South Africa Youth Water Campaign project. This was done through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) Stakeholder Engagement Subsidy framework.
South Africa Youth Water Campaign
There were three planned activities to take part in the UN Water Campaign:
1) South African Youth Water Action Plan (Call to Action): A call to action was developed and submitted to the
Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). This was a collaborative effort from several youth organisations in the water sector in South Africa where one joint message/statement was formulated, which revolved around the theme and objective of the UN Water Conference – ‘#WaterAction’.
2) Video Campaign Preparation Activity:
This video covers water issues in South Africa. Community members (and available local government officials, where necessary) were interviewed about their water security experiences in South Africa. The video is divided into three parts:
a. Too much water – flooding in KwaZulu-Natal.
b. Too little water – droughts and day zero (Port Elizabeth – TBC).
c. Too polluted water – man-made pollution in natural water bodies (Pretoria).
This activity has been partially concluded in KwaZulu-Natal and Pretoria; Port Elizabeth local government is being engaged to shoot that part of the documentary.
3) Collaboration in local and regional pre-conference activities: There were a number of regional activities in preparation of the UN 2023 Water Conference.
a. The Transformative Futures for Water Security (TFWS) initiative have convened multistakeholder dialogues among the science, policy, business
SOUTH AFRICA YOUTH PARLIAMENT FOR WATER (RSAYPW)
The South Africa Youth Parliament for Water (RSAYPW) is a voluntary youth organisation, which is a country chapter of the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW). The WYPW is a network of passionate young people from over 80 countries. The South African chapter was formed last year January, and was formally launched in March 2022 during the 5th General Assembly of the WYPW, prior to attending the 9th World Water Forum. Members take action on water issues at all levels – from concrete actions in local communities, to advocacy for youth leadership in the water sector at the UN General Assembly.
Akhona Xoteyni (right) handing over to Dr Sean Phillips (left), director general at the DWS
RSAYPW took part in the
and development communities to create mission-driven alliances to catalyse and deliver high-ambition, future-ready innovation and inclusive, science-based action for water security. TFWS aims to ensure that progress towards more urgent and coherent policies and action on water security is better supported by scientific progress. Missions target the priorities of youth, equality between women and men, and communities and countries that are most vulnerable to water insecurity.
b. Southern Africa Hub for Revitalisation of the 55 African Youth Policies, where RSAYPW and various stakeholders from different countries in Southern Africa took part in five hybrid regional events. The events were hosted across the continent as one of the key initiatives by African Youth Parliament for Water (AYPW) in tackling policy and magnifying the youth’s impact in the water and sanitation sector.
c. Attendance of UN 2023 Water Conference: Delegation from RSAYPW attended the conference in New York, USA. They participated in a side event inside the UN Headquarters to showcase the project and the
video. They also attended various networking events and speaking engagements inside and outside the UN Headquarters.
RSAYPW and World Merit South Africa also signed ‘Water Action Agenda Commitment – A South African Youth Community for Water Action’, with Wavemakers United. Wavemakers United, in collaboration with several partners, is committed to imparting water education to 1 million youngsters through its participation in the water action agenda.
This undertaking holds significant importance, as it seeks to engage the brightest minds in addressing the multifaceted complex water-related issues that are of global concern. RSAYPW officially signed a commitment to adopt a Wavemakers Challenger idea: Team Oceanic from South Africa, who will be tackling plastic pollution in our oceans.
The main side event of RSAYPW, entitled ‘Transformed and Inclusive Water Sector’, took place inside the UN headquarters. On the panel were youth members from South Africa, wider Africa and South America, all sharing their perspectives on the South Africa Youth Water Campaign and what water issues loom in their countries and regions
Delegation at the airport, heading to the conference, with representatives from RSAYPW and World Merit South (L-R): Sbusiso Khuboni, Karabo Mokoena, Zintle Mbeka, Odwa Mtembu, Mbali Sibiya, Mendy Shozi
South Africa youth delegation at the conference, inside the UN headquarters (L-R): Mbali Sibiya, Karabo Mokoena, Akhona Xotyeni, Odwa Mtembu, Mendy Shozi, Sbusiso Khuboni, Sibusiso Mhlongo, Thobekile Gambu, Zintle Mbeka
Southern Africa Hub for Revitalisation of the 55 African Youth Policies event
Local municipalities are going through many tough challenges. They are experiencing significant income slumps as crucial revenue streams, such as electricity sales, come under pressure. At the same time, the worsening state of water infrastructure has made service delivery much more challenging, and urbanisation and climate change keep adding more pressure.
Metros of all sizes are struggling to keep up with the costs of managing water infrastructure. According to GreenCape’s 2022 Water Market Intelligence Report, billed water revenue in South African metros totalled R12.8 billion against an expenditure of R13.9 billion. That is a worrying gap. Water security is also a considerable concern, and the same report predicts a 10% supply shortfall by 2030.
Water authorities need ways to close those gaps and enhance delivery with their current resources. They need insights that they can use for planning. They want to reduce their risks for unplanned downtime, use their workforces and resources more efficiently, and gain more control over their operations.
Data
Data is the answer. The right data can help address several common challenges, including:
• preventative maintenance
• leak detection
• accurate billing
• reliable forecasting. Many municipal managers work with challenging legacy systems. They don’t have the financial means to make replacements or must still see a good return on investment from new improvements.
Fortunately, modern data-capturing equipment connects comfortably with established water infrastructure,
DATA TO OPTIMISE MUNICIPAL WATER MANAGEMENT
Municipalities across South Africa require more effective ways to manage their infrastructure, maintenance, compliance and billing. Previously, this would have been a big ask. But modern data systems offer new ways for towns and cities to do more with less, improve service delivery and water security, and improve their revenue. By Chetan Mistry, strategy and marketing manager, Xylem Africa
and data analytics platforms can use information from new or existing sensors. Analytics service providers apply industry frameworks designed for that on-site equipment, and municipal stakeholders gain more insight without replacing vital and expensive components. The best water data solutions use machine learning to provide near real-time analysis and flag unnoticed or obscure issues.
What about a command centre with powerful computers and expensive displays? Not necessary: leading analytics platforms provide customised dashboards for smartphones, laptops and tablets, including automated alerts and quick report generation. Stakeholders can stay on top of water intelligence no matter where they are.
When towns and cities use modern analytics solutions
from leading water technology providers, they gain asset visibility, informed decisions, operations optimisation and security to keep the data safe. It can be a challenge to implement such systems and start exploiting the results. This is where the analytics providers step in, bringing their experience, best practices and technical skills to ensure a proper fit for the site and budget. Once that data flows, managers can reduce wastage, pre-empt breakdowns, forecast consumption and start addressing other revenue opportunities such as lost water sales or leaks.
If you’re still compiling spreadsheets or sifting through printed reports, there is a better way. Use your water data, optimise management and reap the rewards of digitisation.
Many water systems in subSaharan Africa are not working because there is no funding to operate or maintain them. So, while 93% of people living in the area have access to a mobile phone, 2 300 people die every day from waterborne diseases. A digital solution is therefore needed. By Sydney Clarke, Lucy Fenn & Jo Burgess
EWATERservices is a private water operator that uses mobile technology and the internet of things (IoT) to bring clean water to people. Consumers purchase eWATER credit through mobile money and IoT is used to track every litre dispensed and every dollar spent. This
Cell phones and water – an unlikely partnership
Prepayment tags
Currently, every household in sub-Saharan Africa has at least one mobile phone and the economic burden of walking long distances or paying unregulated vendors is US$38 (R695) per month per person. The tags can be topped up with water credit in a variety of ways:
• phone users can buy credit through the eWATER pay app directly onto their tag
• a local shopkeeper – users can pay by cash to an approved vendor or water seller
• credit can be sent/received through digital payment services, allowing for family or donors in distant cities or countries to top up an individual’s tag from afar.
When the water tag touches the eWATER Smart Tap, water is dispensed and credit is deducted through eWATER’s own cloud credit exchange. When the tag is removed, the water stops flowing and the customer is charged for only what they have collected.
TABLE 1 The number of people who have used the Smart Taps to receive clean water since their installation
Local eWATER staff run everything, the money is used by local technicians to ensure pipes don’t leak, the solar panels are cleaned and major repairs are done quickly. Every transaction is recorded on a blockchain ledger, so if someone pays for just 0.1 pence of water, the flow of revenue can be public and verifiable; this means every penny is accounted for and the eWATERcare monitoring dashboard is connected to the internet through a 1G or 2G phone signal, and it gives live updates on usage and system functionality.
Trial in the Gambia
Isle Utilities is an independent technology and innovation consultancy connecting water innovations with end-users. Using
In Wellingara Ba, Gambia, many homes and businesses have sprung to life, as people can now rely on the steady supply of water to keep them healthy and working
The Smart Taps have had a huge impact on the local communities and a youth football team, consisting of 30 members, has decided to name itself eWATER FC
Jo Burgess, head: Trial Reservoir, Isle Utilities
Lucy Fenn, head: Communications, eWATERServices
Sydney Clarke, communications officer, Isle Utilities
ensures that water systems are installed, operated and maintained.
loan funding from Isle Utilities’ Trial Reservoir Initiative, eWATER successfully installed a new water supply network into Wellingara Ba, a rural village in the Gambia.
The loan was for three eWATER Smart Taps to be installed as a trial with the hope that an average of 1 000 litres of clean water would be dispensed from each Smart Tap, each day. The three taps have dispensed an average of 4 579 litres per day over a two-month period.
Wellingara Ba is a large and rapidly growing village. Many houses there do not have access to clean water at their homes and people – usually women and girls – must travel to collect water as well as boil it to try to make it safe enough to drink. The trial is aimed at improving the quality of life for as many people as possible.
Since the trial started, eWATER has kept the water flowing. Each eWATER Smart Tap and system has required some maintenance throughout the trial. For example, during the rainy seasons, it is important to make sure the solar panels on top of each Smart Tap (which keep the IoT connectivity powered up) are kept free of blown leaves to maximise their efficiency because sunlight hours are reduced. eWATER ensured that such maintenance was carried out with the regularity required to keep the water flowing.
Throughout the trial period, there have been 23 364 users in the local communities, with over 273 Mℓ of water dispensed. This figure increases every second and the live data can be viewed here: https://commercial.ewater.services.
As well as providing 24/7 access to safe and clean water, eWATERservices employs and trains people in the local community to build, maintain and repair the systems. Additionally, administrative positions, such as accountants, are made available within the business.
The Smart Taps have had a huge impact on the local communities and a youth football team, consisting of 30 members, have decided to name themselves eWATER FC. This is because they were “grateful for the services we get from eWATER” and so named their team after the Smart Taps.
– the Black Forest manufacturer of level, switching and pressure instrumentation – is on a security mission
SECURITY FIRST
Meet the world’s first level sensor with integrated cybersecurity: the VEGAPULS 6X radar sensor.
Developed and certified in compliance with the IEC 62443-4-2 standard for industrial cybersecurity, the radar level sensor VEGAPULS 6X is used for the continuous level measurement of liquids and bulk solids under all process conditions.
“VEGA is on a security mission. We recognise the increasing threat of cyber-criminality in industry and are taking action to combat it. The ability to use secure measurement data at all times is now one of the most important requirements of our customers. Not only does the production system as a whole have to be secure, but all the built-in components as well,” says Florian Burgert, who was involved in the conception of the universal level sensor from the very beginning.
Plant operators want equipment they can depend on in order to stay one step ahead of the latest threats. VEGA therefore plans to develop its future products in accordance with all existing security requirements right from the start. Protective measures will be consistently expanded to create a reliable basis for secure plant operation in the future.
In addition to its compliance with cybersecurity measures, the VEGAPULS 6X offers the following features: Variable antenna systems ensure maintenance-free operation in all applications.
Exact measuring results are independent of process conditions.
It uses a non-contact measuring principle.
Its applicationoriented configuration enables a simple device selection.
When the water tag touches the eWATER Smart Tap, water is dispensed and credit is deducted through eWATER’s own cloud credit exchange
Don’t let data die on paper
An infrastructure software company with a global reach, Technocad has been operating for 30 years. Its PipeMate and WaterMate software not only assists with the design of gravity and pressurised reticulation systems, but enables the water sector to use the important asset of data to make better decisions.
Data should never die with a paper printed drawing. Often, work is done digitally, and a paper printed drawing is created. Then, later, someone extracts information from the paper print and tries to put the data back to digital format. This is an inefficient, time-consuming process and not conducive to digital project delivery (BIM),” says Peter Webb, director, Technocad.
Technocad believes that data should be reused by engineers, contractors and owners and gives an example where a design is made for an urban sewer reticulation system. Webb explains, “A Technocad software product called PipeMate will use data from a surveyor to create a digital terrain model. That digital terrain model is then linked into the design of the sewer reticulation system. If a pipe is moved or regraded, data on the ground levels and pipe grading is automatically updated into the design. Furthermore, once the design is completed, a bill of quantities is developed literally at the touch of a
PIPEMATE – GRAVITY RETICULATION SYSTEMS (SEWAGE AND STORMWATER)
Peter Webb, director,
• Provides an intuitive graphical approach to sewer and stormwater reticulation design and analysis, whereby basic information pertaining to the reticulation system is gleaned directly from the AutoCAD drawing
• Pipe networks are coordinated and layout and longitudinal section drawings are created automatically from parameters chosen by the designer
• All manhole numbering and pipe numbering is done
• Gives final working layout and longitudinal section drawings with the minimum amount of manual input
• Quantities are also calculated, both for piping and manholes
• Trench excavation volumes are also available
• The designer simply has to draw lines representing the gravity pipe network in plan in AutoCAD, connecting the plots/stands as required, creating a ‘dendritic’ drainage network in the process; line endpoints indicate manhole requirements – no manholes need to be drawn
Technocad
button. Drawings are the by-product of the entire process. Using the same, live data throughout the project is where one gets value out of Technocad software. Reusing digital data creates substantial time savings in digital project delivery.”
Sharing information is a pivotal part of the process. Software from Technocad enables everyone on the project to always use the correct, up-to-date data. This supports the ability of the project team to work collaboratively. It aids the workflow of the project – from concept to handover – and can still be used once the project is completed.
“The idea is to cut out silos of information and create a single source of truth. We believe that data should be connected to a design and should be live,” states Webb. Technocad software speeds up the design process from weeks to a few hours. “For example, with our PipeMate product, by merely inputting data, a full gravity reticulation system can be designed with all the appropriate checks, like making sure pipes tie up at manholes. When the software is given engineering parameters, it can create a design, giving the engineer or design technician more time to analyse massive networks and optimise that design. Then all the digital information is captured and can be used throughout the project and life of the infrastructure. The design engineer is always in complete control; the software merely speeds up the process,” he explains.
Other advantages
When a water reticulation project is handed over to the client, a data file should be added to the client’s GIS system with information on the pipe material, grading, diameter, class, location and closest manhole, among other attributes. This assists with ongoing maintenance. Often, paper drawings are stored in somebody’s office and nobody knows where they are when they are needed. When data is in a digital medium, it can be stored on a cloud-based system and it is easily accessible to everyone decades later.
While Technocad’s software programmes are supplied with tutorials and electronic help files, Webb suggests that a two-day intensive training course will assist with rapid progress in utilising the software. “All training courses are held online and can be accessed by anyone in the world. They are tutorled and questions can be asked as delegates work through the material. We provide examples of designs of water reticulation systems as well as extended period simulation where pressures and flows can be monitored over time. In certain cases, we even make very specific videos to help a client resolve a query,” says Webb. Technocad’s clients vary – from small, ‘one-man’ companies to large, global corporates employing over 500 people. “Over the past 30 years, we estimate that nearly half of South Africa’s water infrastructure has used Technocad’s
WATERMATE – PRESSURISED WATER RETICULATION DESIGN AND ANALYSIS, ALSO INCORPORATING OVERLAND DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES
• Provides an intuitive graphical approach to water reticulation design, whereby information for the hydraulic analysis is gleaned directly from the AutoCAD drawing
• Can be used for networked systems and overland distribution pipelines
• Water networks have the nodes and pipes numbered and coordinated automatically – this allows for easy rearrangement of the network layout without having to manually renumber nodes and pipes
• Since work is done in AutoCAD, extra notes can be added, background aerial photographs and reference contour files can be attached
• Very fast static hydraulic analysis or time simulation of the water network is done with a selection of reservoirs and/ or tanks and hydraulic devices, which can be placed anywhere in the network
• Pipe information is stored in the drawing, and only has to be entered once
• The designer simply has to draw the lines of the water network in plan in AutoCAD, connecting the plots/stands as required, creating a closed/open-looped network in the process
software. I think that this is because the software is easy to use and priced fairly, with different licensing options. It is important to Technocad that the client buys the right software that is best suited to their needs, so we work closely with potential clients from the very beginning to understand what they want from the software and what type of projects they plan to use the software for,” Webb concludes.
Website to tell swimmers if Durban beaches are safe
The University of KwaZulu Natal recently launched a website – Woz’Olwandle – that will provide realtime and forecast guidance to people who want to swim at six of Durban’s beaches.
Meaning ‘come to sea’, the website (www. wozolwandle.com) uses a computer model that processes a large amount of data to estimate the likely concentrations of E. coli at the Country Club Beach, Pirates Beach, North Beach, South Beach, uShaka Beach and Point Beach over a 24-hour period.
The new website draws on the experience of the Beach Report Card, developed for the Greater Los Angeles area in the USA. It will provide guidance on whether it is safe to swim, using easy-tounderstand icons denoting whether water conditions are:
• Good : excellent water quality with E. coli levels <250 cfu/100 mℓ
• Acceptable : acceptable water quality with E. coli levels between 200 cfu and 500 cfu/100 mℓ
• Poor : poor water quality with E. coli levels >500 cfu/100 mℓ
“Information on water quality is often out of date by the time it reaches beach users,
either because samples are not collected daily or because of the time it takes (minimum of 24 to 48 hours) to culture and count bacteria in a laboratory and then publish the results on beach notice boards or online. Heavy rains and strong winds can also change pollution levels overnight. And sampling is costly,” says Dr Justin Pringle, senior lecturer, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Computer model
These problems are addressed using a computer model to predict pathogen levels at beaches between sampling periods to manage exposure risks effectively.
Pringle notes that the model is based upon the original UKZN fluid dynamics computer model that was developed (sadly for the same problem) by Derek Stretch and Dave Mardon about 20 years ago. It has now been repurposed to provide real-time information to the public and predicts E. coli concentrations in the nearshore zone using real-time and forecast winds, rain, river and stormwater/ river drain flows. “The model captures a variety of data that influences the mixing
Dr Justin Pringle, senior lecturer, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Professor Derek Stretch, University of KwaZulu-Natal
and dispersion of pathogenic bacteria pollution close inshore (including rainfall and wind). It also estimates the amount of pollution moving offshore, as well as the decomposition rates of bacteria when exposed to seawater and sunlight.”
The pollution comes from freshwater sources (like rivers and stormwater drains). Fresh water has a lower density than salt water, so it is concentrated within the top layer when it enters the sea. Therefore, when the wind blows, the fresh water (where the pollution is) is easily ‘swirled around’.
By factoring in a range of rainfall data, the computer model can predict the amount of water from stormwater drains and the Umgeni River entering the sea. A wind field is used to calculate where the pollution will travel and how much pollution is present.
“We also use old observational data from eThekwini Municipality (when they used to do sampling every two weeks) to build a statistical distribution of E. coli. An event mean concentration and flow rate will indicate how much pollution is entering the sea and the wind field will tell us where the pollution will travel,” explains Pringle.
To guard against rolling blackout hitches, Pringle has taken the precaution of using a server in the USA. Global model outputs from the National Centre for Environmental Protection (in the USA) are also used to make forecasts.
Other information is extracted daily from:
• global earth observation systems
• a weather station at uShaka Beach
• test results from Talbot Laboratories.
Talbot
Talbot (at their own cost) have been testing the water quality of eThekwini beaches and rivers.
Several epidemiological studies suggest that enterococcus is a much better indicator of pathogenic pollution in marine environments than E. coli
Weekly sampling is done at various points and the test results are
ESCHERICHIA COLI
Researchers have noted that E. coli is a common bacteria found in the gut of people and animals and is simply an indicator of the presence of faecal matter that may contain more harmful bacteria that can cause diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever or shigellosis. Several epidemiological studies suggest that enterococcus is a much better indicator of pathogenic pollution in marine environments than E. coli
made public. “Paddling used to be one of my most favourite sports, but I sadly stopped due to the poor water quality of the Umgeni River. Talbot sponsors testing to firstly make people aware of high levels of pollution in our rivers. We hope that our water quality results will prompt more action in looking after and valuing our water resources. The river and marine environment are being used as a dumping ground for sewage, which is easy to treat. It is important for community members to be aware of the quality of the water that they are using for recreation so that they can make more informed decisions.
In Gauteng, Talbot have also been sponsoring regular water quality testing for the Hennops River Revival in Tshwane,” adds Carl Haycock, CEO, Talbot.
“As a scientist I want to ensure that information gets to people and I hope that the new website will also help to stimulate new conversations about and potential solutions to the problem of sewage flows that have
dented the city’s tourism image. We are also looking for funding to help finance the tests done by Talbot as the model relies on these test results,” says Pringle.
Future plans
The project is part of a broader UKZN academic collaboration that may help the municipality to pinpoint the major sewage pollution problem areas for priority attention and repairs. For example, there are plans to enlist the help of cellular biologists to study the genetic structure of bacteria to help determine the source of sewage pollution at individual wastewater treatment works, stormwater outlets or rivers across the municipal area. The research team will include cellular biology and genomics researcher
The University of KwaZulu Natal recently launched a website – Woz’Olwandle –that will provide real-time and forecast guidance to people who want to swim at six of Durban’s beaches
Dr Angus Macdonald, marine geologist Professor
Andy Green, ecotoxicologist
Dr Dalene Vosloo, and environmental fluid dynamics expert Professor Derek Stretch. Pringle hopes the system can be expanded to cover other beaches, such as uMhlanga, with support from the tourism and hospitality sector and research grants. There is the potential to expand the project to the entire South African coastline.
Barriers and challenges to the deployment of IoT
According to The Internet of Things: Opportunities for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Management (WASH) Management Report*, numerous challenges must be resolved to ensure successful IoT roll-out.
Here are some of the challenges listed in the report:
Trust, security and privacy: Data obtained through IoT can easily be used in ways damaging to people, organisations or environments.
Interoperability between device and middleware, middleware and application, as well as systems in a broader ecosystem, is affected by:
Evolving (maturity and number) standards – Numerous standards are being developed (or have been published recently). This factor complicates the interoperability between IoT solutions. Currently, no single standard dominates the market. The explosion in the number of service (middleware) platforms – Middleware platforms implement different standards or use in-house defined technologies. This approach limits the interaction between systems from different vendors. The number and heterogeneity of devices – With the rapid introduction of new devices, each with their own data formats, information models and communication protocols, middleware platforms need to be adapted to be able to incorporate data observations. This implies the continuous evolution of platforms with associated increase
Even though the value proposition of IoT is becoming clearer, large-scale IoT roll-outs are not common as yet.
in complexity leading to significantly higher costs.
Facilitating unique addressability through IPv6: Each device and service need to be addressable to facilitate data communication. IPv4 has a limited number of IP numbers, which limits addressability. IPv6 can address this limitation, but IPv6’s uptake has not yet been as pervasive as expected.
Robustness of solutions: Not all technologies are robust to the point where the data, decisions and services are fully trusted. Technologies need to be verified and certified through the appropriate certification bodies to increase the likelihood of success.
Acceptance of data driven smart decisions: Society needs to adapt to a space where smart algorithms using the data collected will make complex decisions.
The cost of data
The required bandwidth
The infrastructure required for communication: In addition to the abovedescribed universal challenges, South Africa is also faced with challenges not typically present in developed countries. These include:
• poor and expensive connectivity
• unregulated environments
• business models still evolving and mostly unsubstantiated
• expensive to import various technologies
• limited access to skilled technicians for support and maintenance
• IoT is currently still a small local industry, which restricts the provision of largescale, mass solutions. Apart from the current focus ‘urban’ on applications of IoT in mainly the water sector, which is also necessary, there are therefore huge opportunities to investigate the use and benefits of IoT in WASH as an integrated and interlinked domain. Vast opportunities also exist for research to determine how IoT technologies can be used to improve the lives and health of the large proportion of the South African population that depends on WASH services that cannot be classified as safely managed, improved or advanced, and to develop suitable technologies to fit such environments.
*The Internet of Things: Opportunities for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Management (WASH) Management Report has been reviewed by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and compiled by Dr Louis Coetzee and Professor Paula Kotze.
The report can be accessed here:
Simplifying water quality measurement
Monitoring different parameters in water treatment processes can lead to a setup where different measuring points are scattered across the plant.
Existing pipelines have to be equipped with assemblies and each transmitter has to be mounted individually on the wall. The installation effort results in high costs and maintenance can be time consuming when sensors and assemblies are not easy to access.
Introducing a water analysis panel
The KROHNE water analysis panel is a multiparameter measuring system for water applications. It consists of single modules that can be combined for measuring dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, pH and oxygen reduction potential (ORP). Depending on the requirements, the measuring system can thus be operated as a complete solution or with selected modules allowing configuration of different sensor types. This provides a high degree of flexibility in accordance with the application requirements.
The pre-assembled and pre-wired analysis panel enables easy installation and fast commissioning. In this way, the complexity and effort required for installation are significantly reduced as compared to spatially separated measuring points.
PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
• Continuous monitoring of water quality
• All measuring parameters installed at one location: only one sample line required
• Easy process integration and commissioning
• Better sensor access for lower maintenance effort
• Application-specific selection of analytical parameters
• Free configuration of sensor types for high flexibility
• Space-saving modular design
• Panel material: PVC white or stainless steel (1.4301)
Simplification of the water quality measurement
Water analysis panel –Multi-parameter measuring system for water quality monitoring
• Flexibility in selecting different water parameters: Dissolved oxygen, turbidity, conductivity, pH/ORP
• Simple and cost-effective installation on compact analytical modules: all measuring points at one location
• Completely pre-wired and pre-assembled for easy bypass installation
The KROHNE water analysis panel is a multiparameter measuring system for water applications More information about water-analysis panel: krohne.link/water-analysis-panel
A GUIDE TO
chemical oxygen demand testing
Part 3*
The colorimetric method for COD testing is the most popular. Although colorimetry requires a spectrophotometer or photometer, it offers convenience since most manufacturers offer premixed reagents, so it is easy to run samples with the digestion chemicals and have minimal contact. Since all the analyst needs to do is digest the samples and let the instrument do the work, colorimetry is the most common method to measure COD.
The following equipment is needed:
Heating block (HI839800-02 COD test tube heater)
Both methods for COD testing require the digestion step, so a heating block for samples is crucial for ensuring accurate and repeatable results. For best results, look for a heating block that features multiple temperatures so that it can be used for other tests, such as total phosphorus. Most heating blocks also have timers, which are critical for keeping digestion times consistent over multiple runs. For added safety, look for models that have an optional safety shield that covers the heating block in case of an accident.
Colorimeter/spectrophotometer
The colorimeter or spectrophotometer
COD (chemical oxygen demand) is a critical waste treatment measurement in everything from municipal systems to food manufacturing waste streams. It determines wastewater treatment effectiveness and diagnoses problems in treatment.
By Ralf Christoph, GM, Hanna Instruments South Africa
is the device that will read the absorbance of the samples after digestion in order to correlate it to the COD concentration. Both of these instruments can be used to measure COD, but the two devices are a little different from one another.
Colorimeters use filters to measure light as specific wavelengths, but spectrophotometers use a device that allows for measurement across a wide spectrum. Regardless of which instrument used, look for models that feature pre-programmed methods for COD for ease of use.
Reagents
Reagents are among the most important components of the COD testing system. These chemicals are responsible for oxidising the organic material. It is possible to prepare reagents in-house, but it is easier to purchase reagents to minimise contact with hexavalent chromium and strong acids. These COD vials are premixed and ready to use.
There are several types of reagents available commercially:
EPA-compliant reagents: The vials comply with EPA method 410.4 and Standard Methods 5220D. These reagents use the formulation for this method, which contains mercury sulfate, potassium dichromate, and sulfuric acid. Choose these vials if your work requires you to report COD results to a regulatory agency requiring EPA methodologies.
ISO-compliant reagents: The vials conform to ISO 15705:2002 methods with respect to their composition. The composition of these COD vials is similar to that of EPA standards, so they also contain mercury.
Mercury-free reagents: Most COD vials contain mercury sulfate to
remove chloride interferences, which would otherwise create a falsely high COD value. COD-free vials do not contain mercury, which makes them more susceptible to chloride interferences, but greatly reduces the safety and environmental risks of handling mercury. As a result, these reagents are ideal for routine analysis where no or very low chloride concentrations are expected.
*Read Part 1 of the story here:
*Read Part 2 of the story here:
Heating block
IMPROVING WATER AND SANITATION MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Municipal water and sanitation services have been in an undesirable state for a while now and there is a general consensus that things are not getting any better.
By Lubabalo Luyaba, specialist: Water and Sanitation, SALGA
While the provision of domestic water and sanitation services is the constitutional responsibility of municipalities, the state of these municipalities cannot be separated from our collective experience of deteriorating municipal water and sanitation services.
We must then ask ourselves why we are experiencing this and how we can
get out of our current predicament. This is important, as the 2018 National Water and Sanitation Master Plan (NWSMP) suggests that we are headed towards a water shortage by 2030, should we not implement the NWSMP (and we have not really implemented it).
The 2019 to 2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) provides us with the targets that we are
supposed to be one year away from meeting – but, in reality, we are not as close as we need to be. These MTSF targets can be summarised as:
• all water services authorities (WSAs) having acceptable Municipal Strategic Self-Assessment scores (acceptable risk ratings)
• 90% access to sanitation and hygiene
• 95% reliability of water services
• 100% of wastewater treatment works being functional.
Water Services Collaborative Programme
While it is easiest to point fingers and lament our current challenges, SALGA has developed a Water Services Collaborative Programme to assist municipalities to play their part in moving us towards sustainable and reliable municipal water and sanitation services for all.
The programme is developed in the context of the SALGA mandate, which is to: transform local government to
enable it to fulfil its developmental mandate through:
• lobbying, advocacy and protecting the interests of local government at relevant structures and platforms
• being an employer body representing all municipal members and, by agreement, associate members
• building the capacity of the municipality as an institution as well as leadership and technical capacity of both councillors and officials
• support and advise municipalities on a range of issues to assist the effective execution of their mandate
Overview of the six functional areas of the SALGA water services collaborative programme FUNCTIONALITY AREA ASSESSMENT NODE
Infrastructure planning
Infrastructure delivery
Infrastructure operations and maintenance
Financial health
Technical capacity
Transversal functionality
• Water and sanitation service planning
• Water resource management
• Water conservation and demand management
• Water access levels
• Sanitation access levels
• MIG expenditure
• Drinking water safety
• Wastewater/environmental compliance
• Infrastructure asset management
• Operations and maintenance of assets
• Financial asset management
• Revenue collection
• Financial management
• Management skill level
• Staff skill level
• Technical staff capacity
• Information management
• Organisational performance
• Monitoring water service quality
• Customer care
• build the profile and image of local government within South Africa, as well as outside the country
• serve as the custodian of local government intelligence and the knowledge hub for the sector.
Doing things differently: systems thinking approach
Considering where we are and how poorly we have performed in water and sanitation, it is reasonable to be sceptical of our odds of improving the status quo. The question to ask then becomes: what will we be doing differently this time around? The answer is that we want to take a systems thinking approach that reflects an understanding of the environment in which we operate.
1.Understanding a municipality as: council + administration + community
For far too long, we have treated municipalities as one or the other of the three and have thus failed to design appropriate support and intervention mechanisms to improve local government holistically. The current SALGA programme emphasises the importance of councillors. Therefore, we (DWS, CoGTA, MISA and SALGA) have developed the 2021-2026 Five Year Councillor Development Strategy. This approach recognises that our previous approach of giving councillors a one-day induction (shot in the arm) and hoping for the best in the remainder of their term is neither developmental nor progressive. If we accept that professionals and officials need Continued Professional Development (CDP) to ensure they are always able to do their work, why would we not assume the same of councillors? To some degree, one could even argue that officials (across the three spheres of government) have tried to actively sideline councillors on matters that are ‘too technical’ for them, but we are quick to blame the same councillors for a ‘lack of support’ when our endeavours fail.
2. Understanding the three spheres
Section 40 of the Constitution states: ‘Government is constituted as national, provincial and local spheres which are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated.’ It is important to consider
these sections in conjunction with sections 154 and 139 of our Constitution (obligations to support and intervene respectively). The ‘juniorisation’ and vilification of local government has not helped us. It is perhaps easiest to make this point through three pointed, rhetorical questions:
a. When municipality X has been performing poorly for the last 15 years, why is it that we keep blaming only the municipality (council and officials) and not those who are constitutionally charged with supporting and intervening? Surely, they have failed more than the municipality itself?
b. When the annual Auditor General findings are reported, we are correctly outraged at the performance of some municipalities because we (correctly) understand the correlation between governance, financial management and the audit outcomes. Where is the same outrage when the audit
outcomes of provincial and national government are published? Many provincial and national departments have repeatedly performed poorly, with no accountability from any part of the ‘system’. Why is this?
c. We are all equally thrilled with the return of the Blue and Green Drops (eagerly awaiting the return of the No Drop) and we are collectively disappointed with the performance of some (if not many) WSAs. But where was that same level of moral outrage (towards those responsible for driving the programmes) when these programmes were on ‘unapproved leave’ between 2015 and 2021?
The one-directional nature of accountability, where criticism is exclusively reserved for municipalities, may be appealing, but it shows a deep misunderstanding of our constitutional design. The current collaborative programme focuses on accountability based on our mutual and differentiated
responsibilities. We have no hope of building real accountability, when it only applies to some and not others. On this note, we may also want to reflect on the extent to which we respect the role and agency of communities; do we see communities as just helpless victims in a system where only the administration and executive authorities have power? Again, we must ask ourselves do we really understand our constitutional design?
3. Systematic and holistic
Finally, the programme is systematic and holistic in its understanding of what constitutes effective water and sanitation services management, applying the DWS-developed framework shown in the accompanying table. For too long we have tried a siloed and reductionist approach, and it is perhaps time that we embrace the complexity in providing the simple necessity of municipal water and sanitation services in a democratic dispensation.
APE
Pumps Split Case Pump
Operating Range
Flow - 10m³/hr up to 2500m³/hr
Head - 4m up to 120m
Applications - General liquid pumping - Power plants - Bulk Water - Steel mills - Refineries - Chemical plants - Cooling and heating systems
WATER STORAGE Water security needs forward planning and
Advances in technology in the water storage and water security space have provided urban planners, municipal and civil engineers, as well as professionals in the sector with innovative solutions that address the urgent need for water infrastructure development.
Considering turnaround times, cost, maintenance, upgrades and the prevention of water loss to secure this precious resource, there is a need to look to alternate solutions that tick all of the boxes and are less waterintensive in their construction process than concrete reservoirs.
“Africa is a water-scarce region, and we have witnessed how the urban centres in South Africa have been impacted by droughts and water service delivery challenges,” says Chester Foster, business sales director: SBS Tanks. “Businesses, urban and rural areas all require water storage solutions that are versatile, technologically advanced and deliver water fast. Professionals in the water space need to look for quicker and more
cost-effective alternatives to concrete reservoirs for their water storage projects. Modular, bolted-steel-panel water tanks, which can be commissioned immediately and do not need road infrastructure in advance of their installation, are an ideal alternative.”
SBS Tanks recently completed the installation of five bulk water storage tanks at KwaGuqa township for eMalahleni Local Municipality, in the Nkangala District of Mpumalanga. Situated west of eMalahleni, the project involved meeting the immediate need to increase bulk water storage between the existing 10 Mℓ concrete reservoir and a 400 000 ℓ elevated tank that gravity feeds to the community. As part of the first phase, SBS Tanks installed two bulk water tanks, with a combined storage
capacity of over 6 Mℓ. This stage has been running effectively and SBS Tanks recently completed the next step – the installation of an additional 9 Mℓ storage capacity. Due to age and decay, the existing water treatment plant will be decommissioned and the three newly installed bulk water tanks, which store over 3 Mℓ each, will be fed from a new water treatment plant. Once this plant comes online, the SBS ‘tank farm’, where five blue SBS Tanks stand within a securely fenced plot, will come into play and feed into the existing supply network via the elevated tank to the community.
Along with the short installation time, the reduced cost and immediate commissioning on-site, as well as the potable water liners that maintain the quality of the water stored within, the tank farm also offers the municipal team the benefit of not having to subject the community to water cuts during maintenance. Each tank in the project can be isolated independently for routine maintenance, resulting in a continuous water supply to the community.
For the past 25 years, SBS Tanks has delivered water storage tanks to the South African and global market, working continuously to keep abreast of technological advancements and adapt solutions to the needs of the various sectors served. SBS Tanks can assist its clients with their next backup, process, rainwater harvesting, bulk water, municipal or mine water storage project. Visit the SBS website for more information: www.thesbsgroup.com.
SBS Tanks recently completed the installation of five bulk water storage tanks for eMalahleni Local Municipality
WATER-USE LICENCES AND HYDROPOWER
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has revised its hydropower policy to enable utilisation of its infrastructure and water resources for renewable energy generation.
The regulatory environment for energy in South Africa has changed; there are now more opportunities for independent power producers to produce electricity. There is therefore a growing interest in using water to generate electricity.
The DWS is solely responsible for supplying Water Use License Applications (WULAs) for the use of water resources and infrastructure to generate hydropower as an alternative energy to supplement the current available electricity.
Infrastructure can be dams, barrages, weirs, irrigation systems (canals and conduits), as well as run-off river schemes as potential sites for hydropower, solar and wind generation. Usage of water resources for hydropower, solar and wind generation will follow the currently existing regulatory framework
defined in the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998).
Policy considerations
“We have a duty to ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled. We will therefore support the development of hydropower as part of both social and economic development within the context of water scarcity and water infrastructure challenges. We will not compromise on sustainable protection of water resources and water and sanitation services provision,” explains Dr Sean Phillips, director-general, DWS.
The DWS will charge cost-reflective tariffs for the usage of the water infrastructure and the water resource. Tariffs will be informed by water resource management, infrastructure management principles and optimum functional requirements. The tariff
will also be aligned to the maximum plant capacity.
Non-consumptive water use charges for both hydropower and floating solar photovoltaic technologies will be guided and achieved through the DWS’s pricing strategy in consultation with National Treasury and relevant institutions.
Compulsory compliance and nonnegotiable adherence to all DWS dam safety standard requirements will form part of water-use licence and/ or concession agreements related to renewable energy generation, using DWS infrastructure. The DWS will inspect facilities regularly to monitor risks of compromising water security and dam safety. The inspection process will, among others, look at instrumentation, equipment maintenance, reading frequency and procedures, including activity level procedures. In the rare event that
We have a duty to ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled.”
safety is compromised, this should be reported to the DWS in the prescribed format.
WULA
“We are not going to provide any financial support to the applicants, during application, construction, operations and maintenance. We are not going to be involved in any of the Eskom processes or own any electricity production. The Department will solely be responsible for WULAs and will ensure that the application processes are competitive, fair, transparent and underpinned by the spirit of equity allocation of water resources in line with the National Water Act,” says Phillips.
The WULA will have three phases:
1 A pre-application phase opened on 17 April 2023 and is ending on 30 June 2023. All notices or requests for pre-application engagement must be submitted by not later than 19 May 2023. Any person who intends to apply for a water-use authorisation under this programme must initiate a preapplication engagement with the DWS by means of the e-WULAAS. Upon receipt of the notice/request for preapplication engagement, the DWS will assign a case officer. The response time of the DWS to a request for
pre-application is five working days. The pre-application engagement, including a site inspection, must be completed within 25 working days. Applicants who will not be able to start or successfully complete the preapplication phase will not be eligible to proceed to the second phase.
2 Application compilation and submission ends on 31 January 2024. Following a letter of information issued during the pre-application phase, the applicant will start the process of compiling an application. Applications that do not contain all the information listed in the letter of information requirements will be rejected.
3 Application processing, decision and communication by the DWS. The applications that are accepted will be subjected to processing by the DWS. If there is more than one application on one site, the DWS will only communicate its decision when all applications on that site have been processed. The DWS will take maximum period of 90 working days to process the applications.
“Once the decision has been made by the DWS to grant a licence for hydropower generation, the licence will last for a maximum of 40 years. The conditions of a licence specify that the construction should start within
the stipulated time frame following issuance. It should, however, be noted that all the applications should comply with the conditions of a licence to avoid the suspension and withdrawal of the licence according to Section 54 of the National Water Act,” says Advocate Sipho Skosana, chief director: WULA, DWS.
HIPP
The DWS has initiated the DWS Hydropower Independent Producer Programme (DWS HIPP) in an effort to allow for the available infrastructure and water courses to be used to contribute to the power grid with renewable energy.
The programme is in response to the Energy Action Plan as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to enable the production of renewable energy as an alternative source of energy to supplement the currently available electricity and contribute to tackling South Africa’s power crisis.
The types of hydropower technologies that can be applied for include impoundment, river diversion or run-of-river, pumped storage, and floating or kinetic turbines (small-scale generating capacity). In addition to the above, applications for floating solar panels can also be made.
Bermad ensures that the network hydraulic conditions meets the design requirements and thresholds, thus achieving safe and efficient system operation. Macsteel’s high stock holding of Bermad valves, and local valve assembly means you have what you need, when you need it.
DESALINATION + GREEN HYDROGEN = BEST FRIENDS
As a highly water-stressed country, South Africa cannot use its bulk water supply to manufacture green hydrogen. The good news is that the cost of desalination of saline or non-potable water makes up a near-negligible fraction (1%) of the hydrogen production cost. By Kirsten Kelly
To make green hydrogen, one needs an electrolyser, renewable energy and water. It takes 9 kg of water to make 1 kg of hydrogen. However, due to contaminants in water, we estimate that between 10 kg and 12 kg of water will be needed for every 1 kg of hydrogen. If solar energy is used, even more water will be needed to clean the photovoltaic panels, so approximately 15 kg of water will be needed for every 1 kg of hydrogen,” explains Thomas Roos, senior research engineer, CSIR.
But for hydrogen to qualify as sustainable, the
The cost of desalination of saline or non-potable water makes up a near-negligible fraction (1%) of the hydrogen production cost
water source itself must be sustainable. This means that using water for fuel production must not negatively affect communities, agriculture or the environment.
This is a particular concern under the German National Hydrogen Strategy. Germany will potentially be one of South Africa’s biggest customers for green hydrogen exports, and their strategy states that “the sustainable supply of water in arid regions of export countries must not be impaired by the production of hydrogen”. Therefore, as a highly water-stressed country, with severe water shortages expected in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, the use of potable water for hydrogen production is not sustainable.
An unexpected benefit of green hydrogen
“However, I want to emphasise that the hydrogen economy will not negatively impact water security or other water-heavy industries. In fact, it has the potential to assist with South Africa’s water problems,” states Roos.
Desalination is an expensive water source for most industries – except green hydrogen. This is because it costs 50 KWh
Thomas Roos, senior research engineer, CSIR
of energy to make 1 KWh of hydrogen, but it only takes 3 KWh to make 1 000 kg of desalinated water.
“The Japanese cost targets for hydrogen are US$3/kg (R56.32/kg) in 2025 and $2/kg (R37.54/kg) in 2050. Compared with these values, the desalination cost component has been calculated to vary between $0.005-0.020/kg (R0.094-0.38/kg) of hydrogen produced, which is less than 1% of the 2025 target price,” states Roos.
From this, it may be seen that the hydrogen industry can contribute to water resilience rather than detract from it, as it is in a far better position to carry the costs of desalination than communities or agriculture, who by necessity must rely on other cheaper water abstraction sources and treatment processes.
For these reasons, treated non-potable water is the preferred feedwater supply option for bulk hydrogen production in South Africa.
“This means that it is entirely possible to make a policy where green hydrogen producers oversize their desalination plants as part of their licence to operate. A desalination plant could then sell water to a water utility only at the electricity price,” says Roos.
Traditionally, financing desalination for water security where there is intermittent water supply is difficult. This is because desalination is expensive and a water utility will source water at the lowest cost, meaning that desalination will always be a last option. There are (unless one lives in the Persian Gulf) seldom guaranteed off-takers.
“This would be different with green
hydrogen. When there are good rains and full dams, the desalination plant can run at limited capacity or it can run at full capacity and use the excess water to recharge aquifers,” maintains Roos.
Desalination: inland and coastal production
In order to produce bulk hydrogen competitively, transport economics dictate that road transport costs must be kept to a minimum.
A distinction is therefore made between inland and coastal markets. For the production of hydrogen for export and coastal use, the feedwater should be desalinated seawater. Export hydrogen should be produced at or near the port of shipment.
For the production of hydrogen for inland domestic use, the feedwater should be desalinated/treated water from heavily contaminated sources not treatable by municipal wastewater treatment plants (e.g. mine water, acid mine drainage and industrial wastewater). Municipal wastewater should only be used when these other sources are fully exhausted, as industry may need this water source in the future.
“It is recommended that desalination plants supplying the electrolysis plants for bulk hydrogen production be oversized to be at least 300% the capacity required for the electrolysis plant alone. This can be done as part of their licence to operate. The extra capital expenditure costs should be carried by the project and built into the hydrogen price (which, as demonstrated, will not be greatly affected),” explains Roos.
For coastal hydrogen production (for export and
approach is that in times of good rains and full dams, the desalination plants operate at reduced capacity, supplying only the electrolyser plant. In times of drought, however, the desalination plants operate at full capacity. The local water utility then buys the excess water, paying only for the electricity component: the capital repayment costs are paid for by the hydrogen business.
For inland hydrogen production, it is recommended that the oversized desalination plants permanently operate at full capacity. This supports the capacity of the state to treat contaminated water issuing from public sources such as acid mine drainage from abandoned mines without owners, as this burden normally falls to the fiscus. For operating industries that produce contaminated wastewater, such as mines and factories, it provides opportunities for partnerships with hydrogen businesses to treat their effluent water.
According to Roos, the above approach will have two beneficial effects. “First, it increases the water resilience and water treatment capacity of the municipalities and metros involved. Second, it makes it easier to secure buy-in from South African public sector stakeholders, as public water infrastructure is difficult to finance, and desalination infrastructure particularly so.”
Under this approach, coastal water utilities in regions of hydrogen export production now only need to procure base-demand operating desalination plants to meet growth-related additional demand, for which the offtake can be known with greater certainty, making them easier to finance. Capacity to meet seasonally variable and drought-related additional demand is procured by the
Both the Coega and Saldanha Bay ports can be used to export green hydrogen
JHB WATER: AN OVERVIEW
Derrick Kgwale, COO of Johannesburg Water, gives a perspective on water security within South Africa’s largest metropolitan municipality – City of Johannesburg (CoJ).
Established in 2001, Johannesburg Water is owned by CoJ and is tasked with the operation and maintenance of the water and sewer network.
As the biggest potable water consumer out of the Vaal River Catchment, CoJ accounts for 40% of water consumption volumes out of the Rand Water Supply System.
Water supply security is key to ensuring population and economic growth within CoJ. The Gauteng City Region Water Security Plan (GWSP) outlines CoJ’s obligation for water security and sustainability.
GWSP interventions include:
• reduce water demand
• manage variability to prepare for drought and/or water scarcity
• invest in alternative water sources and tools for water conservation
• manage water quality to limit pollution and achieve environmental goals.
The WC/WDM (water conservation and demand management) strategy aims to reduce demand by 37 123 Mℓ/ annum through the following strategic interventions:
• repairs of leaking reservoirs and tower infrastructure
• repair and replacement of zonal bulk water meters
• active and passive leak detection
• Operational regions: 6
• Regional depots: 10
• Electromechanical depots: 4
• Wastewater treatment works (1 043 Mℓ): 6
• R115 billion infrastructure replacement cost
• Average revenue: R12 million
• Staff: 2 786 (June 2022)
• 12 560 km water network
• 11 861 km sewer network
• 75 pump stations
• 129 reservoirs and towers
• Average daily water demand: 1 621 Mℓ
TABLE 1 WC/WDM intervention allocation budget
Derrick Kgwale, COO of Johannesburg Water
TABLE 2 Reservoir storage rehabilitation
• establishing new pressure management zones and minimum night flow analysis
• retrofitting and removal of wasteful devices (Infrastructure upgrade and renewal)
• by-law enforcement (illegal connection cut-off and reconnection, as well as tampering of City infrastructure for scrap metal)
• replacement and refurbishment of large gate valves
• water pipe replacement
• domestic and large consumer meter replacement.
Ageing infrastructure
Johannesburg Water’s infrastructure assets have a current replacement cost of R115.4 billion. Its asset management plan dictates that a renewal rate of 2% per annum is required. Current expenditure patterns indicate an average renewal rate of 0.92% is achieved with
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG
• Largest metro in South Africa: 1 626 km2
• 7 administrative regions
• 135 wards
• Population: estimated at >5.7 million
• Population growth (p/a): 2.49%
• 1.8 million households
current. Alarmingly, 25% of the asset base has a remaining useful life of less than 10 years.
“Partnerships with the private sector are of extreme importance to Johannesburg Water. This is because we need further investment into our infrastructure to meet increasing water demand. Our rate of investment into infrastructure is smaller than the rate of deterioration. For example, we would like to replace 925 km of pipes in the next five years (185 km/annum); we can only replace 117 km with our current funding. Water losses have increased from 24% in 2019 to 31% in 2022. The lack of capital investment has continued to have an impact on the infrastructure failure rate. The increase in the infrastructure failure rate has resulted in an increase in physical losses,” states Kgwale.
Reservoirs
“Reservoirs are critical to CoJ’s water security. A limited number of reservoirs inhibits CoJ’s capacity to deliver water. There is a need to repair a few old reservoirs and build a few new ones in certain areas,” adds Kgwale.
Pressure management
Johannesburg Water has 765 pressure management zones within its entire water reticulation. Only 22 are smart-controlled. According to the WC/WDM strategy, a further 177 new pressure management zones will be established over the next 10 years. This will be done in a prioritised format to ensure the most beneficial zones are established first. A total of 37 of the new PRV (pressure-reducing valve) zones will be smart-controlled pressure management stations that will be either time- or flow-based.
Joburg’s water is drinkable
WaterCAN, an initiative of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), has recently conducted testing of water quality at 12 public points around the City of Johannesburg, analysing for contaminants such as E. coli, coliform, nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, metals, pH, chlorine and alkalinity.
“The contract for the supply, delivery and installation of advanced pressure management devices is at final procurement stage and will be used for the 37 new installations and well as to refurbish existing installations,” explains Kgwale.
An expected saving of 5 918 Mℓ/annum will be realised through these pressure management initiatives.
Urban migration and informal settlements
Added to Johannesburg Water’s difficulties are illegal water connections, theft, vandalism and the increase in the number of informal settlements in the city 179 (2012) to 312 (2022). “These informal settlements must have water and sanitation services. We need to deal with urban migration. And we all need to work together to ensure this city’s water security,” concludes Kgwale.
The first batch of testing was conducted in Cosmo City, Chartwell, Diepsloot, Morningside, Linbro Park, Lindhurst, Linksfield, Greenside, Linden, Bromhof and Ruimsig, with findings revealing that the water is clean.
“We have received several complaints and concerns about the quality of drinking water and people getting sick in the City of Johannesburg, and we felt that, as WaterCAN, we need to test the water and see the results for ourselves,” says Julius Kleynhans, executive manager: Social Innovation.
“It is important to note that the water tests proved the water was clean on the date of consumption. We encourage local community organisations such as ratepayers’ organisations to participate in this process in order to maintain monthly water testing to ensure safe access to clean drinking water to their residents,” Kleynhans adds.
Sludge pumps
About 33% of South Africans do not have sanitation services for the safe handling and management of waste
THE BIGGEST WATER HOG IN THE BUILDING FLUSHING:
Non-sewered sanitation (NSS) technologies are a feasible solution for not only poor areas of the country that lack basic services. It is illogical that South African homes in urban spaces use up to 12 ℓ of potable water for every toilet flush.
Conventional toilets are extremely water-intensive, contributing about 30% of a household’s total water consumption. Certainly, water-saving toilets play an important role in reducing the water footprint of homes and buildings. Some of these technologies consume up to 20% less water than
traditional flush toilets. However, with about 63% of the population using flushing toilets, Sello Mokawane, vice president of the Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA), says that these technologies are insufficient intervention.
“More will need to be done considering the sheer extent of the water and sanitation challenges with which we grapple. While water shortages are becoming a common occurrence in the urban nodes, many South African citizens who live in the rural areas and informal settlements have had to do without this basic human right for many years. It has long been their norm, while quality drinking water is being flushed down the toilet in the middle- and high-income areas,” says Mokawane.
“At the same time, our existing sanitation infrastructure is buckling under the strain of rapid urbanisation and development, compounded by
mismanagement of this infrastructure. It is a concern that more than 330 of our 852 wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) are in a critical state. This is happening while many of the rural areas and informal settlements have never had access to sanitation infrastructure that distances people from harmful pathogens and bacteria. Both situations also compromise the quality of our clean water resources. Only 54% of the population can access clean drinking water and about 33% of South Africans do not have sanitation services for the safe handling and management of waste. Considering this growing backlog, it is questionable whether we will meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to provide access to quality water and sanitation to all South Africans by 2030. SDG 6 is also in line with Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan and Medium-Term Strategic Framework Outcome Targets, as well as a driver of the National Water & Sanitation Master Plan. NSS technologies can be implemented quicker and more costeffectively than large, centralised systems and are, therefore, a way of achieving our water and sanitation goals,” he continues.
New plumbing skills
IOPSA members are increasingly expanding their skills to service the growing green plumbing market. A case in point is the role that they are playing in helping property owners to safely use greywater for applications such as
flushing toilets. They are also equipped with the skills that are needed to install, maintain and repair rainwater harvesting systems. These significantly reduce water footprints of houses and buildings, especially when rainwater is used for water-intensive toilet flushing purposes.
Futhermore, IOPSA members are also knowledgeable in the installation, repair and maintenance of nonwaterborne sanitation systems. Their skills and experience encompass all the technologies that are currently being used in the country, such as pit latrines, as well as ventilated improved pit and ventilated improved double pit toilets. This is in addition to shortcycle alternating double-pit toilets, pour-flush latrines, and urine-diverting dry toilets. If properly installed, these technologies provide an affordable and practical solution for rural and peri-rural areas where conventional waterborne sanitation systems are not feasible. There has also been a growing interest in the technology in urban areas where municipal services are deteriorating at an alarming rate. Property owners are increasingly exploring ways of reducing their reliance on municipal supplies.
IOPSA members are trained to install, maintain and repair these technologies according to SANS 10400-Part Q. This national standard ensures the healthy handling and treatment of effluent for non-waterborne sewerage systems.
However, new and more efficient NSS systems are being introduced to the country that bridge the huge divide that
currently exists between conventional pit latrines and waterborne sewage solutions. They are also more socially acceptable alternatives to existing non-waterborne sewerage systems. This should help to drive their uptake in the urban areas.
Enterprising plumbers have, therefore, already familiarised themselves with the new SANS 30500 standard, which enables the testing and validation of these nextgeneration NSS technologies.
NSS systems
Notably, IOPSA recently participated in two field studies involving NSS systems. The work in mainstreaming these technologies is being driven by the Water Research Commission’s Sanitation Transformational Initiative. It is being supported by government through impressive legal and policy frameworks. A case in point is the national sanitation policy, which focuses on the entire sanitation value chain. In doing so, it recognises the economic value of sanitation and emphasis is given to both urban and rural sanitation, as well as on- and off-site systems.
These NSS systems are prefabricated integrated treatment units. They comprise a toilet at the front end and a treatment facility at the back end. They collect, convey and fully treat the waste that is introduced to the system. Therefore, they are not connected to any sewer or drainage network that sends sewage to a wastewater treatment works.
An example of such technology is a toilet that uses a full water-cycling
process to treat sewage. A rainwater collecting system can also replenish the water to the processor for treatment before it is recycled to the storage tank for flushing. Blackwater from the toilet is pumped up to the sewage processor for treatment and then recycled to the storage tank for flushing. The core of the technology is a sophisticated biofilm membrane reactor treatment process. It produces a stable and clean effluent that is further disinfected to ensure it is safe for reuse.
“I do believe that these systems will gradually become the norm as opposed to the alternative. This is considering the ease at which they can be implemented and their cost-efficiency versus large, centralised sanitation infrastructure. Between 2015 and 2030, it is estimated that 18.3 million South Africans will require basic sanitation services to end open defecation. This calls for a US$370 million (R6.79 billion) annual investment into sanitation infrastructure. Add to this the need to safely manage faecal sludge from all sources, including WWTWs, which requires a further annual $970 million (R17.8 billion) investment. In 2019/20, South Africa only invested R17.5 billion into sanitation, which was nowhere near enough to address existing backlogs and new services. It is a significant challenge that requires outof-the-box thinking with the diverse skills and experience of the plumbing fraternity harnessed as part of the solution,” Mokawane concludes.
Conventional toilets are extremely water-intensive, contributing about 30% of a household’s total water consumption
Clearing alien plants to improve water security
A programme to secure more run-off to major Eastern Cape dams is proving successful as water conservation efforts in the drought-stricken south kick into high gear, despite record rainfall to the north of the province.
One of the region’s significant water sources, the Kouga Dam – feeding Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) metro and surrounds – hovers at just below 16% capacity (April 2023), with about 11 200 M ℓ of water available.
Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB), which manages the dam’s water, is amid a years-long governmentfunded drive to improve water security in the region by clearing alien invasive plant species in the catchment areas of dams supplying the area.
On average, the dam has been full every five years since its completion in 1969 but, due to the drought, it last overflowed in 2015.
“The state of our catchments is of utmost importance in terms of securing water that needs to reach our storage dams,” says Rienette Colesky, CEO of GIB. “This clearing of alien invasive plant species is an effort to be undertaken not just by the government, but all stakeholders – including farmers. It’s much, much cheaper than building dams.”
Research commissioned by GIB indicates that the baseline flow in catchment rivers could increase, on average, by up to 13 ℓ /day where alien plant species are removed in fynbos districts. Under current water restrictions in the Bay metro, that’s enough to supply a household for one month, as domestic water users are limited to 15 kℓ /month.
Over the past five years, GIB teams comprising 1 000 previously unemployed community members have cleared about 10 000 hectares of alien invasive plant species
Hundreds of formerly unemployed community members make up various Gamtoos Irrigation Board teams that clear Eastern Cape catchment areas of watersapping alien invasive plants
A 110-strong Working for Wetlands team constructed a weir along the Kromme River off the R62
in dam catchment areas – the equivalent area of 20 000 rugby fields.
“These plants increase transpiration, and evaporation losses and absorb much more water from the ground than indigenous plants. They can reduce the flow of rivers and annual runoff, affecting the dams that supply water to the NMB metro — the Churchill, Impofu and Kouga dams,” says Colesky.
According to Edwill Moore, western area manager: Eastern Cape at GIB, the clearing of such invasive plants –predominantly black wattle species – has been significant.
“In the Kouga Dam catchment, around Louterwater, Krakeel and Joubertina, we have done new clearing of about 100 ha, and followup operations on previously cleared areas of 3 800 ha with 525 previously unemployed workers,” Moore said.
In the Churchill and Impofu Dam catchments, about 30 km upstream of Kareedouw to Churchill Dam, GIB teams have cleared – and continue to clear until 31 March – 2 256 ha of dense alien invasive trees in the riparian areas, as well as engage in follow-up operations on 2 273 ha of previously cleared areas, employing 600 previously unemployed community members, Moore adds.
“In the Kromme River (Churchill Dam catchment) and Dieprivier (Impofu Dam catchment), we are doing wetland restoration and rehabilitation,” says Moore.
“This includes construction and maintenance of concrete weirs, to prevent any further loss of palmiet wetlands, as well as the establishment of indigenous wetland plants in the previously wattleinfested wetlands.”
According to Andrew Knipe, eastern area manager: Eastern Cape, the success of such projects lay in the continued work to clear the land of alien invasive plant species.
“The secret of the success here has been a consistent effort over many years. Alien vegetation clearing requires continuous follow-up and maintenance of cleared areas. This ongoing process requires proper systems to be in place,” Knipe says.
DRAWDOWN OF ZEEKOEVLEI
Zeekoevlei is a large (258 hectare), shallow, freshwater lake (vlei) located in Cape Town. Staff from the False Bay Nature Reserve and community groups recently conducted the annual drawdown of the Zeekoevlei weir.
The lowering of the six sluice gates allows the vlei to drain more than half of its water, which assists to improve the overall water quality and health of the wetland. It allows the vlei to be flushed of pollutants and clean-up work to be undertaken by the reserve staff and volunteer groups.
“This drawdown will flush the vlei of pollutants that have built up in the system over the past 12 months. This is done on Freedom Day after the first rains, at the end of autumn. The lower water levels w ill make it easier for our crews to do manual clean-up, with the removal of litter and water hyacinth. They will get started with this work once e nough water has drained from the vlei,” says Alderman Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and MMC: Spatial Planning and Environment, City of Cape Town.
The sluice gates usually remain open until mid-July, after several cold fronts have moved through Cape Town and flushed the system. The Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate has budgeted R49 m illion over the next three financial years for the lowering of the Zee koevlei weir to allow for a greater drawdown of water to assist in impr oving water quality.
Riverine management key to flood control
Durban is the first city in Africa to release its Climate Action Plan, which includes strategies to conserve and manage its ecological resources, especially river systems. This is because human health and safety risks are being increasingly linked to poor riverine management.
By Kirsten Kelly
Part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), Durban has 18 major river systems. The deteriorating river water quality and more frequent flooding have caused escalating costs to the city, businesses and its residents.
“The projected impacts of climate change on Durban’s water systems include declining water quality, more intense flooding, as well as reduced water availability and food security. When combined with blocked rivers and streams, and settlements in flood-prone areas, the impact of a changing climate is disastrous,” says Dr Sean O'Donoghue, senior manager: Climate Change Department, EMM.
During last year’s floods, water in some of Durban’s river courses damaged or ripped away close to R25 billion in infrastructure. Over 450 lives were lost and, ironically, the floods
Dr Sean O'Donoghue, senior manager: Climate Change Department, eThekwini Municipality
caused water supply interruptions; the city has not yet fully recovered from these floods. There was also an increase in the cost of purification of water to potable standards due to poor quality of receiving waters.
“Roughly 80% of the destructive river blockage in April was due to alien invasive plants rather than solid waste or litter. Since these alien invasive plants have shallow root systems (in contrast to the deep-rooted indigenous vegetation), they can be stripped out easily, leaving the soil exposed. During large storm flows, the aliens wash away easily, causing further erosion of larger trees and sandy soils, which
Community members participating in the river clean-up campaign organised by eThekwini Municipality
Palmiet Enviro Champs conducting a mini SASSI training to monitor water quality in the Palmiet River
During last year’s floods, water in some of Durban’s river courses damaged or ripped away close to R25 billion in infrastructure
blocks culverts further downstream,” explains O’Donoghue.
Historically, culverts were designed using hydraulic capacity calculations, with not enough thought given to the debris carried by rivers during storm events. Now, due to the more recent proliferation of alien vegetation and increased volumes of trash dumped in local rivers, the frequency of blockages has increased.
Transformative Riverine Management Programme However, there was comparatively minor damage from the 2022 floods in areas where riverine management took place. The INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) areas and part of uMlazi where the Sihlanzimvelo Project has been implemented fared well compared to other parts of the city. The programme is part of EMM’s Transformative Riverine Management Programme (TRMP). According to O’Donoghue, the TRMP has received additional political, administrative
The Durban TRMP is premised upon existing riverine management initiatives, with the aim to upscale them:
1
The Sihlanzimvelo Project (we are cleaning the environment) was started by EMM’s Roads and Stormwater Maintenance Department in 2012. The objective of the project is to remove litter, waste and invasive plant species from stream areas to reduce stormwater blockages and create employment for cooperatives formed by local residents. The community cooperatives employed through the Sihlanzimvelo Project have been given the core skills needed to establish and run a cooperative, remove alien invasive plants, and comply with health and safety regulations. The community assessors play a wider role in creating awareness and behaviour change in the surrounding communities. The current Sihlanzimvelo project covers nearly 500 km of rivers on municipal land where human settlement densities are high, creating more than 600 jobs for local community cooperatives.
2
The Aller River Pilot Project is led by the Kloof Conservancy, a community-based organisation promoting environmental protection awareness. The objective of the pilot project is to restore sections of the Aller River, with a focus on water quality improvement and invasive species removal. It has a focus on training and empowering youth representatives through the Eco-Champs programme to undertake education and clean-up campaigns. The project was initiated in 2016 and is ongoing.
3
The Green Corridors Green Spaces Project is led by the Green Corridors NPC, an EMM-supported special-purpose vehicle, working on community upliftment through the creation of a green spatial economy. The objective of the project is to enhance local quality of life, living environments and sustainable livelihoods. This project was initiated in 2010 and its implementation is subjected to an annual review of its memorandum of agreement with the municipality.
and private sector support due to the 2022 floods.
The TRMP has been implemented to enhance the city’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. This is done by combining ecosystem restoration, adaptation to climate change, and the creation of economic opportunities for low-income populations. It encompasses the employment of community cooperatives as well as the training and employment of local community members to assist with river health maintenance, waste management, monitoring and community awareness.
The main tasks of the cooperatives include:
• clearing of culverts and stormwater systems
Roughly 80% of the destructive river blockage in April was due to alien invasive plants rather than solid waste or litter. Since these alien invasive plants have shallow root systems (in contrast to the deep-rooted indigenous vegetation), they can be stripped out easily, leaving the soil exposed. During large storm flows, the aliens wash away easily, causing further erosion of larger trees and sandy soils, which blocks culverts further downstream.”
• minor erosion control of embankments
• ditching to prevent water stagnation
• litter and debris removal and disposal
• cutting back of vegetation
• alien vegetation control
• planting of indigenous vegetation
• report leaking sewers and erosion points.
The state of the cooperative’s length of stream is assessed each month against a set standard, with the payment scale determined by the level of maintenance achieved.
“Our thinking is that by looking after waterways by removing alien vegetation and plastic litter that can be repurposed into something else, the riverbeds will be more resilient to flooding. This will offset anticipated damage and loss of lives from climate change. While the removal of alien plants can reduce flooding risks, it can also increase water security by
improving infiltration and base flows in rivers,” adds O’Donoghue.
There is a focus on building skills and capacity in beneficiary communities, extending beyond riverine management actions. This includes helping people making a living from waste upcycling and recycling while improving the health of their local rivers. “For example, dirty plastics coming out of the river can be used to manufacture clip boards and ocean pavers. Alien vegetation can be converted into new fibre-based products or bokashi compost,” states O’Donoghue.
“Another initiative that we are looking to implement is to stabilise the riverbeds with indigenous vegetation once the alien plants have been removed. There is an opportunity for community members to grow indigenous plants from seeds and sell them back to EMM to plant back into riverbeds,” he adds.
There are 7 400 km of Durban’s degraded rivers and streams. EMM owns roughly 1 200 km, while the rest is traditionally owned and privately owned land. “A different model will need to be adopted on land that is not owned by EMM. The idea would be to work with NPOs and private companies whose operations are at risk due to flooding.”
Partnerships
Projects falling within the TRMP represent partnerships between EMM, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), civil society groups, and communities. AFD is a member of the C40 Cities Finance Facility, and a co-funder
By removing alien vegetation and plastic litter that can be repurposed into something else, the riverbeds will be more resilient to flooding
Human health and safety risks are increasingly linked to poor riverine management
of Ciclia (Cities and Climate in sub-Saharan Africa) – a financial facility to provide project preparation funds. The C40 Cities Finance Facility has provided support to the TRMP, with GIZ as an implementing agency.
“AFD has worked with EMM for over a decade, and can provide grant funding at a subsidised interest rate. We focus on funding to prepare projects for practical completion,” explains Yasmeen Dinath, chargeè de mission: Urban Development and Municipalities, AFD.
Critical to the successful implementation of the TRMP has been the development of a viable business case that quantifies and articulates the costs and benefits of transformative
riverine management across different sectors. The development of this business case is supported by the C40 Cities Finance Facility.
Business case
The business case seeks to unlock increased investment from the municipal fiscus in ecological infrastructure as a supplier of vital goods and services, but also from other government actors, non-governmental and private sector stakeholders, as well as citizens. And it is a means to building a case for upscaling riverine management to encompass all rivers in Durban.
“Several studies (upon which the business case has been based) were run around the hydrology of the
It is envisaged that up to 1.3 million people in Durban will benefit from improved ecosystem services associated with the rehabilitation of rivers through the TRMP
four catchments with the TRMP, analysing present and future scenarios. Ecosystem services, vulnerabilities, open space management and the effects of climate change was considered. There was a huge emphasis on community-based stakeholder involvement in the catchments,” adds Dinath.
The business case suggests that the historic failure to invest in (often ill-defined or intangible) ecosystem services has led to a significant decline in the condition and functionality of most of the city’s rivers. Declining river water quality will affect coastal tourism and property values, as well as the ability of riverine communities to access and use rivers for household water provision, crop irrigation and recreation.
O’Donoghue estimates that the TRMP saves the city at least R59 million every year, based on avoided costs of damage to road culverts alone. “For evert R1 spent on ecological infrastructure, anything between R1.80 and R3.40
BULK WATER STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Part of eThekwini Municipality, Durban has 18 major river systems
AGENCE FRANÇAISE DE DÉVELOPPEMENT (AFD)
AFD implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity. Through its financing of NGOs and the public sector, as well as its research and publications, AFD supports and accelerates transitions towards a fairer, more resilient world. It also provides training in sustainable development (at AFD Campus) and other awareness-raising activities in France. Its teams are at work on more than 4 000 projects in the field, in the French overseas departments and territories, in 115 countries and in regions in crisis. AFD strives to protect global public goods – promoting a stable climate, biodiversity and peace, as well as gender equality, education and healthcare. In this way, it contributes to the commitment of France and the French people to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
is saved, depending on the type of land (privately owned, municipal or traditional governance).”
The annual cost implications for the well-being of municipal citizens and coastal users are estimated to reach R224 million by 2040. (Only historic damage costs to culverts were available to use in this study and so it is recognised that costs indicated are lower than what will be experienced once all infrastructure damage is totalled.)
By scaling up the TRMP, EMM believes that it can save even more money while creating several thousand jobs and making a more meaningful impact to protect vulnerable communities from climate change hazards.
If the city upscaled the existing Sihlanzimvelo Project on municipal land – approximately 1 168 km of river – this would cost the city around R92 million annually. The city would experience avoided damage costs to municipal culverts and road crossings of R59 million (excluding damage to sewers, watermains and other municipal infrastructure). The societal benefits each year are estimated to be R177 million; 234 cooperatives would be needed to do the work, which would create some 1 557 jobs. This translates to R2.60 in benefits for every R1 spent by the city. The additional green economy opportunities in terms of job creation and economic benefits have not been included.
In turn, for a city-wide TRMP, an investment of R7.5 billion by the public and private sector is required over the next 20 years. This would result in an avoided cost of R1.9 billion in damage to municipal culverts and
roads (this excludes damage to sewers, watermains and other municipal infrastructure), R12 billion to R24 billion in societal benefits, greater than 9 000 jobs and many additional green economy opportunities. This translates to R1.80 to R3.40 in benefits for every R1 spent.
“A lot of different line functions within EMM benefit from the TRMP: Biodiversity Management, Climate Change Department, Coastal and Stormwater Catchment Management Department, Natural Resources Management Branch, Roads & Stormwater Maintenance, CFF City Cooperation Unit, Economic Development Unit (which includes the Business Support Unit). We had to identify the benefits and allocate
budgets towards TRMP from these departments accordingly,” adds O’Donoghue.
“This is a messy space, with a variety of stakeholders who sometimes have conflicting ideas as to how rivers should be managed. Governance can get very complicated. However, everybody wants the same outcome and it is important to have a broader approach in terms of improving Durban’s economy, job creation and reducing climate change vulnerability instead of solely focusing on river health,” he states.
Foresight
EMM is one of the few municipalities that has an entire Climate Change Department, and has established its Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D’MOSS), which seeks to protect the biodiversity and associated ecosystem services of Durban. It includes nature reserves, large rural landscapes in the upper catchments and riverine and coastal corridors, grasslands, forests and wetlands.
This has been largely driven by Dr Debra Roberts, co-chair of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and head: Sustainable and Resilient City Initiatives Unit at EMM.
“Climate adaptation work at EMM began about two decades ago, making Durban a pioneer city in Africa and worldwide when it comes to recognising its climate change vulnerabilities and prioritising solutions at a high level,” explains O’Donoghue.
The estimated cost to implement a city-wide TRMP in Durban over a 20-year period is $512 million (R9.37 billion), unlocking societal benefits of $887 million (R16.2 billion) to $1.8 billion (R32.9 billion) per annum, and improving ecosystem service levels by 10%
Dinath adds that there are numerous constraints in terms of policy and legislation when considering naturebased solutions to flood risks. “There has always been an emphasis on grey infrastructure but the TRMP brings to light the important role of ecological infrastructure and the fact that it must be considered a capital investment by municipalities.”
The TRMP can be emulated and adapted by mayors in other African cities increasingly vulnerable to severe storms due to climate change. Already, C40 and other climate response networks are developing similar flood mitigation projects in Cape Town, Mbombela (Nelspruit), Nairobi, Mombasa, Lusaka, Harare and Accra.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT UNIT to tackle climate change
Threats posed by climate change, combined with the demand for land and access to basic services, highlights the importance of, and the challenges in, developing resilient infrastructure.
Consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm Zutari has established a Sustainable Development Unit to develop sustainable solutions for underlying socio-economic challenges facing many local communities due to the growing impact of climate change and collaborate with stakeholders. The unit comprises a range of experts with skills in environment, climate change, town planning, geospatial analysis and stakeholder management.
Furthermore, Zutari has contributed to the Long-Term Adaptation Scenarios
(LTAS) flagship research programme as well as the CSIR Greenbook –highlighting the risks associated with climate change and flagging key risks for local municipalities.
Undertaken by the Department of Environmental Affairs, LTAS produced a report entitled ‘Climate Change Adaptation Perspectives for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in South Africa’. LTAS highlights the significant risk to both towns and cities, particularly in areas where informal development has taken place within existing flood lines, or unsuitable geological conditions, but also in
terms of critical infrastructure such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams and powerline crossings.
Flooding
Last year, the government declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive, coordinated response to the impact of floods that recently affected Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo,
Dr James Cullis, sustainability expertise leader, Zutari
the Northern Cape and NorthWest provinces.
“There is no doubt that the recent severe flooding has increased the focus on climate change as a matter of urgency. Extreme weather events are likely to become more extreme and common in future. It speaks to the need for resilient infrastructure and risk mitigation, as well as bringing environmentally aware design to bear,” explains Dr James Cullis, sustainability expertise leader at Zutari.
The possibility of increased disaster risk is considered one of the most concerning and potentially costly impacts of future climate change in South Africa and globally. Understanding these risks and identifying key areas of concern is critical for developing suitable and sustainable adaptation policies and scenarios.
Collaboration and Future Cities
South Africa
The increasing risks associated with climate change cuts across different sectors and departments – a challenge for many cities and institutions that are still very silo based. “However, at
the end of the day, we must all work together to achieve a shared vision. In Africa and the developing world, there is increasing acknowledgement of the importance of mitigating climatechange risk,” says Cullis.
Zutari’s combination of urban planning, engineering and climate change expertise has also come together to support a unique alliance of organisations and independent specialists comprising the Future Cities South Africa (FCSA) initiative. This is in conjunction with PwC (UK and South Africa), Open Cities Lab, Palmer Development Group, Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading and the Isandla Institute, among others.
The FCSA is the delivery partner for the South African component of the Global Future Cities Programme, managed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The initiative aims to support Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town with the urgent challenges experienced in sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
Increasingly, the importance of investing in ecological infrastructure
INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
There is no doubt that the recent severe flooding has increased the focus on climate change as a matter of urgency. Extreme weather events are likely to become more extreme and common in future.”
is being recognised as a critical component of climate change adaptation. In South Africa, the importance of investing in ecological infrastructure has been well known and contributed to the success of the various ‘Working for’ programmes, including both Working for Water and Working for Wetlands as well as more recent examples such as the establishment of the Greater Cape Town Water Fund following the Cape Town drought.
EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is implementing the Transformative River Management Programme (TRMP) to try to restore the natural systems and river corridors. It recognises the importance that these have in managing the increased risk of flooding, and the many challenges faced, particularly related to informal settlements and lack of maintenance.
“There is a broader narrative concerning climate change and design and construction. We need to assess risk and design differently for more resilient infrastructure. It also speaks to risk classes and defining areas not to develop in and then keeping these areas free of development,” concludes Cullis.
