WE NEED

Water, as we know it, is fundamental to almost every sector and social well-being; Water is life! Yet, with the 2030 target just around the corner, it seems as though we are nowhere near to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By Dr Preyan Arumugam, chair: Marketing and Communications, WISA 2024 Conference

The recent outbreak of cholera in Hammanskraal, which lead to just under 50 deaths, was a result of contaminated water supplies, while the 2022 flooding in eThekwini that left many citizens displaced and more than 450 lives lost indicates a well-known issue – bulk water and sanitation infrastructure is failing. The City of Cape Town survived the ‘Day Zero’ threat but where are we going wrong?

The WISA 2024 Conference aims to direct our focus toward finding solutions to our existing challenges and identifying the gaps in a more collaborative approach, with all sectors –including academics, professionals and industry leaders in water, sanitation, health, hygiene, mining, agriculture and manufacturing – as well as the public sector –through policymakers, lawmakers and servicing authorities. The conference, which will take place in the City of Durban on 27-29 May 2024, will create a platform where there is inclusivity, opportunities for partnerships, as well as improved governance within the sector to foster next-generation solutions. To achieve the SDGs, particularly SDG 6 – access to clean water and sanitation – actions and commitment need to be ramped up within the next seven years.

In keeping with the nautical theme of the WISA’s previous two conferences – ‘All Hands on Deck’ and ‘Navigating the Course’ in 2020 and 2022, respectively – WISA has chosen ‘Turning the Tide’ for its upcoming conference in 2024.

Here are the following subthemes:

Hands on the Wheel: Moving towards stronger partnerships and stakeholder engagement

Aye Aye Capt'n: Turn the tide with improved governance

Reading the Charts: Effecting resilient planning and management in a changing environment

International initiatives, public-private partnerships, SDG 6 communication and stakeholders, developing capacity within the WASH sector with technical and soft skills.

Water governance, policies and regulations, water economics, business development with particular attention to the circular economy, funding and infrastructure asset management, and the Blue and Green Drop Certification.

With a changing environment and the devastating impacts of climate change, we must effectively plan toward integrated waste resources management, project management, disaster management (as a result of floods, droughts, waterborne diseases, pollution incidents), surface water resource protection and accessibility, including hydrology, in all terrestrial habitats and aquatic ecosystems. This subtheme will invite papers on groundwater management, availability, accessibility and resilience planning, including stormwater management, with special attention to SDG 2, agriculture and plant-soil-water enhancements.

Forging A'Head: Improving municipal water and sanitation service delivery

Tending the Lookout: Optimising monitoring and efficiency

All things service-delivery-related, such as the provision of potable water and access to clean water, municipal performance, Blue and Green Drop certification, sanitation service delivery – including alternative sanitation such as non-sewered sanitation systems and re-engineered toilets excluding sewage treatment technology – and infrastructure design, construction, operation, maintenance, and efficiency.

Monitoring and evaluation are key to efficient service delivery. This subtheme focuses on efficiency in water use by tackling non-revenue water, working with water balances, water quantity monitoring, WC/WDM and wastewater reuse, water quality impacts (ground- and surface water), monitoring, assessment and modelling, and No Drop certification. New methods and instrumentation for monitoring in chemical, microbiological, and other laboratory analyses.

Clipping New Edges with Innovation and Technology

Innovation leads to change and progressive movement. This subtheme will target treatment technologies in water, wastewater and wastewater reuse, including sewage treatment, wastewater and faecal sludge, mine water and acid mine drainage, nature-based solutions such as natural and constructed wetlands, 4IR, digital twins, bioremediation, alternative technology (not related to sanitation), applied science, or artificial intelligence (AI).