Ignore the water crisis at your peril
While the maintenance and development of infrastructure are essential elements of addressing South Africa ’ s water scarcity issues , changing peoples ’ attitude to water usage and effectively managing the demand for water are equally critical , writes Sean Molloy , general manager of Integrated Infrastructure Services at GIBB Engineering & Architecture .
The preservation and efficient management of water have received increased priority by governments and corporate players globally . In South Africa , the drought crisis has highlighted the urgent need to conserve and manage water more effectively .
The Water Research Commission predicts that South Africa will demand 17 % more water by the year 2030 . The country ’ s water supplies are almost fully allocated , making it difficult for new enterprises to access water licences and placing a dampener on future economic growth .
Currently , up to 50 % of water supplied to South African cities cannot be accounted for . This varies from between 30 % and 50 % in the metropolitan areas and between 40 % and 60 % in the smaller municipalities , amounting to an annual loss of about R7-billion worth of water , as indicated in government ’ s Nine-Point Plan .
This unaccounted water usage is largely because of water leaks and unmetered water usage .
According to the Water Research Commission , while South Africa ’ s post-1994 water legislation has been heralded as pioneering , there have been challenges in implementation . This is largely due to legacy issues because of outdated water laws , as well as the growing demands on South Africa ’ s existing water resources , intensified by population growth , rapid urbanisation , economic development , and increased demand for higher levels of service .
Solutions to South Africa ’ s water crisis exist , but they require committed collaboration between government and the private sector . The strategy needs to be two-pronged : firstly , to reduce public demand for water , and secondly , to conserve the water already in the system .
Reduce public demand for water
Reducing public demand for water requires increasing the price for excessive water usage and educating the public on water-saving techniques . While government has introduced initiatives to instil a water-saving mindset among South Africans , this does not seem to have had the desired outcome and efforts need to be redoubled , preferably with the help of the private sector .
South Africa could look to Botswana ’ s Project Somarela Thothi for a workable public-private partnership ( PPP ) model . The programme was initiated in March 2015 to reduce water losses during Gaborone ’ s worst drought in 32 years .
A partnership was formed between the German Development Corporation ( GIZ ), the Water Utilities Corporation , and First National Bank Botswana Foundation , with the aim of reducing water demand by implementing social and technical water loss reduction initiatives .
The social aspect focused on creating awareness around conserving water through promotional material , school awareness programmes , and outreach initiatives , while the technical aspect focused on bulk metering and sectorisation to assess leakage and the potential for pressure management .
Conserve water in the system
The technical measures form part of the second prong of an effective water conservation and demand management strategy , that is , to focus on the conservation of water already in the system .
Leaks occur in the bulk and internal water distribution systems , as well as water systems on private properties . One of the most effective ways to reduce leaks is to reduce the overall pressure within the network and conduct a leak detection and repair programme of the water distribution system .
In addition , it makes economic sense to repair leaks within households . Many households do not have the means or expertise to maintain their housing water system . There are successful examples of initiatives to address this , which also create multiple employment opportunities .
One such initiative by government was the training of 15 000 artisans and plumbers to repair leaking taps in their communities , with the first intake of 3 000 trainees recruited in the 2015 / 16 financial year .
Q & A
Water , Sewage and Effluent asked Sean Molloy ( SM ) to comment on a few questions .
The reference to the War on Leaks Programme was spectacularly unsuccessful as the ‘ trained ’ repairers were untrained and ill-equipped , resulting in very little saving ; in fact , the average loss of revenue from water loss increased from 52 % to 58 %.
20 Water Sewage & Effluent July / August 2017