Chair’s comment

IMAGINE IF THE WATER CRISIS WERE TREATED LIKE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

While Covid-19 highlighted the need for greater access to water and sanitation,

there is very little movement in South Africa’s local water sector. A lot of focus is placed on how to turn the economy around, and little attention is directed towards the fundamentals of building the economy – which is infrastructure.

Without infrastructure, economies cannot flourish. And, incredulously, infrastructure is not at the front of the line when it comes to government priorities. Furthermore, it is obvious that most of our infrastructure is failing. I cannot help but ask: are we communicating correctly? It feels as if we are having the same discussion year in and year out, with very little traction.

There cannot be any progress if there is no investment in infrastructure. According to the National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, R1 trillion is needed to fund water and sanitation infrastructure. While money is available from banks and equity funds, these projects are simply not bankable because there is so much risk. I believe that collaboration is key. Just like every human being could be infected by Covid-19, every human will die without water. Yet, we are not working together to solve the water crisis. Do we all have to face a ‘Day Zero’ until something is done?

Countries that worked with scientists and made decisions based on science were a lot more successful in fighting the pandemic. This must happen with water. Let us leave politics out of decisions, work together with scientists, and implement worthwhile solutions that will benefit everyone.

Part of WISA’s mandate is to provide a platform for our scientists where they can voice their opinion on water issues and solutions. There are solutions. If we could cut non-revenue water by just 1% a year, we would be using 20% less water in 20 years – the same time it would take to plan, design, build and commission a dam.

Collaborating through digitalisation assisted scientists in developing a Covid-19 vaccine in 12 months. I would like to see the water sector collaborate through digitalisation to solve our many problems.

Collaboration, political will, funding and community responsibility are the reasons why Covid-19 vaccines were developed in record time and transmission rates slowed. If only we could use this momentum to solve the water crisis.

By Dan Naidoo, chair, WISA

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