Editor’s comment

Editor Kirsten Kelly kirsten.kelly@3smedia.co.za Managing Editor Alastair Currie Editorial Coordinator Ziyanda Majodina Head of Design Beren Bauermeister Designer Lizette Jonker Chief Sub-editor Tristan Snijders Contributors Lester Goldman, Oudi Kgomongwe, Philip Majeke, Wendy Mey, Chetan Mistry, Dan Naidoo, Jennifer Williams Production & Client Liaison Manager Antois-Leigh Nepgen Distribution Manager Nomsa Masina Distribution Coordinator Asha Pursotham Group Sales Manager Chilomia Van Wijk Bookkeeper Tonya Hebenton Advertising Sales Hanlie Fintelman c +27 (0)67 756 3132 Hanlie.Fintelman@3smedia.co.za

Publisher Jacques Breytenbach 3S Media Production Park, 83 Heidelberg Road, City Deep Johannesburg South, 2136 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 www.3smedia.co.za

ISSN: 1990 - 8857 Annual subscription: R330 (SA rate) subs@3smedia.co.za Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. All material herein is

copyright protected. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of WISA or the publishers.

WISA’s Vision

Inspiring passion for water

WISA Contacts: HEAD OFFICE Tel: 086 111 9472(WISA) Fax: +27 (0)11 315 1258 Physical address: 1stFloor, Building 5, Constantia Park, 546 16th Road, Randjiespark Ext 7, Midrand Website: www.wisa.org.za

BRANCHES Central Branch (Free State, Northern Cape, North West) Chairperson: Dr Leana Esterhuizen Company: Central University of Technology Tel: +27 (0)51 507 3850 Email: lesterhu@cut.ac.za

Eastern Cape: Branch Contact: Dan Abrahams Company: Aurecon Tel: +27 (0)41 503 3929 Cell: +27 (0) 81 289 1624 Email: Dan.Abraham@aurecongroup.com

Gauteng Branch Lead: Zoe Gebhardt Cell: +27 (0)82 3580876 Email: zoe.gebhardt@gmail.com

KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson: Lindelani Sibiya Company: Umgeni Water Cell: +27 (0)82 928 1081 Email: lindelani.sibiya@umgeni.co.za

Limpopo Chairperson: Mpho Chokolo Company: Lepelle Northern Water Cell: +27 (0)72 310 7576 Email: mphoc@lepelle.co.za

Mpumalanga Chairperson: Lihle Mbatha (Acting) Company: Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency Tel: +27 (0)13 753 9000 Email: mbathat@iucma.co.za

Western Cape Chairperson: Natasia van Binsbergen Company: AL Abbott & Associates Tel: +27 (0)21 448 6340 Cell: +27 (0)83 326 3887 Email: natasia@alabbott.co.za

Namibia Please contact the WISA Head Office at admin@wisa.org.za for more information

But we do have a crisis, Minister Mchunu

Over the past few weeks, Minister Senzo Mchunu of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has gone on record – both at the WISA Biennial Conference and concerning the Gauteng Level 2 water restrictions – to allay fears and assure citizens that there is no water crisis.

In a little over a year, Minister Mchunu has won the trust and loyalty of much of the water and sanitation sector. He has boundless energy, is possibly the most punctual Minister I have ever come across, and is transparent and brave. His commitment to the sector is obvious. He was courageous in releasing the Green Drop Report, he has been open about the challenges facing the industry, is readily accessible to the media (and hence the public he serves), and has pledged improvements.

A statement such as the following has earned my admiration and respect: “When I joined the DWS last year, most of the leadership positions were ‘acting’. This is not Los Angeles. I have permanently appointed everybody; there is now a fully fledged and fully functional DWS that is grappling with all the challenges and problems thrown its way. At the 2024 WISA Biennial Conference, you will be talking about the improvements made.”

But... we do have a water crisis.

Certainly, it is a crisis that can be solved. But we are in a crisis. These statistics can be recited by most water and sanitation professionals by rote: • Our own national government predicts that water demand will outstrip supply by 2025. • South Africa is classified as being

‘water short’ and moving towards

‘water stressed’ in global terms. The country’s average annual rainfall is 450 mm compared to the global average of 860 mm. Highly variable rainfall has already led to skewed spatial distribution of water resources (Western Cape versus KwaZulu-Natal). • South Africans’ average domestic water use is an estimated 237 litres per capita per day. This is 64 litres higher than the international benchmark of 173 litres. • This high use is partly attributed to high municipal non-revenue water. (An average of 41% compared to the global best practice average of 15%.) • The National Water and Sanitation

Master Plan has indicated that a funding gap of R33.3 billion a year over the next 10 years must be reduced. Obviously, I am a stickler when it comes to words – I work with them all day. But using the phrase ‘water crisis’ is the responsible thing to do. A crisis demands immediate action. A crisis is taken seriously. While the water industry works tirelessly to resolve this crisis, I observe tennis courts being hosed down with potable water, gardens watered during the midday heat, and large swimming pools constantly topped up, with little thought given to rainwater harvesting, groundwater or reuse.

We have a water crisis, and it us only until the general public believes this that it can be resolved.

Promoting professional excellence in the water sector

The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

Water &Sanitation

Complete water resource and wastewater management Africa

PROJECT FOCUS

Meet SA’s largest biofi ltration plant

METROS, where are your digesters?

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.