INDUSTRY VOICES
You said it in WASA The opinions and statements shared by thought leaders in the water industry to Water&Sanitation Africa. “Established 24 years ago, Siza Water and Silulumanzi prove that PPPs within the water sector can work. However, procurement processes that were developed after 1999 have added a level of complexity to forming new PPPs. First, the public side needs to prove that they do not have the capacity to provide that service. There is also a rigorous process to get all the necessary approvals, and most municipalities do not have the capacity to even take part in that process. Fortunately, the Water Partnership Office that is headed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa can now assist municipalities with developing PPP frameworks and engaging with the private sector. SAWW is excited about the Water Partnership Office – it is a step in the right direction.” Shyam Misra, Group MD, South PAGE African Water Works (SAWW)
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“Water ser vices authorities (WSAs) receive grant funding from both the Depar tment of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Depar tment of Water and Sanitation. Water ser vice providers (WSPs) fund their own projects through the water tariffs on bulk water and from the markets. Grant funding and even municipal funding instruments are often determined by a WSA’s asset register. Therefore, there is an understandable reluctance for WSAs to give WSPs control of their water infrastructure. This needs to be considered when reviewing regulations and strategic frameworks around WSPs PAGE and WSAs.” Dan Naidoo, chairman, WISA
09
“New proper ty developments in Mauritius must include their own water supply. Watericon recently installed a decentralised plant that will be scaled to produce 45 m3/h of treated water to ser vice 5 000 to 10 000 people in a residential development. We predict South Africa will soon be going this route, where any new buildings or resor ts will need to generate their own power and water supply. PAGE Chris Ashmore, CEO, Watericon
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“To fully realise the significance of water reuse in the South African water sector, it is essential to address some challenges and considerations. These include ensuring proper treatment and monitoring of reused water to meet health and safety standards, implementing appropriate regulations and policies, promoting public awareness and acceptance of water reuse, and investing in adequate infrastructure and technologies for wastewater PAGE treatment.” Dr Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA
08
“Neighbouring countries like Mozambique, Namibia, and Botswana are a lot more receptive to on-site wastewater treatment plants. Many of the developers in South Africa are reluctant to make the investment; they are still hoping that the municipality will install a sewerage connection. Fur thermore, architects do not want to provide space on the site for these treatment plants. Often, in addition to the municipality not providing a sewage connection, they do not provide a stormwater connection either.” Sebasti Badenhorst, sales and marketing PAGE executive, JoJo Tanks
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“Of all the water on Ear th, only 3% is fresh, with the majority of that tiny amount either unavailable or polluted. This means that the entire human race relies on 0.5% of the Ear th’s water to sur vive.” Chetan Mistry, strategy and marketing manager, PAGE Xylem Africa
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