In a bid to deliver quality drinking water to residents, the water affairs department and its stakeholders trained 180 officials from different municipalities in the province who would work at water treatment plants adhering to best standards of water treatment.

The officials were trained as water and wastewater process controllers and were awarded certificates at a ceremony held in Mahikeng recently. The department seeks to gazette a law that no one would be allowed to operate drinking water supply systems or water works unless that person holds a valid process controller registration certificate.

Municipalities have been struggling to get the Blue and Green Drop Status for a long time and this initiative is seen as the answer to improving water quality.

The courses were facilitated by Aurecon Training Academy and emphasis was on water quality compliance, overall management of the drinking water supply and control of risk to the water quality.

Academy technical director for capacity building, Boyce Papu, said: “The graduating officials have the tools and knowledge required to adequately manage and operate water related infrastructure such as pumps, pump stations and pipe lines. Our academy is in talks with several universities to articulate this qualification to a BSc degree level.”

Local government MEC China Dodovu congratulated the officials for finishing the course and encouraged them to do their best for communities. “The provision of clean drinking water is an essential part of government’s agenda to rendering quality services to communities. “I therefore wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all the graduates,” he said.

South Africa is ranked 30th on the list of the world’s driest nations and its water sources are running low, due to the inability of municipalities to implement water conservation.

Dodovu said the training of officials under this programme would go a long way in improving the situation.

http://www.thenewage.co.za/71820-1008-53-Officials_trained_in_waste_water_management