Together committed to excellent water quality for the future. This is to be the theme for the 4th Municipal Water Quality Conference, to be held at Sun City from 7 to 11 July 2013. The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) recently made the first announcement of the conference while initiating the call for papers to be submitted. The deadline for the admission of abstracts is 21 February 2013.

According to both WISA and DWA, the conference provides a platform for knowledge and lesson sharing, lesson distribution and partnership opportunities between the public and private sectors to upscale efforts to improve wastewater services and drinking water management in South Africa. “Central to this will be discussions to ensure financial sustainability of the water services business within local government,” said the official call for papers, adding that the event organisers will be endeavouring to answer the question: “What does it take to achieve improved water quality management performance, distinctive impact and lasting endurance in a municipal environment?”

According to the organisers, a highlight of the conference will be the performance announcement within the wastewater services domain for 2012/13 where, as part of the incentive-based regulation approach, exceptional performance will be awarded in terms of the coveted Green Drop awards.

The conference will focus on four disciplines, namely wastewater management, drinking water quality management, sustainable economic municipal environment and opportunities for partnerships. According to the conference outline, abstracts are to be submitted based on the following themes:

1. Wastewater risk assessment & abatement
2. Water safety planning
3. Water quality monitoring programmes
4. Wastewater contributions to green economics
5. Importance of credible laboratories
6. Research findings to improve water quality management
7. Effects of climate change on municipal water quality management
8. Water reuse: Desalination & reclamation
9. Process controlling
10. Alternative treatment technologies
11. Regulatory issues and findings
12. Information management
13. Achievements within the municipality
14. Water energy: A sustainable service
15. Benchmarking of the municipal water services business
16. Water services governance

For further enquiries, and to investigate sponsorship opportunities, contact Zanele Mupariwa (DWA) on +27 (0)12 336 6938 or via email at mupariwam@dwa.gov.za or Jaco Seaman (WISA) on +27 (0)11 805 3537 or via email at events@wisa.org.za.