South Africa’s water crisis cannot be solved by multi-billion-rand infrastructure projects alone if municipalities lack the certified, qualified professionals required to run and maintain them.

Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) CEO Dr. Lester Goldman warned at the WISA 2026 Biennial Conference and Exhibition, in Cape Town, that while aging pipes and funding shortfalls dominate headlines, a widespread lack of awareness around mandatory professional standards is quietly sabotaging long-term water security.

Governance over pipes

The warning echoes the national focus on strengthening water governance, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent unveiling of the National Water Action Plan to address South Africa’s water challenges.

Highlighting ageing infrastructure, struggling municipalities and poor governance as key priorities, Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina also reinforced this message during her opening address at the conference. She emphasised that remedying South Africa’s water troubles require stronger governance, improved municipal accountability, innovation and greater collaboration across government, industry and research institutions.

Minister Majodina furhter stressed the importance of adopting new technologies, expanding blended financing models to modernise water infrastructure, and strengthening regional cooperation to build long-term water security.

The Regulation 3630 compliance gap

At the heart of building this institutional capability is the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Regulation 3630, which mandates minimum competency requirements and professional registration for all water and wastewater process controllers. However, despite the regulation being legally binding, compliance and awareness across local government remain critically low.

“South Africa is not short of technical expertise or innovative solutions,” said Dr Goldman.

“The breakdown happens at implementation. We can invest billions into physical infrastructure, but without qualified, legally compliant personnel to operate and manage those assets, those systems will fail and local communities pay the price.”

A call to action for municipal leadership

Dr Goldman called upon municipal leadership, councillors, and plant supervisors to urgently prioritise compliance with Regulation 3630. Beyond meeting legal requirements, professionalising the workforce creates clear career pathways for young engineers and process controllers coming into the industry.

“Many municipal decision-makers and even front-line process controllers are still completely unaware of what Regulation 3630 requires of their plants,” Dr Goldman added.

“Closing this knowledge gap is non-negotiable. Sector institutions must actively share expertise, mentor young talent, and support local authorities if we are to restore operational performance across South Africa’s water networks.”