The Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) conference got underway yesterday under the theme “Water the ultimate constraint”.

The five-day conference is centred on the promotion of professional excellence in the water sector said Dr Jo Burgess, WISA President. The conference aims to create the opportunity for people in the water sector to network with sector partners, and to create and strengthen existing partnerships to achieve a common goal of sustainable water resources.

Speaking at the conference Deputy Minister for Water and Sanitation Pamela Tshwete said, “We are working towards a South Africa where women do not have to walk 15 km to get water and where girl children do not have to miss school because of sanitation challenges.”

The conference comes at a critical time when the countries are implementing the sector goals aimed at benefiting human kind through joint effort with other countries. The conference will focus on three themes – groundwater management, urban water services and water efficiency in industries – which are areas where other countries have significant know-how.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) sees it as vital to build a long-term partnership with these role players.

 

Partnership with Netherlands

South Africa has a joint partnership with Netherlands aimed at creating long-term collaboration in the water sector on issues of mutual interest. This collaboration turns water into opportunities and aims to bring game changers into the industry to modify the narrative about water in order to bring sustainable transformation into the sector.

The Netherlands Special Water Envoy on International Water Affairs, Henk Ovinkstated that water is the number one global crisis. “We have an issue of too much water due to floods and too little water due to drought conditions. This, in one hand unites us and in some hands it separates us,” said Ovink.