Featured
Solving environmental law confusion: Lawyer Lizette van der Walt launches innovative app
Lizette van der Walt is a lawyer specialising in environmental law. In her 27 years of experience, she noticed a general confusion around environmental laws in South Africa and decided to help by creating the Enviro Legal app. This app is designed to help users...
Featured
Turning The Tide To Achieve SDG 6
Coming off the back of the WISA 2024 Biennial Conference and Exhibition, we can all agree that accelerated change is needed in achieving SDG 6 by 2030. As we celebrate 30 years of democracy this year and honour women during the month of August, it is fitting that we...
Featured
[Industry Personality] Carin Bosman: Make noise and have a code
The water sector is filled with passionate people, Carin Bosman is one such passionate person, and she serves to remind us of all that water is for the betterment of humanity, and when you are tasked with doing what is right, you have to make some noise. Early on in...
Featured
[Cover Story] 40 years strong: Lethabo Intake Pumping Station’s historic refurbishment
A part of Rand Water’s proactive infrastructure maintenance project comprised the refurbishment of pumps and electrical boards at the Lethabo Intake Pumping Station. This key facility pumps water to ESKOM Lethabo Power Station and supplies over half of Gauteng via the...
Water and green building certification tools
Established with a purpose to inspire a built environment in which people and the planet thrive, the Green Building Council of Southern Africa (GBCSA) certifies green buildings. Water conservation plays an important role in its rating tools. “To...
Every drop saved is cause for celebration
Acknowledging progress and celebrating water saving efforts will help in creating a culture of good water stewardship and encourage responsible water use. By #SurplusWater2025 Until recently, very few people and businesses have realised how deep...
Germiston-based pump manufacturer supplies large parts of Africa
APE Pumps and sister entity Mather+Platt have been designing, developing, manufacturing and refurbishing pumps for over seven decades – and many of these pumps are placed throughout the African continent. We have always invested in our people first...
Vital project delivers new homes for informal settlement families
Spanning 26 hectares, the Boystown social housing development in South Africa’s Western Cape provides safe, affordable accommodation in a community setting. The project team at SMEC worked with delivery partner Martin & East to form the turnkey...
Disability, water and sanitation: how things are, and how they should be
Musa Zulu – published author, award-winning artist and disability activist – shares how a lack of water and sanitation facilities is often a life and death situation for disabled persons. “During the 27 years that I have spent in a wheelchair, 10...
A tale of two cities
Cape Town is two cities in one: one is an affluent global city; the other is a city of poverty, slums, shackdwellers and homeless people, with little to no municipal services. By Jemima Spring (Mycelium Media Colab), Prof Lesley Green...
Sustainability
Pioneering sustainable forestry towards a circular economy
Home to more than 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, forests are the lungs of the earth and provide essential ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, water filtration, and soil conservation. By Marietjie Brown,...
Five small changes can make South Africa’s water resources last
The primary objective of Earth Day, celebrated globally on April 22 this year, is to promote sustainability and conservation with projects focusing on carbon emissions, protecting endangered species and the preservation of habitats. But,...
Sustainable practices set to revolutionise the African events industry
Events have a significant economic impact on local, regional, and national economies and are crucial contributors to economic growth and job creation across the globe. In fact, the global business events industry is expected to be worth more than R...
Wind industry hopeful after President prioritises energy sector
SAWEA remains hopeful with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s reassurance to prioritize the energy sector through a balanced energy mix that comprises of wind energy at the 5th South Africa Investment Conference. With the 5th South Africa Investment...
iLembe region is plays important role in e-waste recycling
The iLembe region is playing an increasingly important role within the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling industry in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. *By Shannon Moffett and Paul Jones Not only is the region one of the...
Urban water crises driven by elites’ unsustainable consumption, study says
Over the past two decades, more than 80 metropolitan cities across the world have faced severe water shortages due to droughts and unsustainable water use. Future projections are said to be even more alarming since urban water crises are expected...
Industry News
Fostering innovation at World Water Week
Global crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and hunger are closely interlinked. Their progression heavily depends on how we value water resources. We can change the course if we innovate how we manage water. Therefore, World Water Week...
Training to improve the management of public finances
Councillors and senior managers from municipalities in the iLembe district have completed extensive training to improve the management of public finances and to strengthen the oversight role expected of councillors. The 35 councillors and managers...
Net zero carbon buildings – a necessity for sustainable service delivery
The City of Tshwane is acutely aware of the environmental impact that buildings and non-renewable energy have on its ecological footprint. The City has therefore taken steps to capacitate building control officers, building plan...
Metro News
Drinking water quality management amid the cholera outbreak
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has provided the public with clarity regarding questions that are being raised regarding drinking water quality in South Africa. This comes after the outbreak of cholera in Hammanskraal in the City of...
eThekwini Municipality approves bold water and sanitation turnaround strategy
The eThekwini Municipality executive council has approved the City’s water and sanitation turnaround strategy – aimed at addressing various water and sanitation issues The municipality said that its water and sanitation unit developed an...
Achieving the impossible: Repairing Tongaat WTW in 105 days
The Tongaat Water Treatment Works (TWTW) was one of the hardest hit pieces of water and sanitation infrastructure in last year’s April floods in KwaZulu-Natal. It resulted in water supply issues for nearly 90 000 people. By Kirsten Kelly...
Waste
Engineering
Natural catastrophes rank as the top risks for construction sector
Business interruption/supply chain disruption and natural catastrophes rank as the top risks for the construction and engineering sector, followed by the energy crisis as a new entrant at #3. This is according to Allianz Risk Barometer respondents...
The role of AI in consulting engineering
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming quite predominant and is going to be a major player within the next few years, reflects Sergio Castanheira, newly appointed Digital Lead – Enterprise Capabilities at globally trusted infrastructure firm...
CESA responds to Budget Speech – It’s all in the Implementation
In commenting on the Budget Speech presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, Chris Campbell, CEO of Consulting Engineers South Africa stated, “Implementation, Implementation, Implementation – it is one thing to allocate funds for...
Technology
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Water & Sanitation Africa
The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA), the magazine publishes content dealing with the supply, governance, financing, treatment and measurement of water and sanitation in southern Africa.