Featured
The Importance Of Hydrological Decision-Support Systems For Sustainable Water Management
In today’s world, with environmental concerns and a growing global population posing significant challenges, it is imperative that we prioritise the sustainable management of our precious water resources. Hydrological decision-support systems are emerging as...
Featured
MTN Business Smart Water: Where Utility Management Meets Intelligence
In today’s increasingly connected and sustainability-driven world, managing water efficiently is not only an economic necessity, but a key responsibility for individuals, businesses, and municipalities. “The MTN Business Smart Water solution addresses this need,...
Featured
Western Cape Water Supply: Overview In Numbers
What is a Blue Drop Risk Rating (BDRR)? The BDRR assessment focuses on critical risk areas within water services provision. This allows the water service institution to identify and prioritise the critical risk areas within its drinking water treatment process and to...
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...
SA’s ageing dam infrastructure needs urgent maintenance, recommends Zutari
With the era of large dam building having peaked in South Africa in the 1970s and many dams reaching their 50th anniversary, there is a growing focus on the correct and timeous maintenance and rehabilitation of the country’s dam infrastructure....
From Blueprint to Reality: Enza Civils’ Crucial Role in Shaping SA’s Infrastructure Future
Enza Civils, a division of Enza Construction, is strategically positioning itself to play a pivotal role in addressing South Africa’s pressing infrastructure needs in the water, transport, and energy sectors. As the country grapples with...
Non-revenue water remains SA’s biggest water-use challenge
South Africa’s non-revenue water (NRW) is rising to unsustainable levels, with nearly half the water piped through the country’s infrastructure being lost through leaks, theft or nonpayment. “Water management is everyone’s problem,” highlights...
South Africa Encouraged to Adopt Global Grid-Battery Strategies for Enhanced Energy Stability
South Africa should look to successful strategies from regions like South Australia and California to accelerate the adoption of grid batteries. According to a new report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD),...
[Cover story] Liquid gold – more than a century of water supply innovation
Founded in 1886, Johannesburg began as a mining shanty town. An increasing concern over water followed the euphoria from the discovery of gold. In 1903, Rand Water was formed by individuals and institutions who instead of pursing riches,...
A mentor/mentee pilot project
The WISA Gauteng Branch (WISA-GP) has launched the MentWorking Project in Gauteng. A combination between MENToring and networking, the project will connect water professionals of all ages and provide a platform where younger professionals can...
Sustainability
Cleaning up the construction industry with renewable energy
Carbon emissions from construction sites are a major contributor to global warming, largely owing to the industry’s dependency on fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency’s 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction reveals that...
WOOD – the ultimate renewable resource for a circular economy
For three decades, the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) has been promoting the positive economic, environmental and social story of forest-based pulp and paper products. ReSource speaks to Jane Molony, executive director at...
Ramaphosa’s emergency energy plan critical turning point for SA solar sector
President Ramaphosa’s recent announcement that all licensing requirements for private energy projects will be dropped has heralded what we hope will be a much-needed, new era for the country’s ongoing energy crisis. But while these advancements...
Employees can help save water at work
By Chetan Mistry, strategy and marketing manager, Xylem The world once took water for granted. But attitudes are changing as water security becomes a significant risk consideration for companies. In 2015, 70% of companies surveyed for Carbon...
Nedbank celebrates female green-economy entrepreneurs
In celebrating Women’s Month, Nedbank has paid tribute to the impact that female entrepreneurs are making on South Africa’s nascent green economy. The energy these women bring to their social enterprises is making a significant positive impact on...
Construction companies can help build resilience against natural disasters
Mother Nature is unleashing her fury on the world with increasing regularity and devastation. A recent report by the World Bank states that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events has escalated across the African continent. South...
Events
Industry News
Water committee to receive SIU report on investigations into departmental malfeasance
The Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation has resolved the need to set aside a special session with the leadership of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Special Investigating Unit to receive a detailed progress report on...
Cost to repair damaged infrastructure after KZN floods
The KwaZulu-Natal government has revised its estimated total cost of flood damage to approximately R17bn. The cost estimate for resumption of service is R955.4m and long term rehabilitation work is estimated at R1.68bn. Prasa, which lost about...
Joint action needed to stop construction mafia
The impact of the construction mafia on South Africa’s economic reconstruction has reached crisis proportions requiring an urgent and collaborative response, according to the Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI). The task...
Metro News
Minister Senzo Mchunu announces section 63 Intervention on water projects in uMkhanyakude
The Minister of water and sanitation, Mr Senzo Mchunu, outlined the projects that will be embarked upon following the Department’s intervention in section 63 of the water services Act, 108 of 1997, in uMkhanyakude District...
Water quality tests incomplete in Tswane
The city of Tswane has reportedly conducted water quality tests in some areas which came back clean, however according to the city’s spokesperson Sipho Stuurman further tests still need to be conducted. Water quality tests were conducted in...
City of Cape Town sees spike in theft of water meters
The City of Cape Town says it has seen a spike in the number of water meters stolen in several suburbs. Steenberg, Retreat, Grassy Park, Strand, Athlone, Woodstock, Ottery, Bellville South, Lentegeur, Manenberg and Belgravia are some of the areas...
Waste
Engineering
Making infrastructure more accessible
During his maiden budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a provisional R17.5 billion injection for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for infrastructure catalytic projects, aiming to upgrade roads, bridges, water, sewer,...
[IN THE HOT SEAT] Economic benefit of automated road condition data collection
Compared to manual and semi-autonomous processes, fully automated road assessment methodologies achieve the best results. IMIESA speaks to Simon Tetley, director at ARRB Systems, about how the company’s latest technologies prove beneficial for...
Builders will also be taking a much-needed break this year
Following a tough year of navigating project disruptions as well as material and labour shortages, construction industry stakeholders are opting to close their doors over the coming holiday period and take a much-deserved break, according to a...
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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.