CLEAN WATER FOR ALL
With water scarcity a pressing sustainability concern, +Impact chats to Mbuyiswa Makhubela, General Manager: Corporate Services at Rand Water – which closely collaborates with local authorities to address challenges – about safeguarding water resources in South Africa.
Q: Given the ongoing global water challenges, how does Rand Water perceive its role in ensuring a sustainable and accessible water supply for South Africa?
RW: Rand Water plays a crucial role in addressing South Africaʼs ongoing water challenges by focusing on several key areas. As the primary bulk water supplier to municipalities, it ensures that more than 16 million people in Gauteng, parts of Mpumalanga, the Free State and Northwest have access to clean and safe water through investments in infrastructure development and maintenance.
Sustainability is prioritised through initiatives aimed at conserving water resources, including the promotion of efficient water use and technologies for recycling and treatment. Water quality management is critical, with regular testing and monitoring to maintain high the South African National Standard (SANS) 241 Drinking Water standards and safeguard public health. Rand Water also collaborates with government, NGOs and stakeholders to tackle water scarcity, sharing knowledge and best practices. In addition, it engages with communities, businesses and municipalities through educational campaigns on water conservation and responsible usage. By investing in research and innovation, Rand Water develops solutions for effective water management, including climate adaptation strategies, thereby contributing significantly to a sustainable and accessible water supply in the area of supply that is the economic hub of South Africa.
Q: South Africa has been grappling with water-related challenges such as droughts and water pollution. How does Rand Water collaborate with local authorities to address these issues and safeguard water resources?
RW: Rand Water collaborates closely with local authorities to address South Africa’s water-related challenges, including when droughts and pollution incidents occur. This collaboration involves joint planning and coordination to develop integrated water management strategies, alongside capacity building and training for local officials to enhance their water management skills.
Rand Water engages with municipalities, especially the three main metros, to address water storage and availability matters across the entire Rand Water and municipal network. In times of crisis, Rand Water partners with municipalities for emergency response measures, such as implementing water restrictions and mobilising rapid response teams. The organisation also shares data on water quality and usage to inform decision-making and engages in public awareness campaigns to educate communities about water conservation. Rand Water also promotes sustainable practices like water recycling to mitigate the impacts of these challenges. Through these efforts, Rand Water aims to effectively safeguard vital water resources for the future.
Q: In the context of water scarcity and the growing demand for sustainable buildings, can you elaborate on Rand Water’s initiatives to promote water-efficient technologies and practices within the property sector?
RW: Rand Water promotes water-efficient technologies and practices within the property sector through several key initiatives. Rand Water developed a Water Use efficiency (WUE) model that has become a critical indicator for Rand Water to understand its customers demand and to determine levels of wastage or unnecessary demand. A statistical model was developed in-house to assess the efficiency of water use and incorporates factors such as population, levels of water and sanitation service, development type, income levels, erf sizes and land-use categories to determine “normal” usage for a wide range of categories of domestic end user properties, which is then compared to the actual usage. It provides comprehensive guidelines, encouraging developers to incorporate aspects such as low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting and grey-water recycling. The organisation conducts workshops to increase awareness for property developers and contractors to raise awareness about water conservation strategies.
On a limited scale, Rand Water also conducts water audits for existing municipal properties to identify improvements and engages in awareness campaigns to foster a culture of water efficiency. Rand Water has embarked on an internal programme to implement Green Building aspects with various buildings through the Corporate Services Division. Rand Water has also supported the property sector through water use research and tools in the landscape environment.
Q: Water quality is a critical factor for both residential and commercial properties. What measures has Rand Water implemented to maintain and improve water quality standards for properties in its service areas?
RW: In 2023 Rand Water was able to meet its SANS Composite Indicator on the quality of water: the target set was 98.33%, and a rate of 99.35% was achieved. Rand Water has implemented world-class measures to maintain and improve water quality standards for municipalities within its service areas. These include regular water-quality testing to ensure compliance with health standards, the use of advanced treatment processes to remove contaminants, and comprehensive water quality management programmes to assess and mitigate risks. The Entity has consistently met and exceeded national Standards and international guidelines on water quality.
The organisation also focuses on ongoing and extensive infrastructure maintenance to prevent contamination, publishes annual water quality reports for transparency, and engages with communities to educate them about water-quality issues. Rand Water also collaborates with local authorities to address concerns and address specific water-quality concerns. A total of 212 water-quality enquiries were received and successfully handled. Enquiries are centred around a variety of topics, such as borehole water analysis, other water analysis, home treatment devices, and raw water (such as dam, river and recreational water) water quality reports. Through these efforts, Rand Water is dedicated to ensuring supply of water meeting quality standards for all municipalities, who in turn supply to residential and commercial properties.
Q: The property sector plays a significant role in urban development. How does Rand Water support responsible urban planning and infrastructure development to accommodate the needs of growing communities?
RW: Rand Water supports responsible urban planning and infrastructure development through several key initiatives. It collaborates with urban planners and local authorities to address water and infrastructure requirements for proposed new large developments.
Rand Water also invests in upgrading and expanding water infrastructure to meet community demands and actively participates in policy development to promote sustainable practices. Through its strategic partnership department, Rand Water works with various municipalities and engages in forums to foster dialogue around water tariffs and equitable pricing. Through these efforts, Rand Water aims to meet the needs of growing communities while sustainably managing water resources.
Q: Looking to the future, what are Rand Water’s long-term sustainability goals?
RW: Rand Water also focuses on working towards the UNʼs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 13 (Climate Action). Looking to the future, Rand Waterʼs long-term sustainability goals encompass several key areas. The organisation aims to achieve operational integrity by utilising best-fit technologies to enhance efficiency and reliability in water supply. Maintaining financial health and sustainability is also a priority, ensuring effective resource management for ongoing operations. Rand Water plans to explore increased energy self-sufficiency as well as alternative sources of water, such as underground water and reuse of treated sewerage water.
Engaging stakeholders is crucial for fostering collaboration and addressing community needs, while investing in infrastructure is essential to support growth and resilience in water delivery systems. In addition, Rand Water is committed to investing in staff development and retention to build a skilled workforce, and it aims to adopt efficient energy practices to reduce its environmental impact. Through these multiple efforts, Rand Water is dedicated to ensuring a sustainable water future for its area of water supply.
