South Africa’s water infrastructure challenges are well known and documented, and it is critical that initiatives such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and new technologies and funding models be implemented to ensure a supply disaster is averted in this water-scarce country.

This was highlighted by speakers during Creamer Media’s webinar, titled 'Water: Fixing fragile infrastructure and building a water-secure future for all businesses and communities', held on March 26.

Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) water services deputy director-general Dr Risimati Mathye warned that, without change in the sector, the country was at risk of a disaster, with projections showing a water provision shortfall by 2030 if this remained unmitigated.

He said capacity issues at a local government level presented a considerable challenge to the sector, as this was where the majority of the water infrastructure projects get managed, planned and implemented.

There was progress being made to mitigate a catastrophe, but this was insufficient, Mathye said. He also noted that the DWS was working on reforming the sector as a whole and seeking to attract participation from the private sector and other stakeholders.

Presenting the perspective of the mining industry, industry organisation Minerals Council South Africa environment, health, legacies and employee relations senior executive Nikisi Lesufi outlined its “contradictory” role in the water sector, as both a consumer and provider of the resource.

He said the mining industry had two roles to play in terms of water; firstly, enduring efficiency, with mines to strive to use less water while producing more tonnages.

Secondly, Lesufi highlighted integrated water resources management as a fundamental condition for mining to thrive. Lesufi explained that mines also had a role to play in the overall catchment where they were situated.

Water treatment solutions company NuWater business development head James Morisse pointed out that there erre various private-sector technologies available that were robust, easily deployable and able to provide consistent water quality.

He called for a “novel” approach of educating stakeholders in government institutions about these technologies, positing that they would be more amenable to adopt them as part of their final solutions if they were aware of their availability and benefits.

DWS Water Partnership Office (WPO) head Johann Lubbe, meanwhile, pointed out that it was complicated to finance the water sector in the country and, while the private sector had the requisite funds, the funding mechanisms were not supportive.

Therefore, he said the WPO was established by the DWS to provide opportunities for the private sector to support municipalities with the provision of water services, with this aiming to emulate successes seen in PPPs in the energy sector.

The WPO is pursuing a more programmatic approach, with six key programmes currently under way, Lubbe informed.