The development of a municipal water conservation and demand management strategy and business plan as required by the Water Services Act, South Africa

Wa Wegelin,He Jacobs

doi:10.4314/wsa.v39i3.11

Abstract

The implementation of water conservation and water demand management (WC/WDM) at municipal level has been inadequate for many years, despite South Africa being one of the driest countries in the world. This could be attributed to a lack of planning, and not realising the consequences and potential benefits of water restrictions. Many South African municipalities do not have a WC/WDM strategy and business plan although many books, publications and software packages have been produced to assist water supply managers. Most of the existing strategies are also vague and of little value, and the municipalities do not have the necessary financial, technical and institutional capacity to support such a strategy. Municipalities often fail to realise that most WC/WDM activities will pay for themselves and that financial institutions will fund these projects if a proper business case could be compiled. Ironically municipalities have complained that they are unable to obtain funding while most financial institutions complain that they cannot find bankable projects because of the poor quality of the applications and strategies. This guideline provides a simple and pragmatic approach to the development of a WC/WDM strategy and business plan which will enable municipalities to plan, obtain funding, implement and ensure the overall sustainability of water resources in the municipality and the country as a whole.Keywords: water conservation, demand management

Highlights

The Water Services Act, Act 108 of 1997 (RSA, 1997a) stipulates that all spheres of government must provide water supply services in an efficient, equitable and sustainable manner
The Act requires municipalities that have been given Water Services Provider status to provide measures to promote water conservation and demand management which should be included in their Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) strategy and business plan and Water Services Development Plan (WSDP)
This paper presents a guideline towards the development of a WC/WDM strategy and business plan in a presentable format which can be used by municipalities to obtain funding

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The Water Services Act, Act 108 of 1997 (RSA, 1997a) stipulates that all spheres of government must provide water supply services in an efficient, equitable and sustainable manner. The Act requires municipalities that have been given Water Services Provider status to provide measures to promote water conservation and demand management which should be included in their Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) strategy and business plan and Water Services Development Plan (WSDP) In his 2010 State of the Nation Address, His Excellency JG Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, stated, ‘We are not a water rich country. In terms of the Water Act (RSA, 1997b), the municipality has the responsibility to provide water services in an efficient, affordable, equitable, economical and sustainable manner to all consumers or potential consumers in its area of jurisdiction, while the DWA is responsible for national policy, a regulatory framework and ensuring that other institutions are effectively fulfilling their roles and responsibilities.

Background

Findings

CONCLUSION