Challenges

Over the past 10 years the South African government has pushed forward with an ambitious plan to bring water services to millions lacking regular access to this precious commodity. Many water supply systems in South Africa are compromised by huge losses of water, especially in previously disadvantage areas that were neglected during the apartheid period, where vast quantities of water are lost through dilapidated municipal water mains and leaky toilets, sinks and rusting steel pipes located on domestic properties. Other inefficiencies in water supply arise from inefficient operational service delivery practices and a lack of technical capacity, including the knowledge needed to obtain financing for required interventions.

Another challenge imperiling the long-term viability of water supply in South Africa is an entrenched culture that water should be free. During apartheid, township residents were levied a flat rate for all services rendered including water. As part of the mass action against the apartheid government, this payment was boycotted for more than twenty years, becoming an entrenched practice that has persisted into the new democratic dispensation. Although township residents now own their homes, most people are opportunistic and take advantage of weaknesses in the municipal system and still do not pay their accounts. Democratically elected municipal politicians are reluctant to address this politically sensitive issue head-on.

Objectives

The Alliance is helping cities in South Africa bring down the cost of providing ample quantities of clean water to all residents, including a free basic daily quantity of water as required by the Constitution. Since 2003, the Alliance to Save Energy Watergy Program has worked in partnership with municipalities in South Africa to take advantage of the tremendous efficiency opportunities in municipal water supply and wastewater treatment facilities.

Approach

Alliance assistance in South Africa is generally advisory and facilitative, such as developing strategies for water monitoring and metering, suggesting pressure management approaches that reduce water losses from leaky pipes and fixtures, conducting pump and motor analyses to adjust systems for maximum efficiency, and helping cities secure financing for more costly improvements. The Alliance establishes working relationships with municipalities to develop locally practical, holistic solutions for improving service delivery. On a national level, the Alliance is represented on the Steering Committee of a two-year project of the Republic of South Africa Water Research Commission, to quantify non-revenue water across South Africa using Burst and Background Estimates (or ‘BABE’) software.

The Program

With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Coca-Cola Africa, the Coca Cola Africa Foundation, and participating municipalities directly, the Alliance’s Watergy program is helping South African municipalities deliver potable water in a manner that is energy and water efficient, cost effective, and environmentally friendly. Watergy programs conceptualized and implemented with technical assistance from the Alliance bring about more effective management and maintenance procedures in water utilities, as well as better operational procedures, sustaining the improved efficiencies over the long-term. Efficiency projects currently underway include:

• Network Renewals
• Domestic Metering of Customers
• Leak Repairs to Private Property Plumbing Fixtures
• Pressure Management in Water Networks
• Zoning and Sectoring of Water Supply
• Water Audits.

The implementing partner of the Alliance in South Africa is Re-Solve Consulting (Pty) Ltd. Case studies about recent Alliance projects in South Africa, are also available.