Water problems going from bad to worse

Dr Anthony Turton, a scientist specialising in water resource management, said vacancy rates in the sector are a "catastrophe". "We are in a dilemma where the definition of a dilemma is a problem without any current solution," he said.

Figures in a National Water Resource Strategy document show that to properly maintain our ailing and ageing water infrastructure, SA needs:

• About 3,000 engineers (a 57% vacancy rate);
• 7,200 health, hygiene and environmental health practitioners in the medium term;
• 23,000 management staff. Around 1,400 are required immediately, 246 of which are construction project managers, construction managers, engineer managers and technical project managers;

• At least 4,000 artisans and technicians.

Turton believes almost all the water infrastructure in the country is in a state of disrepair. While it is believed the total cost to fix this would be around R600bn, he believes the cost might be even higher.

Balance the numbers

"We have to balance three numbers: We've got 49bn cubic metres of water in our rivers. We've got 38bn cubic metres in our dams, which is the hydrological foundation of our economy. If we want to create full employment in our country, we need 62 billion cubic metres, of water" he said.

"The challenge is to balance these numbers. Water is fundamental to job-creation plans. You need to properly manage water before you can even think about job creation."

The Department of Water Affairs's (DWA) "All Towns Study", a survey that looked at the long-term water requirements for all municipalities, showed that 30% of towns (273 out of 905) are currently running at a water deficit.

"It is concerning that we are seeing the problem go from small villages to larger towns," said Richard Holden, a business analyst at the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority, which is tasked with planning and maintaining bulk water infrastructure.

Trevor Balzer, acting director-general of the DWA, said the problem is related to the large skills gap and to funding.

The DWA has training and bursary schemes to deal with its own skills deficiencies and is working with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs to help build skills in the water sector at municipal levels, where most of the problems exist.

Pieter Frewen, a DA member in the provincial legislature, said 80% of water supply problems are a result of poor management, not capacity.

Holden believes the public sector doesn't have enough resources to attract the necessary skills.

"The salaries can't attract engineers to localities where you need them," he said. "The salary offered and the experience they want do not match," he said.

Source: The Times via I-net Bridge