Mchunu to Head Water Services Authority Summit

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu will spearhead a comprehensive two-day Water Services Authority Summit in response to the findings outlined in the Blue and No Drop Reports and Green Drop Progress Assessment Report released in December 2023.

Scheduled to take place at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, from 18 to 19 January 2024, the summit will bring together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Water and Sanitation Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Judith Tshabalala, and representatives from provincial and local governments, as per SANews.

The summit aims to address the outcomes of the recent reports, with a focus on the 144 Water Services Authorities nationwide. Minister Mchunu and participating stakeholders will deliberate on the reports released in December 2023, seeking agreement on actionable steps to address the identified challenges.

The key objectives are that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Cogta, alongside Water Services Authorities, will collaborate to formulate action plans within distinct groups. These groups will assess critical, poor, average, and excellent-performing municipalities.

Also read: Water Woes: Sandton Residents Face Thursday and Friday Without Supply

The summit agenda encompasses:

• Implications of the 2023 No Drop, Blue Drop, and Green Drop results,
• Identification of causes behind good and poor performance,
• Key issues for inclusion in action plans to address water supply and wastewater system challenges,
• Exchange of best practices, lessons learned, and areas for collaboration,
• Support mechanisms for entities with poor and critical performance and
• Promoting the quality of water and sanitation services, engaging mayors as ambassadors of change,

This summit follows the recent release of reports on water quality (Blue Drop), non-revenue water (No Drop), and the state of wastewater (Green Drop) in all Water Services Authorities in the country.

The Blue and No Drop Reports revealed a decline in drinking water quality and an increase in non-revenue water since the last assessments in 2014. Additionally, the Green Drop Progress Assessment Report signalled an elevated risk in the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems.

The Blue, Green, and No Drop Certification programs aim to enhance municipal drinking water quality, wastewater management, water conservation, and demand management. As a transparency and accountability mechanism, the program ensures government oversight of water and sanitation, keeping all stakeholders accountable and citizens informed about their water quality and wastewater management. The DWS stands ready to initiate corrective measures to address identified deficiencies.

Also read:

Persistent Klerksoord Water Leak Transforms Potholes Into ‘Swimming Pools’ Over Two Months

Picture: X / VendaVendor

Follow us on Google News.