 The 18th of September is World Water Monitoring Day, held each year to promote public awareness around the importance of water quality by involving communities in water testing and monitoring.
“Community participation is essential to preserving this precious but scarce resource, without which we cannot survive,” says Dr Lester Goldman, Chief Executive Officer of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA). However, says Goldman, ongoing training and capacity building among all stakeholders is critical to ensuring South Africa manages water demand meaningfully and effectively. Water scarcity in SA Stats SA estimates that South Africa’s population in 2025 is 63.1 million people. By 2040, that figure is projected at 74 million and by 2050, just over 79 million. Although the population continues to expand, the country’s water supply does not. According to the World Bank, while each Icelandic person had 456,351 cubic metres of water available to them in 2021, each South African had only 728 cubic metres. “Our water is a fixed sum and can only be preserved through protection of water sources, conservative use and heavy recycling, all of which take concerted effort by municipalities and the public alike,” says Goldman. The good news is that targeted training and capacity building that engage communities has already shown results in several past projects. Good examples Water projects in Mogale, Emfuleni and Khayelitsha each enlisted the help of their communities to build capacity and achieved outstanding results through training and workshops. In Mogale City, the Demand Management Training Programme addressed the municipality’s skills shortages by training twelve unemployed and indigent youths - especially women - as water demand managers. These individuals were taught various skills, such as leak detection, data logging, meter reading and installation, control valve maintenance, and more. The result was improved capacity, better skills and job creation. The Emfuleni Leakage Reduction Project was created to address abnormal consumption due to the overuse of hosepipes and sprinklers by residents. The municipality hired and trained 51 Water Services Assessors and two Water Services Assessor Coordinators, and implemented schools’ awareness, community awareness and water wise gardening programmes. This resulted in better reporting of water and sanitation problems, allowing municipal capacity to be allocated more effectively. In Khyelitsha, the main source of leakage was identified as damage to low-cost housing plumbing fittings by the high-pressure water supply. Residents could neither afford to repair the constant leaks nor foot the bill for the wasted water. A Pressure Management Project saw the construction of a pressure management installation to reduce excessive pressure using local labour, the training of two municipal personnel to maintain and operate the installation, and the participation of the community in making the project a success. The programme saves more than nine million cubic metres of water per year, amounting to R27 million per annum. “These projects show the importance of community involvement, but they can only succeed through good leadership and professional expertise,” says Goldman. The need for professionalisation Professionalisation in municipality water planning, management and operations ensure that communities are dealt with ethically and competently. “Professionalisation is a core driver of capacity building and training because those implementing efficiency programmes and passing skills down to communities have proven themselves compliant with law and recognised standards of competence and practice,” says Goldman. WISA makes itself available to municipalities across South Africa to build professionalisation in the water industry. “This can ensure that more of these projects are initiated and concluded successfully for effective water demand management and the preservation of our most precious resource,” says Goldman. Sources:
ENDS MEDIA CONTACT: Idéle Prinsloo, [email protected], 082 573 9219, www.atthatpoint.co.za For more information on WISA please visit: Website: https://wisa.org.za/ X: @WaterInstituteSA LinkedIn: Water Institute of Southern Africa Facebook: Water Institute of Southern Africa
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 Written by: Dr Lester Goldman, CEO of The Water Institute of Southern Africa and Dr Ashton Busani Mpofu, Non-Executive Director at The Water Institute of Southern Africa
South Africa is facing a growing water crisis. Climate change, ageing infrastructure, pollution, and unequal access are putting intense pressure on the country’s water systems. As dams run low, taps run dry, and communities struggle, a powerful question arises: can artificial intelligence (AI) help us change course? In the words of Nelson Mandela: “Massive poverty and obscene inequality… rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.” These words echo louder today as millions of South Africans still live without reliable access to clean drinking water—despite rapid global advances in technology. The country loses nearly half its treated water to leaks, theft, and poor management. Meanwhile, the tools to fix these problems may already be within reach. AI: a new ally in an old struggle AI isn't just about robots and smart devices, it’s about using data and machine learning to make smarter decisions, faster. In the water sector, this means identifying leaks before pipes burst, forecasting droughts more accurately, preventing water pollution, and even improving how farmers irrigate their crops. Across Africa, where similar water challenges persist, AI could be a game-changer, if deployed ethically and inclusively. Smarter water management AI’s real strength lies in its ability to process massive amounts of data. For water utilities, this can transform how systems are monitored and maintained.
Making every drop count in agriculture Farming uses over 60% of South Africa’s water. With AI-powered irrigation, farmers can water only when needed, based on real-time data about soil moisture, weather, and crop type. These smart systems can:
Cleaner water, healthier communities AI can also protect water quality. By analysing pollution patterns, machine learning models can detect contaminants from industries, mines, or agriculture. In rural and under-resourced areas, where data is scarce, AI can still predict pollution risks, helping prevent health hazards before they reach communities. Tackling corruption and theft Corruption and vandalism are major drains on the water sector. AI can help shine a light on financial misconduct by scanning procurement data for red flags—such as ghost suppliers or suspicious contracts. Video surveillance and AI-powered drones can also monitor vulnerable infrastructure and detect theft in real time. Predictive models can map high-risk areas, helping municipalities focus resources where they’re needed most. Closing the skills gap There’s a severe shortage of technical expertise in South Africa’s water sector. AI can fill that gap—not by replacing people, but by supporting them. Tools like chatbots, remote dashboards, and automated alerts can help less-experienced staff operate complex systems with confidence. AI also preserves institutional knowledge, digitising manuals and past case data to support decision-making—even when experienced technicians leave. Building public engagement Technology can also empower the public. AI-powered chatbots and multilingual apps can teach water-saving tips, notify users of local outages, and help people report leaks or vandalism. Communities become partners in managing water—not just passive recipients. Ethics first: AI that works for everyone While the promise of AI is enormous, it must be used responsibly. That means:
A way forward To unlock AI’s full potential, South Africa needs to start with practical, high-impact projects—like leak detection and predictive maintenance. But technology alone isn’t enough. Investing in digital infrastructure, skills, and cross-sector partnerships is key. If done right, AI can help deliver universal access to clean, safe water—and make the sector more resilient for the future. As AI researcher Timnit Gebru said: “Technology is not neutral; it reflects the values of its creators.” ENDS MEDIA CONTACT: Idéle Prinsloo, [email protected], 082 573 9219, www.atthatpoint.co.za For more information on WISA please visit: Website: https://wisa.org.za/ X: @WaterInstituteSA LinkedIn: Water Institute of Southern Africa Facebook: Water Institute of Southern Africa |
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