FIFA World Cup Is Stretching South Africa’s Ability To Provide Water
Shout-Africa News
DUBAI, UAE, — The FIFA World Cup is stretching South Africa’s
ability to provide water and wastewater services to the thousands of
people who have been temporarily added to its population in addition
to the normal city dwellers. While football fever has gripped the
country, it has taken months of readiness build-up for municipality
officials.
In a country where the Department of Water has identified a backlog of R10 billion in the current national water resource infrastructure,
managing increasing urbanization pressures, leave alone big sporting
events, is a huge challenge. South Africa requires extensive
implementation of water resource management, wastewater treatment
technologies and supporting infrastructure due to low seasonal
rainfall and the comparative scarcity of water resources. Efforts are
also needed to prevent the pollution of fresh water resources along
with a focus on proper treatment of wastewater, especially by mining
companies.
The Department of Water is leading the way to bridge the development
backlog. Under its aegis, Rand Water, the largest water board in
Africa, will spend R500 million in capital expenditures over the next
five years. e-Thekwini municipality is already spending 1.6 billion on replacing AC pipelines with modified PVC ones.
Expert speakers will shed more light on the initiatives of the
government, water boards and municipalities at WaterTech Africa 2010,
scheduled from 02 – 05 August 2010 at the Radisson Blu Gautrain Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Hosting valuable contributions from 18 industry experts will focus on
developing and managing the existing and future water infrastructure
and resources to meet the demands of the future. Speakers at this
exclusive IQPC conference include Reginald Tekateka, Regional Chair –
Africa, Global Water Partnership, Nomonde Mnukwa, Chief Director –
Eastern Cape, Department of Water Affairs, Sipho Mosai, Chief
Operating Officer, Rand Water, Thokozani Boikutso, Head of Wastewater, Rand Water, Pumezo Jonas, General Manger – Scientific & Engineering Services, Umgeni Water, Philemon Moshoko, Head of Water and Sanitation, City of Capetown and Frank Stevens, Deputy Head –
Technical Support, eThekwini Municipality.
For over thirty years, IQPC has helped the world’s leading
corporations solve their business challenges through the sharing of
practical industry solutions and global best practice. In the process, the company has built a formidable reputation for quality and value. The world’s most progressive companies have benefited from IQPC’sunrivalled global reach, which has connected international expertise with regional and local leaders.
