Project title
Reduction in non‐revenue water and water losses in the Capital Cities of the SADC
Member States (Project GP‐8)
Project sponsors
The project proponents are the SADC Member States, with the water utilities for
each capital city being the implementing agency.
Participating countries
All SADC Member States
Objectives
The objectives of this project are to reduce the water demand of water users by
reducing water losses and NRW, achieve greater water use efficiency, increased water
re‐use and use of appropriate metering, monitoring and data analysis methods to
document volumes delivered/provided and used.
Project description
This is an investment opportunity study. This project will assess the level of NRW,
water losses and water re‐use in all the 15 capital cities of the SADC Member States
and recommend appropriate actions to be taken for each city. The objectives of this
proposed project are similar to those of Projects P1‐9 and P1‐10, which are to reduce
the water demand of water users by reducing water losses and NRW, achieve greater
water use efficiency and use of appropriate metering, monitoring and data analysis
methods to document volumes delivered/provided and used.
Expected results
The resultant water savings can be used to supply new consumers. Revenue streams
would improve as the water supply systems would be more efficient. The
management of the water situation in all the 15 capital cities of the SADC Member
States can be improved by applying water demand management (WDM) principles.
Activities such as pipe leakage repair, pressure reduction, re‐use of water and
metering with commensurate data analysis can be introduced with good results and
resultant benefits to the consumers being serviced. Water conservation and water
demand management measures will provide cost effective means of reducing water
demands in the long run, by minimising losses and wastage and by so doing, delaying
the need to construct additional infrastructure, usually at higher capital cost. In any
case, why build new infrastructure when similar old infrastructure cannot be
efficiently managed?
Ongoing related activities in the A study by the South African Water Research Commission some years ago estimated
region
the total physical water losses for some 62 urban systems analysed by the study to be
in the order of 31% of the total water supplied. Adding unbilled consumption, the
study estimated NRW for the 62 systems at around 36% of the water supplied. The
results from the study have been quoted extensively and are considered one of the
most reliable sources of quantifying water losses in South Africa. South Africa’s 36%
is similar to the world average, however South Africa is classified as a water stressed
area and cannot afford to have such high levels of water losses and NRW. Globally,
NRW ranges considerably, with Albania and Ecuador having more than 70%
compared to Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia and Singapore each attaining less
than 10% NRW.
Description of national plan to the Implementing the overall WDM programmes in all SADC Member State capital cities
project
as a pilot project can later be replicated in the other Member States towns and cities,
resulting in great savings, higher revenue streams from an increased customer base
as well more efficient water supply service systems.
Status
The project can be considered to be in Phase 4 of the ICA Project Development
Phases.
Next steps
The project would start with the drafting of the ToR for the project in 2013, tendering
for the consultancy work in 2013 and execution of the project in 2014. Project
profiles for each city would then be produced for the mitigatory works and
associated costs.
Business model
This is a capacity enhancement project, with minimal initial Water Sector
developmental infrastructure. However, the project will facilitate the reduction in
water losses, resulting in improved revenue for the utilities and thus delaying, where
appropriate, the need for new Water Sector infrastructure.
Main parties in place
The SADC Water Division and the water utilities for each capital city of the SADC
Member States.
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