Piped Solutions: A pipe Dream? Water Quality Regulation SOUTH AFRICA

1. Piped Solutions: A pipe Dream? Water Quality Regulation SOUTH AFRICA Striving Towards Excellence in South African Drinking Water Quality Management through Regulation

2. Introduction • In South Africa, similar to the rest of the world, drinking water quality management primarily focussed on end-point monitoring and excluded any form of holistic risk management. • In 2008 all of this changed with the introduction of alternative approaches to regulation, primary objective of improving the quality of water services- Blue Drop& Green Dropcertification programmes. • Conventional regulation (punitive)has not been aborted and still forms part of the adopted Enforcement Protocol. • The new incentive based regulatory programmes enjoyed enormous successes over the past years and certainly triggered a major paradigm shiftwithin the drinking water quality and the wastewater services management domain. • Although we still have a long road ahead of us_ wastewater services

3. Definition of Incentive-based Regulation The conscious use of rewards as well as penalties to encourage performance excellence, based upon an innovative performance rating system It is however not a weakened form of regulation but an alternative means to stimulate the sector towards Excellence

4. The DWQ Risk Management Evolution • 2004: • Formal programme for Drinking Water Quality Regulation commences in South Africa- the Department of Water Affairs • Included a partnership with DWi (UK) • 2007-2008: • Delmas, Ukuhlamba, Carolina, Standerton: Major DWQ failures that could not be predicted nor was the incident effectively managed • The reactive nature of the remedial action in these cases formed the basis for the formulation of a more risk-based management process – • Framework for Drinking Water Quality Management in South Africa

5. The DWQ Risk Management Evolution (2) • 2009: • 1st Blue Drop report released (even though weighted 0%; Water Safety Planning introduced to the SA Water sector). Only 9 water supply systems had safety plans in place (2%) • The need for Incident Management (Protocol) highlighted / introduced (reactive) • DWA initiated review of SANS 241 based upon the need to standardise and ensure risk management • 2010 – 2012: • Blue Drop intensifies the prominence of Water SafetyPlanning(579/931 water supply systems have plans in place; 62%) • Rural water supplies (supplies as defined per the Water Services Act) • Continued changing assessment criteria

6. Blue Drop Certification Requirements + Weightings To obtain Blue Drop Certification A score of 95% is required; This would include adherence to Excellent Quality Requirements as stipulated by the WHO Guidelines

7. Certification Programme Process

8. Session 3: Challenges for implementation Afternoon Session Chair: Mr Jay Bhagwan (WRC) 13:45 – 14:00 Solutions from government: The Blue Drop Mariette Swart (DWA)

9. Afternoon Session Chair: Mr Jay Bhagwan (WRC) 13:45 – 14:00 Solutions from government: The Blue Drop (DWA) Questions RaisedAlways on the mind of the Regulator….. • What does a DWQ result actually mean? • Is the water safe when a result complies? • What is more important; • Science or Technology? • Microbiology or Chemistry? • Catchment or Treatment? • Skills or Automation of plants? • What risks are associated with alternative sources? Quality  Quantity

10. The DWQ Risk Hierarchy Summary- Risk Management Safety plan *Protection of Public Health is the essence of DWQ Risk Management

11. The management of Household Risk is an individual responsibility

15. The South African Water Sector • There are 154 Water Services Authorities (municipalities) in the 9 provinces of South Africa, regulated by the Department of Water Affairs to ensure acceptable water services. • These authorities are assisted in some places by Water Boards in the task of assuring safe water supply and effective wastewater management • These entities are responsible for managing: • About 920 water supply systems • About 850 wastewater systems • The population figure is about 50 million people.

16. Way Forward Improving Quality of Water Services through Risk Management Implementation Water Services Risk-based Regulation Asset Management + Cost Reflective Tariff Management Water Safety Planning Wastewater Risk Abatement Planning (W2RAP)

17. Revision of SANS 241 (2011) • Standard focussed on protecting public health • For those determinands that pose a risk to public health, limit as per latest WHO guideline • South African conditions considered to set limits for determinands of operational / aesthetic importance (economics of treating water) • Only one limit to safeguard for lifetime consumption • Monitoring – risk assessment informed (few compulsory det’s) • Free available chlorine • SANS 241 : 2011 under review – DWA uses determinand limits as per SANS 241 : 2006 to calculate compliance

18. Revision of SANS 241 (2011) SANS 241: 2013 • Overall / Annual COMPLIANCE • Acute Health Bacteriological • Acute Health Chemical • Chronic Health Chemical • Aesthetic • RISK- DEFINED Compliance • Microbiological Risk • Acute Health Chemical Risk • Chronic Health Chemical Risk • Operational Risk

19. Endeavouring to Improve Water Quality Managementthrough Innovative Regulation Thanks