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. alternative approaches to regulation, Blue DropGreen Drop 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 Drop certification programmes. Conventional regulation ( punitive) Enforcement Protocol Conventional regulation ( punitive) has not been aborted and still forms part of the adopted Enforcement Protocol. paradigm shift The new incentive based regulatory programmes enjoyed enormous successes over the past years and certainly triggered a major paradigm shift within 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: 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: 2007-2008: predicted managed – Delmas, Ukuhlamba, Carolina, Standerton: Major DWQ failures that could not be predicted nor was the incident effectively managed reactive – 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: 2009: – 1 st 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%) reactive – 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: 2010 – 2012: – Blue Drop intensifies the prominence of Water Safety Planning (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 Risk Management Inclusivity of all relevant Skills and Sectors Risk Assessment and Controls + Incident Management Monitoring & Laboratory Credibility Water Safety Planning (35%) Skills of Process Controllers Operational Logbook Training of Process Controllers Process Control (10%) Microbiological Compliance with National Standard (Excellent Limits) Chemical Compliance with National Standard (Excellent Limits) Risk defined Compliance Drinking Water Quality Compliance (30%) Management’s Commitment to Risk Management and Planning Publication of Results Service Level or Performance Management Agreements Management Commitment (10%) Treatment Process Audits + Asset Register Maintenance skills Operations and Maintenance Budget + Design vs. Ops. Capacity Asset Management (15%) To obtain Blue Drop Certification 95% A score of 95% is required; This would include adherence to Excellent Quality Requirements as stipulated by the WHO Guidelines

7. Certification Programme Process On site assessments + Consultative audit Municipalities are required to report on monthly basis These results are audited and site inspection/assessments are conducted annually at all systems, based upon communicated requirements Confirmation and Moderation Session All audit findings are communicated with Municipalities and Water Boards Special confirmation sessions are held in each province. Publication of Results + Awards Publications of these two programmes are done biennially and alternated with progress reports every other year. The BD & GD awards are the only incentives for now but still very well received

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. Questions Raised Always 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? Afternoon Session Chair: Mr Jay Bhagwan (WRC) Solutions from government 13:45 – 14:00 Solutions from government : The Blue Drop (DWA) Quality  Quantity

10. The DWQ Risk Hierarchy Catchment Treatment Reticulation *Household Risk ManagementRisk Management Risk ManagementRisk Management Summary- Safety planSafety plan Safety planSafety plan

11. Household Risks Storage Hygiene state of taps Personal hygiene Plumbing / FILTERS

12. Reticulation Risks Ingression (pressure and asset management) Storage Contamination (reservoir) Pipe BurstsPipe material

13. Treatment Risks Asset Management (lack of maintenance) Process Control Skills Operational Monitoring and Adjustments

14. DWQ Results Risks Sampling (Site & Method) Laboratory Credibility Capturing Accuracy Interpretation

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. Water Services Risk- based Regulation Public Health Risk Environmental Risk Financial Risk Water Safety Planning Wastewater Risk Abatement Planning (W 2 RAP) Asset Management + Cost Reflective Tariff Management Risk Management Implementation Improving Quality of Water Services through Risk Management Implementation

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. Innovative Regulation Endeavouring to Improve Water Quality Management through Innovative Regulation Thanks