Rural water supply and sanitation JN Bhagwan

WRC foray into CWSS area early 90”s WRC foray into CWSS area early 90”s Many projects initiated aimed at promoting the concepts of community based approaches and introducing appropriate WSS technologies Many projects initiated aimed at promoting the concepts of community based approaches and introducing appropriate WSS technologies Strategic interventions include seminars and workshops Strategic interventions include seminars and workshops Studies undertaken to fill the gap in data and knowledge Studies undertaken to fill the gap in data and knowledge Impact achieved – information and knowledge used into formulation of the RDP Water and Sanitation strategy and the White Paper on WSS Impact achieved – information and knowledge used into formulation of the RDP Water and Sanitation strategy and the White Paper on WSS

Over short space of time WSS became one of the important activity areas in the WRC Over short space of time WSS became one of the important activity areas in the WRC WSS addressed across WRC portfolios WSS addressed across WRC portfolios Projects completed equals +/- 140 Projects completed equals +/- 140

Research addresses: Research addresses: –Technical aspects –Institutional aspects –Water Quality issues –Health and hygiene issues –Community participation and management –Monitoring and evaluation –Water resource and availability

Achievements Fog water collection Fog water collection Handpumps Handpumps Decision support systems for the development of rural water supply schemes. The DBSA and DWAF (through a NORAD funded programme on groundwater supply and sanitation) have taken ownership of this system. Decision support systems for the development of rural water supply schemes. The DBSA and DWAF (through a NORAD funded programme on groundwater supply and sanitation) have taken ownership of this system. Low-cost air-lift groundwater pump developed for use in rural settlements Low-cost air-lift groundwater pump developed for use in rural settlements The gender dimension of the water policy and its impact on water and sanitation provision and management The gender dimension of the water policy and its impact on water and sanitation provision and management Training guidelines for participatory water resource management at catchment management area scales Training guidelines for participatory water resource management at catchment management area scales Management guidelines for water services provision Management guidelines for water services provision SDSS – Sanitation technology selection support tool SDSS – Sanitation technology selection support tool

Current initiatives WSS addressed in KSA on Water Use and Waste Management WSS addressed in KSA on Water Use and Waste Management –KSA focuses mainly on the domestic, industrial and mining water sectors. Two main thrusts or areas cover water and sanitation issues, these being: Two main thrusts or areas cover water and sanitation issues, these being: –Thrust 1: Water Services - Institutional and Management Issues –Thrust 2: Water Supply and Treatment Technology

Focus areas Cost-recovery in water service Cost-recovery in water service Institutional and management issues – water services Institutional and management issues – water services Innovative management arrangements - rural water supply Innovative management arrangements - rural water supply Rural sanitation and hygiene education Rural sanitation and hygiene education Peri-urban sanitation research Peri-urban sanitation research Water treatment for rural communities Water treatment for rural communities

Focus area Groundwater Programme Groundwater Programme –Most rural communities in South Africa depend on groundwater resources for their domestic water use needs. –A research programme focuses on better understanding of groundwater resources in fractured rock aquifers, as 90% of aquifers found occurs in these domains.

Future Challenges Sustaining WSS services delivery and implementation Sustaining WSS services delivery and implementation Strengthening local capacity, O&M Strengthening local capacity, O&M Measuring improvement in quality of life Measuring improvement in quality of life Meeting expectations for higher levels of service Meeting expectations for higher levels of service Infrastructure management Infrastructure management Maintaining community involvement Maintaining community involvement Improving technical aspects Improving technical aspects Developing new technical solutions Developing new technical solutions Strengthening institutional capacity Strengthening institutional capacity