Challenges Facing the Implementation of a Water

Demand Management Programme

Challenges Facing the Implementation of a Water

Demand Management ProgrammeWillem Wegelin

WRP Consulting Engineers, South Africa

AFRICAN UTILITY WEEK, ICC DURBAN22-25 February 2010

Willem WegelinWRP Consulting Engineers, South Africa

AFRICAN UTILITY WEEK, ICC DURBAN22-25 February 2010

BackgroundBackground

A 15% reduction in urban water consumption for Gauteng has been set to limit potential water restrictions by 2014

Water resources to KZN metropolitan and coastal areas have reached maximum capacity.

Eastern Cape is experiencing major drought

A 15% reduction in urban water consumption for Gauteng has been set to limit potential water restrictions by 2014

Water resources to KZN metropolitan and coastal areas have reached maximum capacity.

Eastern Cape is experiencing major drought

3

Importance of Vaal SystemImportance of Vaal System

Supply water to 60% of economy, 45% of population

Mines and industry on Eastern Mpumalanga Highveld

Bulk of Eskom’s coal fired power stations

Gauteng

NW and FS goldfields

Kimberley

Large irrigation schemes

Supply water to 60% of economy, 45% of population

Mines and industry on Eastern Mpumalanga Highveld

Bulk of Eskom’s coal fired power stations

Gauteng

NW and FS goldfields

Kimberley

Large irrigation schemes

Existing Transfer Schemes

Proposed Transfer Schemes Mokolo Catchment

Crocodile CatchmentVaal Catchment

Integrated Vaal River System

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025

Wa

ter

Re

qu

ire

me

nts

(m

illi

on

m3/a

nn

um

)

Years

High Scenario

Actual Water Use

15% WC/WDM Scenario

Water Requirements from Rand Water for:

Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, City of Tshwane,

Emfuleni, Mogale, Govan Mbeki, Randfortein, Rusternburg

Gauteng Key Urban Demand ProjectionGauteng Key Urban Demand Projection

Reconciliation Scenario (High)LHWP and TWP

Reconciliation Scenario (High)LHWP and TWP

Eradicate unlawful irrigation

Jana Dam Yield

Mielietuin Dam Yield

Polihali Dam Yield

Earliest possible delivery date

Reconciliation Scenario (High)15% WC/DM, LHWP and TWP

Reconciliation Scenario (High)15% WC/DM, LHWP and TWP

Polihali Dam Yield

Mielietuin Dam Yield

Eradicate unlawful irrigation

Earliest possible delivery date

Water Loss Contributing FactorsWater Loss Contributing Factors

Leaking Control ValveLeaking Control Valve

Visible leakageVisible leakage

Leaking hydrantLeaking hydrant

Leaking ReservoirsLeaking Reservoirs

Leaking Water TowerLeaking Water Tower

Leaking Internal Plumbing Fixtures Leaking Internal Plumbing Fixtures

Leaking tapsLeaking taps

Connection pipe running into drainConnection pipe running into drain

Broken tap diverted into

drain

Broken tap diverted into

drain

Zambia – no tapsZambia – no taps

Leak diverted into drainLeak diverted into drain

Internal plumbing leakageInternal plumbing leakage

Leaking urinalsLeaking urinals

Leaking ToiletLeaking Toilet

Visible LeaksVisible Leaks

Flooded meterFlooded meter

Garden irrigationGarden irrigation

Ndola - ZambiaNdola - Zambia

Dust control using potable waterDust control using potable water

Visible leakageVisible leakage

Stolen TapsStolen Taps

Result of Excessive LeakageResult of Excessive Leakage

Excessive water demand

Intermittent supply and poor service delivery

Reluctance to pay for services

Increasing municipal debt

Unhygienic living conditions

Maintenance backlogs prevent WDM implementation

Excessive water demand

Intermittent supply and poor service delivery

Reluctance to pay for services

Increasing municipal debt

Unhygienic living conditions

Maintenance backlogs prevent WDM implementation

Strategy DevelopmentStrategy Development

Setting of realistic target

Strategy should be based on facts- Metered consumption- Potential savings should be realistic

Identify key water loss contributing factor/s and address the problem

Setting of realistic target

Strategy should be based on facts- Metered consumption- Potential savings should be realistic

Identify key water loss contributing factor/s and address the problem

Interventions (1)Interventions (1)

Leak detection and repairPressure managementSectorisationBulk meteringConsumer metering and billingCommunity awarenessTraining and capacity buildingRetrofitting programmes

Leak detection and repairPressure managementSectorisationBulk meteringConsumer metering and billingCommunity awarenessTraining and capacity buildingRetrofitting programmes

Interventions (2)Interventions (2)

Performance monitoring- Minimum night flows- Flow and pressure logging

Telemetry systemsWater auditsWater balance calculationsCustomer care centresBylaws and tariff structures

Performance monitoring- Minimum night flows- Flow and pressure logging

Telemetry systemsWater auditsWater balance calculationsCustomer care centresBylaws and tariff structures

Management metersManagement meters

Management meters not operational

Management meters operational but not read

Management meters read but not documented and analysed

What are we metering (not sectorised)

Management meters not operational

Management meters operational but not read

Management meters read but not documented and analysed

What are we metering (not sectorised)

LocationLocation

Maintenance?Maintenance?

SecuritySecurity

Supply problems (1)Supply problems (1)

Bulk supply not operationalNetwork cannot sustain peak demandResults in intermittent supplyConsumers leave taps open “waiting for water”Intermittent supply results in negative pressuresNegative pressures result in waterborne diseases and damage pipe seals

Bulk supply not operationalNetwork cannot sustain peak demandResults in intermittent supplyConsumers leave taps open “waiting for water”Intermittent supply results in negative pressuresNegative pressures result in waterborne diseases and damage pipe seals

Supply problems (2)Supply problems (2)

Cannot expect consumer to pay for intermittent supply

Cannot expect consumer to save water if he / she is on intermittent supply

Cannot implement most WC/WDM interventions if on intermittent supply

Cannot expect consumer to pay for intermittent supply

Cannot expect consumer to save water if he / she is on intermittent supply

Cannot implement most WC/WDM interventions if on intermittent supply

Blocked Bulk Supply Pipelines Blocked Bulk Supply Pipelines

Buried Isolating ValvesBuried Isolating Valves

Poorly maintained infrastructurePoorly maintained infrastructure

Open tapsOpen taps

Buckets overflowingBuckets overflowing

Blocked StrainerBlocked Strainer

Intermittent SupplyIntermittent Supply

Most intermittent supply problems caused by closed valves in the network

Clockwise or anti-clockwise closing valves

Uncertain? – leave valves half open

Lack of engineering / trouble shooting skills

Most intermittent supply problems caused by closed valves in the network

Clockwise or anti-clockwise closing valves

Uncertain? – leave valves half open

Lack of engineering / trouble shooting skills

Locate infrastructureLocate infrastructure

Clean infrastructureClean infrastructure

Locate and expose isolating valvesLocate and expose isolating valves

Reticulation UpgradeReticulation Upgrade

Pressure managementPressure management

Lack of knowledge on operation

Lack of maintenance

Network problems. Low pressure problems solved by increasing the PRV outlet pressure

Compromised by cross connections

Lack of knowledge on operation

Lack of maintenance

Network problems. Low pressure problems solved by increasing the PRV outlet pressure

Compromised by cross connections

Commissioning PRV installationsCommissioning PRV installations

Low pressure

complaintsOpen PRV

Reset PRV“Solve”problem

Bad job

Stable set PRV

Set PRV

Air valves not workingAir valves not working

Security and operationsSecurity and operations

Consumer metersConsumer meters

Community acceptancePoor contractors or not performingMetered but not captured on financial systemMetered but not billedMetered and billed but unreliableBroken metersPoor meter readingsTechnology does not necessary solve problems

Community acceptancePoor contractors or not performingMetered but not captured on financial systemMetered but not billedMetered and billed but unreliableBroken metersPoor meter readingsTechnology does not necessary solve problems

Non-domestic Consumer AuditsNon-domestic Consumer Audits

Water

Meter

register

Dirty & Illegible Consumer MetersDirty & Illegible Consumer Meters

Cleaned & Legible Consumer MeterCleaned & Legible Consumer Meter

Bypassed Consumer MeterBypassed Consumer Meter

Community Awareness Community Awareness

Should be long term programme driven by the municipalityShould have clear policies & proceduresShould have infrastructure, people and logistics to support programme- Customer call centre- Technical teams to fix leaks- Complaints should be resolved ASAP

Political and institutional support

Should be long term programme driven by the municipalityShould have clear policies & proceduresShould have infrastructure, people and logistics to support programme- Customer call centre- Technical teams to fix leaks- Complaints should be resolved ASAP

Political and institutional support

ConclusionConclusion

Existing operations and maintenance of water distribution systems impact heavily on implementation of WC/WDMStaff knowledge and capabilities impact heavily on successful project implementation and sustainabilityBudget allowance must be made for proper commissioning and sustaining of interventionsHuge potential for job creation through WDM

Existing operations and maintenance of water distribution systems impact heavily on implementation of WC/WDMStaff knowledge and capabilities impact heavily on successful project implementation and sustainabilityBudget allowance must be made for proper commissioning and sustaining of interventionsHuge potential for job creation through WDM

The endThe end