Stakeholders in the North West Province have been urged to pay more attention to conserving water as a key strategic issue for the province’s long term development plan.
“We must continuously check the capacity of our water, state of water infrastructure and developing better options of delivering water to our communities."
If we are serious about achieving all our development goal in this province, we need to pay more efforts in putting in place better ways of preserving water that we have currently, advised Professor Mike Muller from Witwatersrand University at the two- days economic infrastructure colloquium that commenced at Sun City on Monday.
Water shortage in arid areas has for a while been a matter of concern particularly to some communities in Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipalities.
In order to address these challenges, Professor Muller emphasised that the province must monitor the implementation of its water provisioning and management plan to ensure that there will be adequate water supplies available to the people of the province.
He added that government must work with the communities, mining houses, tourism and other business sector in using water efficiently.
“It is important that government work with everyone to conserve water and particularly business institutions that uses water more water,” he said.
Zandile Yvonne Mathe, the acting Deputy Director General from the National Water Resource Infrastructure told delegates that the provision of water supply and sanitation in the North West province is a critical challenge.
She cited that there is a need to look at capacity of municipalities and come up with a plan to acquire relevant skills and personnel for the water sector.
She further admitted that even though water scarcity is a main challenge in some municipalities, government is still trying its best to provide safe and clean water to its citizens.
“Currently there are 26 irrigation boards and eleven water services authorities to assist in the provision of safe and clean water in the province.
There are also five water boards to provide bulk potable water to municipalities, which are Rand Water, Botshelo Water, Sedibeng Water, Magalies Water and Midvaal Company,” she explained.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 0866204802
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
Experts advise Nwest stakeholders to conserve water
Province
