Advanced water information system successfully launched by DWS
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) took its information sharing initiatives to the next level by successfully innovating and launching a new universal water information system.
DWS introduced a new web-based technology called National Integrated Water Information System (NIWIS) on 21 July 2015 in Pretoria. According to Deborah Mochotlhi, Planning and Information Deputy Director-General at DWS, the Department of Water and Sanitation comprises of many units with various needs and these units have been operating in silos for a very long time. Therefore through NIWIS, the information from various business units of the department will be integrated and made available in one system for easy access and convenience.
The establishment of the NIWIS is also an important development in government’s ongoing commitment to maximising the potential benefits of ICT in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Public Service delivery.
The primary objective of NIWIS is to provide information to water management institutions, water users, the public, researchers, scientists, decision makers and those interested in getting a deeper understanding and knowledge of the water status in the country. NIWIS is set to be consistent and user friendly, containing essential water related information and can be accessed 24/7 through personal computers and mobile devices. Through the system, the user can drill down and query the most basic data available from the national level to the lowest water management information system.
From this system the users will be able to access reliable information relating (but not limited) to:
- Water monitoring and information, e.g. water quality, waste water quality, waste water treatment authorisation, drinking water quality etc.
- Water use, e.g. actual water use versus registered volumes, water use registered volumes and revenue per sector and non-revenue water;
- Regulation, e.g. information on Enforcement Case Management, legal compliance, classification of offences by activity type, classification of offences per sector and status of the legal process;
- Water services e.g. Municipal Strategic Self Assessment, access to municipal water scheme infrastructure, water tariffs and Water Board tariffs;
- Water-use authorisation e.g. raw water tariffs, municipal tariffs, Water Use License Application Monitoring, Existing Lawful Water Use, general authorisations and water licenses;
- Water sector decision makers, representatives and external stakeholders.
The water sector community and the public will benefit maximally from the National Integrated Water Information System. Even more importantly, the system will enable faster and efficient decision making.
For more information about the NIWIS system please go to http://niwis.dwa.gov.za/niwis2/ or call Andy Sambo on 012 336 8403 or send an email to sambom@dwa.gov.za
For more information contact:
Mr Sputnik Ratau
Director Media Liaison
Cell: 082 784 2942
