Sol launches a Non-revenue Water Reduction Pilot Project

THE SOL Plaatje Municipality launched a Non-revenue Water Reduction Pilot Project, funded and implemented by the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The project is aimed at establishing the facts behind high water losses and related revenue loss, and formulating effective and cost-effective measures of addressing this.

It will be based on lesson sharing from the Japanese, who have an average of 6% non-revenue water.

JICA representative and water sector expert Sanobu Mayusumi has already arrived in Kimberley to start the process of data collection.

Sol Plaatje Municipality was among a select few to qualify for the project due to having received ongoing support from the DBSA in the water sector.

Municipal spokesperson Thoko Riet said the local authority qualified due to having ongoing DBSA support with regard to non-revenue water (NRW reduction) and revenue enhancement support programmes.

“The Development Bank of Southern Africa is in a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency on a non-revenue water reduction programme. The main objective is the effective reduction of NRW in selected and qualifying water services authorities (WSA) in South Africa,” said Riet.

“In terms of the programme, JICA is responsible for the provision of technical support and capacity building to beneficiary WSA.”

Riet said the expected outcome of this pilot project is a quantification of real and commercial losses, identification of the main drivers of high NRW in the area and the preparation of an NRW reduction strategy.

According to Riet, the DBSA’S role is to provide financial support and stakeholder management services.

Preference was given to municipalities that have strategic documents and existing projects related to NRW reduction.

“The pilot is expected to take about eight months, after which a report will be issued, with recommendations for a long-term turnaround strategy for water losses and non-revenue water reduction.”