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light, in the year under review, the organisation was consistent in
maintaining delivery to customers on the SANS 0241 specification.
Water quality compliance to SANS 0241 drinking water quality
specification for the period ending June 2015 was 99.81% in
respect of class I, while 99.99% compliance was achieved against
class II. With Rand Water’s stricter production standard applied
on the purification works to ensure product quality throughout
the supply system, we achieved 99.80%, for the same reporting
period. Rand Water formed a monthly Potable Water Quality
Working Committee meeting. This meeting is used as a platform to
continually monitor and address any irregularities that may surface
with regard to water quality standards.
Strategy
Rand Water developed a new strategy in 2009. It is an ambitious
strategy that seeks to increase the contribution of the organisation
to the economy of South Africa. However, as with any strategy, it
evolves to take into consideration key developments in the country
and globally.
Rand Water that has since been moulded by this strategy has
changed significantly. On the positive side, these developments
remain within the ambit of the overall paradigm of increasing
the footprint of the organisation. On the other hand, there
are important trajectories that affect the path of the Rand
Water strategy. As with any innovation in the strategy language,
trajectories are part of a single paradigm.
After years of strategic planning the water sector is entering a
new phase. Rand Water intends to be part of these changes. The
National Development Plan (NDP) is recognised as the guiding light
for the South African economy and the water sector specifically.
The new National Water Resource Strategy is in its year of
inception. Some of the important steps of the Institutional Reform
and Realignment (IRR) process commenced in this financial year,
with the disestablishment of at least two water boards.
Infrastructure
After decades of expansion to meet the challenge of infrastructural
development and population growth, Rand Water’s infrastructure
continues to be adequate to meet its customers’ needs in its area
of service. This is in itself remarkable considering that in 1965,
Rand Water was supplying 1000 Mega litres a day (Ml/d) and that
demand has increased four-fold to 4 000 Ml/d.
Rand Water is ensuring that it is ready for the demands of
2030 and beyond by focusing on infrastructure renewal and
development. Rand Water works on a 20-year planning horizon,
driven by forecasts of future water consumer needs and the need
to maintain the capacity of existing infrastructure. This involves
analysis of trends and usage patterns, assessment of condition
and performance of infrastructure, compliance with evolving
legislation, and discussions with various stakeholders on their
expectations.
Rand Water primarily draws raw water from the Vaal River System.
Two river stations – Zuikerbosch and Vereeniging – abstract purify
and pump into the network some 98% of the water supplied to
its customers. About 90% of this water is further pumped by four
primary booster stations situated on the southern side of the
Witwatersrand ridge. The portions of the network supplied by
each pumping station are namely:
• Zuikerbosch / Vereeniging direct– southern Gauteng and
northern Free State (localized), in addition to supply to all
booster pumping stations.
• Eikenhof – western and north-western Johannesburg, the
West Rand and greater Rustenburg.
• Zwartkopjes – central Johannesburg and a high-lying portion
of the East Rand.
• Palmiet – eastern and northern Johannesburg, large parts of
Tshwane, and western portions of Ekurhuleni.
• Mapleton – central and eastern parts of Tshwane and
Ekurhuleni, and selected areas in Mpumalanga.
Rand Water will have to spend in the region of R18.3 billion in
the next five years on core infrastructure to ensure that both new
and existing infrastructure will be able to meet potable water
demands into the future. Rand Water faces significant challenges
in executing the required workload. It is critical that Rand Water
is prepared for the challenge in terms of its structure, people and
systems.
Major projects to be undertaken:
The planned projects are listed under two main categories, namely:
• Augmentation projects that have the primary purpose of
increasing the capacity to meet growth in demand and area
of service; and
• Renewal projects, including upgrade, rehabilitation and
replacement projects that have the primary purpose of
maintaining existing capacity to supply both quantity and
quality.
Rand Water’s R18.3 billion capital expenditure plan incorporates
capital investment of R10.4 billion for augmentation, R7.9 billion
for renewal programme to increase supply capacity is well
underway and increase the flexibility of the network. R5.8 billion
is dedicated to growth projects outside the core business and R0.3
billion for moveable assets.
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