Western Cape Business 2018 edition

OVERVIEW
SA's Most Productive
Company
Liquid storage solutions provider
SBS Tanks took top honours at
the Productivity SA 2017 National
Awards, where the company
was applauded for its use of
resources and epitomising the
highest qualities and attributes of
productivity. SBS Tanks ticked all
the boxes to clinch the prestigious
gold prize and the coveted title of
Most Productive Company in the
Corporate Sector.
2030 Water Resources Group.
The Water Resources Group, an
international consortium of private
companies, agencies and
development banks, has established
a South African chapter,
the Strategic Water Partners
Network (SWPN) which has a
focus on three things: water efficiency
and leakage reduction;
effluent and wastewater management;
and agricultural and supply
chain. SWPN aims to support government
and programmes have
been put in place in all three areas
that are showing results.
The Western Cape Provincial
Government has a two-pronged
strategy: new water infrastructure
for agriculture and water demand
management programmes to
improve efficiency.
In terms of its water infrastructure
and maintenance of its
wastewater treatments plants, the
Western Cape fares relatively well
compared to most other South
African regions. Only 3% of households
reported to the General
Household Survey of 2014 that
their water services had been interrupted.
Fully 87.7% were satisfied
with water delivery services. Access to water and sanitation in the
province is generally very good.
A provincial scheme to improve rivers has been outlined by Premier
Helen Zille. The River Improvement Plan ultimately seeks to improve
the lives of people living alongside rivers, but also ensuring that river
water quality enhances the region’s economy. The fruit, grape and
wine sectors need good-quality water, as do agri-processing concerns.
Programmes include upgrading wastewater treatment plants, clearing
alien vegetation and regular monitoring of water quality. The scheme
encompasses the Olifants-Doorn and Breede rivers.
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture has launched a climate
action plan called Smart Agri which includes doing studies on
conservation agriculture. The plan draws on the expertise of academics
and companies in the private sector.
One of the possible plans to add to the supply of the Western
Cape Water Supply System is the Berg River – Voëlvlei Augmentation
Scheme. This would entail pumping water out of Berg River in winter,
having first allowed for enough water to cover the ecological water
requirements of the river and the estuary.
A Water Stewardship programme has been introduced in the Breede
River catchment area. WWF-South Africa, Woolworths and Marks &
Spencer are collaborating on a scheme encouraging stone fruit farmers
to put in place systems that reduce risk to water supply and quality.
WWF-SA also has a Water Balance Programme which works to
increase the amount of clean water coming into the environment.
Woolworths’ contribution to this plan involves getting rid of alien
vegetation on the farm where it sources its wines (Paul Cluver Wines)
and in the Leeu River catchment area.
The introduction by the National Department of Water and
Sanitation and the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA) of the Blue
and Green Drop Awards has been very successful. The nation’s municipalities
receive scores reflectively how well they are doing in terms
of providing clean water.
In order to win a Drop Award (Blue for water quality, Green for waste
treatment), water systems have to score 95% or higher. The DWS has allocated
R4.3-billion to helping municipalities deliver water. The Interim
Water Supply Programme concentrates on 23 district municipalities.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Water Resources Group: www.2030wrg.org
Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency:
www.breedegouritzcma.co.za
National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dwa.gov.za
South African Water Research Commission: www.wrc.org.za
Water Institute of Southern Africa: www.wisa.org.za
WESTERN CAPE BUSINESS 2018
96