WRC TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVE TO IMPROVE WATER SAFETY IN SMALL COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY

 

 

The WRC will be playing a leading role in an international effort to promote and improve the safety of drinking water in small communities. This initiative will attempt to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDG), initiated under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Dr Gerhard Offringa (WRC) will represent South Africa as part of this international task group. He has attended a workshop, held from 19 – 22 July 2005 in the outback of Australia (Alice Springs), where some action plans were drafted.  This drive will encompass a two-pronged approach to improve small community water safety: A small task team has been selected (which includes South Africa) to coordinate international sharing of knowledge and tools in water safety. This also involves the setting up of a dedicated website. All internationally available management tools and knowledge will be utilised to assist small communities to improve their water safety. One of the first actions to be taken involves the compilation of an internationally applicable Water Safety Plan (WSP) for small community water supply. Draft WSP’s from New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh and Iceland will be used as a starting point. The WRC has already commissioned a research team, under the leadership of Umgeni Water, to draft a WSP which will be applicable to the South African situation in particular, and to the African situation in general. This work will be executed in close collaboration with the international task team.

 

	Dr Gerhard Offringa presenting a paper at the WHO workshop in Alice Springs
	(double click the image to enlarge the view)