WASTEWATER RISK ABATEMENT PLANWASTEWATER RISK ABATEMENT PLAN

WW22RAPRAP-ing up the risks municipal wastewater -ing up the risks municipal wastewater

pose to the changing South African Environmentpose to the changing South African Environment

South African Water Services Regulation ApproachesSouth African Water Services Regulation Approaches

* Untested* Untested

Water Services Risk-based Regulation

Apr 21, 2023

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Water Safety Planning

Wastewater Risk Abatement

Planning (W2RAP)

Asset Management + Cost Reflective

Tariff Management

Improving Quality of Water Services through Risk Management Implementation

Progress of Joe Gcabi District Municipality

Apr 21, 2023

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Serious Improvement is required in Wastewater since

the risk remains significant at a Green Drop score of 22%

Why SA needs a W2RAP process?

Wastewater collection & treatment systems operate 24 hours, 7 days, 365 days of the year.

These municipal assets operate in aggressive and corrosive environments, with aging infrastructure.

The W2RAP process is to document risks and to establish control measures to mitigate/manage any operation or situation which will cause harm to public and environmental health.

To mitigate potential risks = W2RAP as primary risk management tool

W2RAP encompasses all steps in the wastewater value chain:• production of sewage• transport and treatment• discharge or reuse of final effluent or sludge.

• To prevent the current situation where WSAs are being misled To prevent the current situation where WSAs are being misled to believe that wastewater challenges can to believe that wastewater challenges can onlyonly be addressed by be addressed by means of intensive capital investment means of intensive capital investment

WHAT IS A W2RAP?There are many risk-based applications and multi-barrier approaches in

world W2RAP is however the 1st of its kind globally, SA’s own initiative

Direct link between: Water Safety Plan (WHO initiative) = drinking water and W2RAP =

wastewater Where ‘wastewater’ is one of the key risks on drinking water side

The W2RAP shows the link to the Blue- and Green Drop regulatory programmes in South Africa.

Therefore, it closes the gap between drinking water assurance and wastewater quality - BOTH critical elements of SA water security

WHAT IS A W2RAP? (2)

The W2RAP is a process to manage overall risk at Critical Control Points (such as pumpstations, inlet works, disinfection of final effluent) or across the entire value chain of sanitation services.

The risk assessment process assist municipalities to identify various types of risks (e.g. electricity interruptions, sludge dam wall rupture, breakdown in recycle pumps, lack of technical staff, funds, vandalism, etc), and to….

Formulate specific actions to be taken at different levels of the municipal business, namely: Environmental, Financial, Operational and Institutional...”

ROLL OUT OF W2RAP FOR RISK-BASED REGULATION

Department of Water Affairs apply the W2RAP as a targeted regulatory tool to facilitate turnaround and continued improvement, based on risk-priorities – constant movement & measurement from higher risk to lower risk positions…..

Two Catchment-based targeted initiatives to reduce risks: Berg River: why? Economic, health, public outcry, agriculture, business,

academic’s pressure Hartbeespoort: why? Environment, public, down stream water users

Benefit:

Municipalities use W2RAP as focused tool to prioritise scarce resources where risk is highest to public health, services, and environment

It bridge communication and planning barriers between technical/engineering officials and financial staff

Whilst providing political principals with relevant and current information and relevant/adequate PLANS to inform decision making

Instilling Wastewater service management based on a sense of Responsibility; not only managing wastewater service with the objective of adhering to the minimum requirements.

The quaternary Catchment based approach creates the opportunity for cross-pollination between municipalities working towards the same objective of improving water resource quality.

WAY FORWARD

To expand the (Harties/Berg) Targeted Risk-based approach in other areas such as Zeerust (North West) and in Eastern Mpumalanga (Requests from Sector partners in these areas)

Green Drop 2012 will require WSAs to present their W2RAPs and implementation proof thereof

Strengthen regulation via combination of incentive- and risk-based regulation for maximum impact

To further the endeavour to facilitate improvement in wastewater management by means of innovative regulatory

options.

Copies are available from WRC (hardcopy) and e-copy on GDS @ www.dwa.gov.za/greendrop www.dwa.gov.za/greendrop

THANKSTHANKSTHANKSTHANKS