RAND WATER – A Vital Tool in Curbing the Spread

It is safe to say that water, and its security, has rarely ever been so crucial as it is at this moment in time. A vital resource and one whose provision is often taken for granted, it has taken on an unprecedented importance as the spread and effects of coronavirus continue to amplify.

“The first piece of advice that is essential for anyone worried about contracting the coronavirus is something your grandparents might have suggested: wash your hands,” South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) succinctly puts it.

“It’s at the top of the list for many of the players trying to prevent the spread of the disease,” it goes on. “This includes the World Health Organisation (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health authorities around the world.”

Hand washing is one of those habits deeply ingrained from childhood, a tried and true, scientifically proven preventive strategy that reduces the likelihood of transmitting both viral and bacterial-borne diseases. “If it became a habit for everyone in the world,” continues SAMRC, “it would not just prevent mortality and illness from coronavirus. It could be the start of a more viable strategy to prevent death from other bacterial and viral diseases.”

SECURING CRITICAL SUPPLY

The role that water plays in this is unequivocally central; without it, this critical and potentially life-saving process is rendered nigh-on impossible. “Our vision is to be a provider of sustainable, universally competitive water and sanitation solutions for Africa,” Rand Water says, and it has worked tirelessly to develop and secure supply to metropolitan and local municipalities, industry and mining in Gauteng, and parts of Mpumalanga, the Free State, and North West provinces.

To achieve this, Rand Water is forced to overcome the challenges of a rainfall climate in South Africa which is infamously variable. In addition, South Africa has a wider variety of climates than most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, coupled with lower average temperatures than other countries within this range of latitude.

Tasked with securing supply amid these myriad of demanding factors, Rand Water began full operations over a century ago in 1905. To overcome these challenges, Rand Water has, over more than 100 years, put in place a series of major schemes to respond to the demand for water in an area where it is notoriously scarce.

The Vaal Dam project was a major breakthrough development in 1938, yielding an unprecedented 354 Ml/d supply, and since 1998, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has been Rand Water’s go-to source.

In 1954 the Natural Resources Development Council proposed that water might be obtained from Lesotho to bolster that of the Vaal River, which led to a ground-breaking three-phase scheme including four major dams: Senqu in Lesotho, Ash River in the Free State, Wilge River and the Vaal Dam.

Total average daily demand for the Rand Water network is projected to increase to around 5,500 Mℓ/d by 2030, an average rate of demand growth of 1.75% per annum. Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme (LHWS), is expected to be completed by 2024 and will deliver more than 1,000 Mℓ/d.

CURBING THE SPREAD

At the end of March it was revealed that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in Gauteng had delivered 187 water tanks and 20 water tankers to vulnerable communities across the province, in a bid to increase water availability and curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Gauteng is currently the epicentre of the virus with a number of densely populated informal settlements lacking water to practice proper hygiene by regularly washing hands. The delivery of the water tanks and tankers will provide a lifeline for communities, prioritising mainly the more densely populated and vulnerable communities.

“Enabling communities to access water is the single most important thing if we are to combat the spread of this virus,” said DWS’s Gauteng Provincial Head, Sibusiso Mthembu.

Densely populated areas have been identified as a key focus in efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. “We will need to urgently move some of our people for the de-densification to be realised,” outlined Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu at the end of March, warning that if the virus reaches densely populated areas, it will find fertile ground to spread.

“Land parcels to relocate and decant dense communities have been secured. This will not be far from the current place of residence.” The densely populated areas are mainly found in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, and the department’s interventions will focus on water services infrastructure, with the intention of improving water supply, access to sanitation and sanitising public spaces.

“We have put measures in place to implement our interventions,” Sisulu stated. “We have set up an Operation Centre at Rand Water, where we monitor the distribution of the services mentioned. We also have provincial command centres and have mobilised the regional offices of the Water and Sanitation Department, municipalities and Regional Water Boards to act as distribution centres.”

ANNIHILATE CORONAVIRUS

As COVID-19 cases surge, there’s one consumer product critical in the battle to slow the pandemic: the humble, ancient and effective soap. When you wash your hands with soap and water, rather than merely wiping viruses off your hands and sending them down the drain, you’re actually annihilating the viruses, rendering them harmless.

Soap “is almost like a demolition team breaking down a building and taking all the bricks away,” says Palli Thordarson, a chemistry professor at the University of New South Wales to Vox. “It’s almost like a crowbar; it starts to pull all the things apart.”

The Rand Water Foundation has partnered with the Imbumba Foundation, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Old Mutual to launch the #Soap4Hope campaign, with the aim of collecting anti-bacterial hand-wash soap and other alternatives to help curb and prevent unnecessary widespread infection within underprivileged South African communities.

“We have been witnessing the coronavirus rip through the global community and decided that we needed to create a programme that will help address an immediate need for hygiene,” concluded CEO of the Imbumba Foundation, Richard Mabaso to IOL. “South Africans are known and well respected for their humanity and unity in all crises and for their activism; whether in groups or as individuals.

“Our people have continuously demonstrated the spirit of togetherness and so we call upon them, to once again, help us to inspire hope as we live through these trying times and try to shape a positive narrative that will see us through this period and beyond. Of course, access remains a huge barrier, however, we have resolved to undertake this task with enthusiasm, patriotism and heart.”