Water conservation and water demand management are important strategies to lessen the effects of climate change, according to Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, the Western Cape Provincial Head of the Department of Water and Sanitation.
“This was clear during Cape Town’s worst drought in 2017–18.
The combined efforts of various water users significantly decreased the demand for water, “said Bila-Mupariwa.
Speaking with a Danish delegation, Bila-Mupariwa was doing so during a discussion on best practices for water management.
A session with a Danish delegation had been hosted by the provincial department, which gave the chance to discuss water management topics like demand management, governance, and water conservation.
High-end industries presented their water use sustainability initiatives, including those that reduced water demand, during the two-day engagement.
The Danish delegation additionally went to the Spier Wastewater Treatment Plant.
A Memorandum of Understanding on water sector cooperation was signed by South Africa and the Kingdom of Denmark in 2015 through the former Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane.
This led to the creation of the Strategic Water Sector Cooperation programme.
In order to contribute to the political visions and chosen objectives of South Africa’s National Water Resource Strategy, the Sector Cooperation Programme (SCP) seeks to assist South African government agencies and other pertinent stakeholders in developing and putting into practice frameworks for strategy, management, and regulation (2013).
Water is “efficiently and effectively managed for equitable and sustainable growth and development,” according to the National Water Resource Strategy (2013).
Bila-Mupariwa expressed her delight at the generous commitment of South Africa and Denmark to exchanging best practices in the area of water management. –