case study findings water dialogues – south africa presentation for local dialogue 6 march 2009...

Case Study Case Study Findings Findings

Water Dialogues – South Water Dialogues – South AfricaAfrica

Presentation for Local Presentation for Local DialogueDialogue

6 March 20096 March 2009

Water Services in Water Services in Bushbuckridge Local Bushbuckridge Local

MunicipalityMunicipality

Background on Case Background on Case StudyStudy

Research Conducted in 2007, 2008Research Conducted in 2007, 2008 Communities: Belfast, Dingleydale, Communities: Belfast, Dingleydale,

Mkhuhlu, WelverdiendMkhuhlu, Welverdiend Water Service Authority/Provider Water Service Authority/Provider

InterviewsInterviews

Case Study FindingsCase Study Findings

Bushbuckridge LM is Bushbuckridge LM is currently struggling to currently struggling to perform all of the necessary perform all of the necessary functions, though water functions, though water and sanitation services do and sanitation services do remain a top priority of remain a top priority of officials.officials.


There remain massive There remain massive backlogs, though they are backlogs, though they are not spread evenly across not spread evenly across the DM: urban areas and the DM: urban areas and larger towns receive higher larger towns receive higher levels of service than rural levels of service than rural communities.communities.


Continual institutional Continual institutional change and changes in the change and changes in the allocation of functions has allocation of functions has had negative effects on had negative effects on services delivery.services delivery.

Effects of TransitionsEffects of Transitions

Loss of Institutional KnowledgeLoss of Institutional Knowledge Lowered Staff ProductivityLowered Staff Productivity Strained Intra-organizational Strained Intra-organizational

RelationshipsRelationships

Effects of Transitions: Effects of Transitions: 2008 Follow Up Research2008 Follow Up Research

Key water services staff had been hiredKey water services staff had been hired Reporting relationships improvedReporting relationships improved Contracts developed and signed for staffContracts developed and signed for staff Task team set up to improve Task team set up to improve

relationships among Water Board and relationships among Water Board and BBR LMBBR LM

Plans for emergency water services Plans for emergency water services were in progresswere in progress


The municipality reports that it The municipality reports that it struggles to secure adequate funding struggles to secure adequate funding and staff capacity to eradicate and staff capacity to eradicate backlogs in water and sanitation. backlogs in water and sanitation. Any financial analysis of water and Any financial analysis of water and sanitation services provision is sanitation services provision is complicated by a lack of reliable data complicated by a lack of reliable data and the fact that three organizations and the fact that three organizations are involved in the effort.are involved in the effort.


Many residents do not pay Many residents do not pay for water, but service levels for water, but service levels remain low and the effects remain low and the effects of the Free Basic Water of the Free Basic Water (FBW) policy remain (FBW) policy remain unclear.unclear.


Lack of RDP-standard Lack of RDP-standard access to water and access to water and sanitation services is sanitation services is creating health issues creating health issues across all of the across all of the communities researched.communities researched.


In addition to illness, lack In addition to illness, lack of access to clean water of access to clean water causes other difficulties for causes other difficulties for communities.communities.


Despite reported scarcities of Despite reported scarcities of water, natural water water, natural water resources in the area are resources in the area are reportedly sufficient, and reportedly sufficient, and bulk water operations and bulk water operations and infrastructure is currently infrastructure is currently providing a consistent providing a consistent supply.supply.


The poor condition of The poor condition of infrastructure overall is causing infrastructure overall is causing operations, maintenance and repair operations, maintenance and repair issues which resulted in reduced issues which resulted in reduced access for residents even within the access for residents even within the areas served by municipal areas served by municipal infrastructure. It furthermore infrastructure. It furthermore caused high water losses, which are caused high water losses, which are expensive for the LM.expensive for the LM.


Communication with users Communication with users is an area in which the LM is an area in which the LM could greatly improve.could greatly improve.


The sustainability of the The sustainability of the current water and sanitation current water and sanitation system is of some concern. system is of some concern. However, the amount of However, the amount of progress made by the time progress made by the time the research team returned the research team returned in 2008 was promising.in 2008 was promising.

Progress Made Since Progress Made Since 20072007

Senior managers hiredSenior managers hired LM management is in the process of LM management is in the process of

finalising structures, systems and an finalising structures, systems and an enabling environment to perform its enabling environment to perform its functions and integrate other functions and integrate other responsibilities with its current WSP responsibilities with its current WSP functions into a single municipal functions into a single municipal structure and system. structure and system.


Contracts have been signed and Contracts have been signed and reporting roles clarified – according reporting roles clarified – according to managementto management

An organogram has been created An organogram has been created which clarifies staff reporting which clarifies staff reporting mechanisms have been clarified, mechanisms have been clarified,

DWAF Mpumalanga has taken a DWAF Mpumalanga has taken a supportive role in building capacitysupportive role in building capacity


Attempts to repair and improve the Attempts to repair and improve the relationship between BLM and BWBrelationship between BLM and BWB A temporary agreement of an amount A temporary agreement of an amount

that Bushbuckridge LM will pay to that Bushbuckridge LM will pay to Bushbuckridge Water Board for its Bushbuckridge Water Board for its servicesservices

A service-level agreement between A service-level agreement between Bushbuckridge LM and Bushbuckridge Bushbuckridge LM and Bushbuckridge Water Board is in progress, facilitated Water Board is in progress, facilitated by DWAF Mpumalangaby DWAF Mpumalanga


A temporary/emergency plan for A temporary/emergency plan for water to be provided without to water to be provided without to areas without adequate access. The areas without adequate access. The provision of water tankers to these provision of water tankers to these areas was meant to be approved areas was meant to be approved soon after the completion of a soon after the completion of a tender process (by the end of June).tender process (by the end of June).


Two initiatives have begun to support the LM Two initiatives have begun to support the LM in the building of institutional capacity so it is in the building of institutional capacity so it is able to fulfil its WSA and WSP functions. able to fulfil its WSA and WSP functions. Siyenza Manje is one initiative which is funded Siyenza Manje is one initiative which is funded

through the Development Bank of Southern Africa through the Development Bank of Southern Africa and places retired people with technical skills in and places retired people with technical skills in the municipality for support. the municipality for support.

Masibambane is a DWAF-led programme that Masibambane is a DWAF-led programme that provides funding to the municipality to contract provides funding to the municipality to contract outside workers with the skills and expertise outside workers with the skills and expertise required for technical and other support functions.required for technical and other support functions.

ConclusionsConclusions Correct causes of problems with water Correct causes of problems with water

services should be identifiedservices should be identified Changes in institutional arrangements do Changes in institutional arrangements do

not necessarily solve problemsnot necessarily solve problems How transitions are handled can greatly How transitions are handled can greatly

improve chances of successimprove chances of success Each municipality has its own challenges Each municipality has its own challenges

and assets, one arrangement that works and assets, one arrangement that works in one area may not work in another areain one area may not work in another area

Political or other tensions should be Political or other tensions should be separated as much as possible from water separated as much as possible from water service deliveryservice delivery

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

Water Dialogues – South Water Dialogues – South AfricaAfrica

case study findings water dialogues – south africa presentation for local dialogue 6 march 2009...

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