Klip River Water Stewardship initiative moves forward
The second meeting of the Klip River Water Stewardship initiative discussed future endeavours and the setting up of a steering committee.
FOLLOWING a meeting on February 9, stakeholders and members involved in the upcoming Klip River Water Stewardship (KLIPWaS) initiative met again at the Lido Hotel on February 22 to discuss the next step in the programme, which is to set up a steering committee.
KLIPWaS is a multi-stakeholder collaboration aimed at coordinating a series of projects to improve water quality and security for Klip River residents and businesses.
Dennis Jane, a representative from the Klipriviersberg Sustainability Association (KlipSA), explained that the whole point of KLIPWaS is to encourage environmentally friendly property development along the Klip River. Various suggestions were put forward in the previous meeting, and Dennis spoke of how the process will be formalised. The steering committee will lead the process.
To date the prospective core partners in KLIPWaS are KlipSA, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Transnet Bargaining Council (TBC).
The KLIPWaS concept document was drawn up by Dr Inga Jacobs-Mata, a research group leader at the CSIR, along with colleagues Dr Richard Meissner and Liesl Hill. Jacobs-Mata was approached last year after giving a talk on water conservation at a Disaster Management Forum meeting, and subsequently expressed interest in developing a project for the Klip River based on work that had been done on a river in the Western Cape. According to Jacobs-Mata, the Klip River would be an ideal site for this project to get traction in Gauteng as nothing similar is being undertaken in the province.
The draft concept document was first presented for discussion and action at the February 9 meeting.
“After presenting the draft a few weeks ago to a few stakeholders, we are now setting up a core steering committee to lead the team in addressing key water challenges,” Jacobs-Mata told the follow-up meeting.
Screening some of the pictures contained in the concept document, Jacobs-Mata stressed the need for a multi-disciplinary approach. She explained that many meetings would still take place before any action was taken.
“There will still be a few meetings before any launch. The CSIR is involved in many water projects in South Africa, and the more effective approach will be to get all the institutions in the South to work together to create awareness. This will avoid duplication by people running campaigns privately and doing it alone, and this way we can make a bigger impact.”
Some background work that has been done or targeted by KlipSA:
• KlipSA is promoting the concept of an ‘agritropolis’ for the area surrounding the Klip River.
• The water supply in terms of quantity and quality needs to be investigated.
• The Klip River has major pollution and wetland destruction problems.
• Through a multi-stakeholder process, a framework for an integrated management plan for the wetland/s has been established.
• The importance of the origin of the river in the CBD and its course through mining land, Riverlea and Soweto needs to be understood and addressed.
• The need for a major geohydrological study has been identified, due to the presence of dolomitic and black reef strata in the Klip River valley.
• The possible development of an Olympic watersport and rowing facility has been identified.
Some of the important points that came out of the first meeting were:
• The need to get CEOs from influential businesses on board.
• The possibility of arranging a canoe expedition, with the starting point at the spot where the water first arrives at the surface of the land, for example at Robinson Canal.
• Promoting the establishment of data mapping layers to reflect the various water test sites that the various local entities are responsible for.
• Getting local schools involved in relevant water projects and encouraging river visits.
• The need to arrange public meetings, probably in the evenings for members of the public who are unable to attend daytime sessions.
More about the KLIPWaS project
KLIPWaS is a multi-stakeholder collaboration system and series of projects aimed at improving water quality and security for Klip River residents and businesses. It will have a multitude of inputs, starting with stakeholder consultations, discussions with partners, and guidance from KlipSA and the Catchment Management Forum.
In the context of an escalating water crisis, the challenges that the Klip River faces are clear, and the city’s current infrastructure and institutional systems will not be able to cope with the pace and severity of the change.
On the institutional level, there is insufficient policy, funding, collective leadership, coordination and cooperation in planning and development between the various public authorities either managing water, or impacting on water resources through their mandates and decision making. On an infrastructural level, both the city and its residents and businesses do not at present have adequate coping mechanisms for deteriorating water supply and quality, for example high-capacity water storage, effective treatment technologies or the ability to recycle water.
As part of its strategic focus, KLIPWaS will:
• Identify niches in which to apply a multi-stakeholder approach.
• Develop synergies between actors to create win-win solutions.
• Deliver tangible results – actual improvements in water security for businesses and communities, with a focus on the poor.
KLIPWaS will focus on the following five action areas (to be discussed and confirmed with partners):
• Water quality monitoring and reporting, and prioritisation of risks and development outcomes.
• Groundwater pollution prevention through resource protection and improved sanitation.
• Development of constructed wetlands or wetlands rehabilitation.
• Urban flood risk management.
• Sustainable water management in the Klip River catchment.
• Public awareness and knowledge dissemination.
Projects will be fall under a Joint Water Security Action Plan. They will be based on where KLIPWaS’ partners can have the biggest impact on water security given the complexities, opportunities and constraints. KLIPWaS will not look to only develop its own activities, but also to support the multitude of existing projects by identifying and building on synergies with other projects, building the capacity of critical stakeholders for improved planning and coordination, and setting the project significance within a more strategic approach to water security.
There are several proposed activities to be implemented thus far. Some examples are:
• Workshops at schools which will be linked to relevant clubs.
• Radio programmes.
• Development of educational and awareness raising materials (posters and Z-folders).
• A monthly/quarterly newsletter to provide information to stakeholders on key activities.
• A dialogue series comprising lectures/discussion forums on technical topics.
• An annual canoe race and/or big walk along the river to raise awareness.
There is currently no funding for the initiative, but the aim is to solicit financial commitments from key stakeholders (government and private sector) for particular projects.
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