Tshwane Executive Mayor, Cilliers Brink speaks at the launch of a R33 Million water security project in collaboration withthe Danish city of Aarhus. The project aims to improve water security in the Tshwane region over the next three years with the two cities collaborating on projects to cut water losses by actively detecting water leakages amongst other strategies . Picture: Neil McCartney / The Citizen
The City of Tshwane and the Danish city of Aarhus yesterday officially launched a three-year collaboration to help improve the looming water crisis in Tshwane.
Water management projects include reducing nonrevenue water losses, conducting active leak detection, prioritising pipe replacement, focusing on water generation and managing wastewater effectively.
The Danish ministry of foreign affairs has allocated R33 million to fund study models and concepts to enhance Tshwane’s water security. It will run from 1 April to 31 March 2026.
Tshwane mayor Cilliers Brink said for many years the capacity at Hammanskraal had been exceeded.
“We have to admit we don’t have the ability to solve that problem ourselves. We need partnerships, either from the private sector, or the department of water and sanitation.
“The facility needs intense capital investment and upgrades to ensure quality water,” he said.
ALSO READ: Tshwane water crisis latest: Reservoir levels, where to find tankers
Brink said the partnership with Denmark would involve expertise and practises in water management and waste-water treatment.
“There is a great deal of potential to use waste water to generate electricity, as well. But we are at a very early stage,” he said.
Brink said because Tshwane faced many water challenges, such as in Hammanskraal, the city needed to work with other world-class cities, to learn from them.
In 2018, phase 1 focussed on sustainable urban development and saw the development of the integrated nonmotorised transport facility guideline and a design for a hydro-conduit facility at Salvokop.
ALSO READ: Water crisis: Tankers deployed to affected areas in Tshwane
The embassy of Denmark’s deputy head of mission Jacobs Stensdal said: “We are very excited to be here for the second phase that will run from now and running for the next three years. Long-term water strategising was the ultimate goal in times of climate change,” he said.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
