The Khanyisa Ops app – previously known as the WaterLeaks app – offers a cost-effective solution by integrating data from existing infrastructure with newly collected data to create a comprehensive overview of system conditions.

By identifying patterns of recurring faults, the app helps municipalities prioritise infrastructure upgrades and maintenance, ultimately reducing water losses and improving operational efficiency, says water and sanitation solutions provider Khanyisa Projects managing member Karlin Naidoo.

The app was developed by Khanyisa Projects with support from innovation entity Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)

and integrates seamlessly with municipal infrastructure, allowing for real-time fault reporting and management, explains Naidoo.

With its initial development having started in 2019 and its launch in 2022, the app has been successfully piloted at several municipalities.

Municipal water authority Johannesburg Water, in particular, has committed to continuing its use of the app.

In eThekwini, in KwaZulu-Natal, the app helped address long-standing issues with unread water meters and helped municipal workers identify leaks during meter readings. This enabled the municipality to bill for water and electricity use accurately while addressing repair requirements in one operation.

Khanyisa Projects’ approach is to focus on specific tasks before gradually expanding use of the app within a municipality.

This enables users to become familiar with the system and increases buy-in from municipal staff. Naidoo notes that the gradual rollout is key to successful adoption, reducing the risk of user errors and improving overall effectiveness.

The app’s real-time reporting allows for field data to be captured and reported instantly, enabling supervisors to assign repair teams more effectively.

Naidoo adds that this speeds up the repair process and ensures that significant leaks or illegal water connections are detected and addressed promptly.

Once repairs are completed, the app tracks repair times and records GPS coordinates and photographic evidence to ensure accountability. This also prevents fraudulent claims from contractors.

Additionally, the app can provide municipalities with a more complete picture of their infrastructure, thereby enabling municipalities to make better decisions about upgrades and maintenance priorities.

Khanyisa Projects aims to promote the app to municipalities across South Africa with continued support from the TIA.

The goal is to extend the app’s capabilities beyond municipal use to include the private sector and industrial environments, offering a comprehensive solution for water management.

“The app has the potential to address nonrevenue water issues while providing a traceable, auditable record of maintenance activities, which could significantly impact on water management systems throughout the country,” Naidoo concludes.