The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has teamed up with water utility Rand Water and Brandscapers Africa to promote water conservation in the community of Orlando West in Soweto, near Johannesburg.

Rand Water’s Water Wise launched the Drop-by-Drop Water Conservation Outreach in October, calling for urgent and united community action as many township communities experience daily water challenges, from burst pipes and sewage spills to unreliable supply.

South Africa faces a growing water challenge, driven by shortages, leaks and infrastructure decay, and for countless families these issues threaten dignity, health and livelihoods.

The two-day community activation took place from October 30 to 31 at the Hector Pieterson Museum in Orlando West, marking the start of a rollout targeting high-water-use areas in several townships in the region supplied by Rand Water.

The outreach programme was particularly significant as it took place in Soweto, one of Johannesburg’s most affected areas when it comes to water shortages, the DWS says.

“For the longest time now, Johannesburg has been experiencing repeated water supply challenges, often resulting in service delivery protests. Bringing the outreach programme to Soweto is a proactive and prompt effort to engage with residents directly on issues of water conservation, infrastructure maintenance and leak reporting – empowering communities to be part of the solution to the city’s water challenges,” the department adds.

Through collective effort, knowledge-sharing and hands-on engagement, Water Wise aims to inspire a radical shift towards responsible water management.

The two-day programme, blending dialogue, demonstration and empowerment, engaged community members in open discussions with experts and local leaders to explore practical ways to improve water delivery and accountability.

The team also conducted a door-to-door campaign engaging directly with residents of Orlando West to raise awareness about water conservation and responsible water use.

During the visits, residents were also requested to complete a questionnaire designed to identify the water-related challenges they face in their communities.

The information gathered will assist Rand Water’s Water Wise team in developing targeted interventions and strengthening future community support initiatives.

The engagement provided an important platform to empower residents with practical knowledge and to encourage collective responsibility in safeguarding water, as well as water infrastructure, says DWS Gauteng provincial head Justice Maluleke.

“South Africa does not have enough water. In fact, it is one of the driest countries in the world. Our pattern of rainfall far differs from what other countries are getting, and it is becoming worse, owing to climate change. It calls on us to rethink how we use water.”

The high water consumption of about 300 litres a day per person compared with the global average of 173 litres is attributed to water loss through leaks and irresponsible use.

“The DWS will always support initiatives like this, because, if we implement what we are discussing here, we are going to solve future problems and ensure sustainable water supply for all.

“The core of what we need to go out and do, as individuals, as institutions, is to try and manage our water use, especially by fixing the leaks or getting those who know to assist us to fix water leaks,” he says.

The Drop-by-Drop Water Conservation Outreach aims to equip households with the tools and knowledge to act.

It also aims to assist and encourage youth leaders to become advocates for change, entrepreneurs to adopt sustainable models and schools to integrate water stewardship into daily learning.

The initiative intends to build a long-term framework for township-based water conservation that can be replicated nationwide.

It is envisaged that trained residents and youth will continue to contribute towards the repair and maintenance of private household and industry infrastructure, youth champions will lead by example and communities will take pride in safeguarding a shared resource.