With climate change a top priority for government, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) has been involved in climate change research and developing tools to help South Africa adapt to climate change.

An element of climate adaption is to ensure a sustainable and secure water supply, with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation entity playing a pivotal role in fostering innovation across various sectors, including water management.

“The agency's mission is to improve the competitiveness of the water sector by leveraging expertise and skills across the country through cooperation and collaboration. By accelerating technology development and commercialisation, the TIA aims to solve the water crisis, improve water security and support sanitation programmes,” said TIA commercialisation acting executive Daya Naidoo.

Speaking at the Water Leakage and Non-Revenue Loss Technology Summit, held in Sandton from February 25 to 26, he said that the agency, amid the urgent need to respond to climate change and build resilience, supported innovative projects that develop clean technologies for water, mining, waste management, health and agriculture.

Innovative technologies are essential in addressing water scarcity, which is a global issue, with changes in water resource availability causing tension between human water use and ecological needs.

One such technological integration crucial to mitigating the challenges of water scarcity and ensuring efficient use of available resources is that of TIA-supported, Durban-based Khanyisa Projects’ use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Khanyisa, which designs and implements water and sanitation solutions for municipalities and other government departments, leverages GIS to enhance service delivery, unlocking precise mapping and management of water resources and enabling municipalities to make informed decisions and optimise water distribution.

“Khanyisa’s approach balances the needs and constraints of municipalities with the aspirations of communities, ensuring sustainable and effective outcomes,” explained Naidoo, adding that a key aspect of Khanyisa's success is its commitment to community engagement.

“By involving local communities in the planning and implementation of projects, Khanyisa ensures that the solutions are not only technically sound but also socially acceptable. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among community members, leading to more sustainable outcomes.”

The project has significantly improved sanitation in the areas it serves, reducing health risks and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

“Khanyisa has specialised in adapting technologies to suit South African communities. This approach has been adopted after the observation of many failed technologies in rural and urban settings. Technology needs to be readily accepted by communities, easy to build and maintain locally and cost effective when operating,” he continued.

Another initiative supported by the TIA is the VulAmanz Water Purification Microfilter, which is a novel water treatment filtration technology, which decentralises water treatment for drinking water provision and treats wastewater for recycling and reuse.

“It has already made a big difference to the people of KwaZulu-Natal and the province of the Eastern Cape,” Naidoo commented, explaining that it required no water treatment chemicals, was gravity-driven, extremely robust, easy to operate and maintain and was potentially inexpensive and economically attractive.

“The technology is expected to have significant impact in markets that face challenges with water service delivery. This would also include the areas of recycling and reuse of existing scarce water resources.”

The VulAmanz Water Purification Microfilter technology is primarily aimed at low-income rural households without access to safe, potable drinking water in their homes on tap and communities that use water from rivers, streams, dams and rainwater tanks.

“Boiling water to drink requires fuel in the form of charcoal, firewood, electricity or gas, all at a significant cost. These end-users, therefore, require easy access to low-cost, safe potable drinking water in their home or close to their home,” he said.

By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and fostering community engagement, these projects provide sustainable solutions to one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges: having a secure and sustainable supply of clean, safe drinking water.

“As we look to the future, continued investment in innovation and collaboration will be essential in ensuring water security for all South Africans. Continued investment in research and development, coupled with strong policy support, will be key to addressing the water challenges facing the country,” he concluded.