A new tool that provides municipalities with prewritten tender documents and contracts, which can easily be adapted to suit the specific needs and circumstances of a particular region, has been introduced to help municipalities curb water-scarce South Africa’s water losses.
The Model Performance Based Contract for Water Conservation and Demand Management was launched at the South African Local Government Association’s National Members Assembly earlier this month.

It was based on current best practice in the water industry and comprised three documents – the tender and contract, a bill of quantities that listed typical reimbursable items and a set of guidelines that assisted the person compiling the final document in formulating it to suit the specific requirements of the municipality.   

The tool was  developed by the Strategic Water Partners Network with financial and implementation support from German development agency GIZ.

The key to this form of contract was that contractor payments would be based on the results achieved. The more water saved, the higher the payment.

With an average of around 25% of municipal water being lost through physical leakage and wastage, the implementation of such contracts would contribute to further safeguarding the country’s already stressed water resources, while reducing the input cost of water for the municipality.

GIZ water stewardship adviser Dr Nicole Kranz explained at the launch that the Water Efficiency and Leak Reduction Working Group of the Strategic Water Partners Network had identified that such contracts could be highly beneficial to municipalities and, in certain cases, were able to pay for themselves within a two-year period.

The formulation of such contracts, however, was often difficult for municipalities and the availability of the model contract would simplify this process and encourage municipalities to take a more proactive approach to reducing water consumption.

The Strategic Water Partners Network is a public and private sector partnership that brings together represenatives from the Department of Water and Sanitation and private-sector companies in the interest of protecting the country’s national water resources.

It is organised into working groups that map, chart and implement dolutions and projects that strengthen and support water management strategy and practice.