Building for failure

My company's core competency is identifying risks in water and wastewater supply systems. I see myself as a 'detective' searching for the root cause of why the final product does not meet the required standard.

Using the capable plant model, the four key components for effective delivery of good quality water or effluent are design, operations, maintenance and management. In my experience, the root cause of failure in municipal water services can be traced to a lack of poor management. This leads to variety of challenges including to poor planning, inappropriate designs, and lack of operations and maintenance. Our scope is to identify and mitigate risks and we provide detailed technical solutions for each risk. However, when it come to addressing lack of management, we require commitment and dedication from senior management to implement solutions. While I can advise on how to improve final water quality, I have not learnt how to persuade management to implement these recommendations.

Government is eager to fix our water problems and the solution is building new infrastructure - beautiful shiny plants that will guarantee good quality water/effluent. These plants are given back to the same municipality who have not appointed process controllers/general workers/maintenance artisans, or implemented systems for monitoring water quality/quantity/breakdows. Add in lack of ring-fenced budget and motivation to change and we end up with a failed plant in less that 5 years since it was built!

I encourage government departments to see water services in a holistic manner. Think of it as a Formula 1 Car: the best designed car cannot win the race without a driver, pit crew and management. In the same way, water treatment plant cannot miraculously produce safe water without dedicated staff, resources and maintenance.

The holistic solution will require moving the focus from infrastructure to operations and management. The recipient of new infrastructure should be 'pre-qualified' based on their ability to manage water services: Blue/Green/No Drop audits, Clean financial audit, Asset Management System, Skills Audit, and Financial Viability.

We will continue building for failure if we do not address the issue of sustainable operations and management of our water services infrastructure.

Any one with a magic wand that can change attitudes?

Isaac Sello Seitlholo (MP) #water services