Sebokeng/Evaton Advanced Pressure Management Project, South Africa

What is it?

A five-year non-revenue water reduction programme serving the townships of Sebokeng and Evaton in the Guteng region of South Africa. The programme was completed in 2009.

Who is responsible?

The programme has been executed as a public-private partnership between Miya Water’s WRP Consulting Engineers and the Emfuleni municipality.

What makes it special?

• Before the project was put in place, the Sebokeng/Evaton water system lost around 80% of the water supplied, mostly at night through household plumbing fittings. By introducing an advanced pressure management scheme to reduce pressure in the network at times of low demand, the project delivered savings of over 50 million m³, valued at $20 million over five years.

• The project was financed on the basis of a novel public-private partnership. WRP earned a fee for the work, calculated as 15% of the reduction in the amount the municipality had to pay its bulk water supplier.

• The project enabled the municipality to redirect a proportion of its savings to upgrading old infrastructure, while the community enjoyed savings on its water bills.