Reports Mail & Guardian; “The Gift of the Givers Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality are working together on urgent interventions to “avert a humanitarian crisis” in the drought-hit metro.
The metro is edging closer towards Day Zero, which will see it run out of water within weeks, affecting more than a third of its population. The Impofu Dam has been decommissioned because of low levels, while the Churchill Dam has eight days until it runs dry and the Loerie Dam has 40 days. Total dam storage levels are at 11.98%.”
This makes for grim reading but it’s just the tip of the sand dune.
The recent floods in KZN and worldwide instability of weather patterns offer a stark and continuous reminder that climate change is bound to bring more floods, droughts and other disasters to our doorsteps that will surely disrupt services to citizens.
Being on the ground in KZN was horrific,” says Grant Durose, General Manager – Business Development. “While the destruction was wide-spread, it is the less affluent areas and their ability to recover that will most likely feel the pain for longer. It was in these locations where our help was most needed and we will continue to do what we can to assist wherever possible.”
While it is true that, from a public services perspective, South Africa can (and should) perform better in future-proofing our communities against all types of disruptions – the reality is that some circumstances are beyond control, requiring sufficient and well-laid backup plans are in place – such as the provision of temporary sanitation facilities at a moment’s notice.
When taps run dry, or infrastructure is damaged/not maintained it has a direct and negative impact on the environment and the general population’s state of health – with lack of adequate facilities leading to the pollution of natural water resource and the spread of disease.
This type of scenario is a real problem and something that has to be addressed as national crises.
- To put it into perspective; over and above the weather-induced-basic sanitation-challenges – the state of our sewerage-treatment plants is cause for alarm, with News24.com reporting that “Half of South Africa’s sewage treatment works are failing”.
- The 2022 Green Drop report revealed that wastewater compliance has plummeted since the last report in 2013.
- Billions of litres of this raw or partially treated waste empties into our rivers and the sea every year.
“After a nine-year hiatus, the long-awaited Green Drop report paints a bleak picture,” writes Steve Kretzmann. “Half of wastewater treatment works in South Africa fail to treat sewage properly and, in many cases, fail to treat it at all.
Anthony Turton, of the Centre for Environmental Management at the University of the Free State, says this represents “a tsunami of human waste inundating our rivers and dams, without respite, for more than a decade”.
Clear and Present Danger
To quote the 1994 Harrison Ford movie, “this situation represents a clear and present danger” (a risk or threat to safety or other public interests that is serious and imminent) to the people of South Africa.
Considering the state of play it is sure to require a significant collaboration between the public and private sector (and loads of political will) to firstly stabilise our infrastructure performance before moving it forward, rapidly.
While those plans are critical and a must – along with swift and decisive execution – we will still need to provide adequate ablutions that do not add further harm to the environment to workplaces and communities around the country.
The need for reliable, knowledge-driven and project-focused toilet hire services is obvious.
Independence Day
“In a nutshell, we supply and service portable chemical toilets to customers who do not have any formal sanitation,” says Neal Sewnarian, COO of Bidvest Coastal in relation to the company’s Toilet Hire Services.
Considering the current state of disaster, specifically in Nelson Mandela Bay but also in other areas around the country, it is prudent for companies and municipalities to audit their own response readiness and capabilities.
“Our well-experienced team, supported with the availability of Toilet Hire & Sanitation services, are ready to take hands with other role players, working towards temporary solutions to overcome the impact of a Day Zero water crisis in our region,” says Christo Ross, Branch Manager – Special Projects and Toilet Hire Eastern Cape.
“With our expertise across a wide range of technologies and use-cases, Bidvest Prestige is well-placed to offer sound advice and/or assist with eventuality planning.”
“Basic sanitation is a basic human right”
By working together, looking forward and avoiding the blame game we can avoid much future hardships – delivering that blockbuster infrastructure performance that every citizen deserves.