Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Water and Waste Water Management

With dwindling water sources and a high incidence of drought, South Africa’s water sector is highly vulnerable to climate change. The project makes South Africa’s water and wastewater sector more resilient to the impacts of climate change. It introduces adaptation and energy efficiency measures that contribute to realizing national climate change objectives and respond to vulnerable groups’ development needs. By expanding water and energy resource efficiency gains, introducing clean energy, reducing water losses, strengthening management capacities, and raising awareness on climate resilience, water and sanitation services are enhanced, particularly for vulnerable groups. Activities target at least two municipalities and result in a replicable model for more municipalities. The project supports the Department of Water and Sanitation to progress more rapidly, effectively and on the basis of improved knowledge with the implementation of its National Water and Sanitation Master Plan.

Project data

Countries: South Africa
IKI funding: 2,900,000.00 €
Duration: 08/2022 till 10/2026
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: Department for Water and Sanitation (DWS) - South Africa
Implementing Partner: South African Local Government Association (SALGA) - South Africa

Water Research Commission (WRC)

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State of implementation/results

An international consulting consortium focusing on non-revenue water (NRW), water conservation, stormwater management, tariffs, sludge management, and informal settlement sanitation began work in March 2025. Financed by the project, data loggers were installed at 101 strategic points across the George and uMhlathuze networks to identify NRW hotspots over 3 months.
NRW baseline performance was established at 39% (George) and 63% (uMhlathuze). Based on technical assessments, priority interventions were identified jointly with both municipalities, and procurement of key equipment to be financed by the project, including water meters and pressure reduction valves, was initiated. Both municipalities contribute with additional equipment, George by installing bulk meters to measure supply to informal settlements, uMhlathuze installed water meters in one hotspot area.
Operational assessments of five wastewater treatment plants in uMhlathuze determined training needs and priority interventions. NRW significantly exceeds the national average and poses a material financial risk, governance interventions are considered as critical as infrastructure investment. The project advised on establishing a cross-departmental NRW governance structure, which was subsequently approved by the Municipal Council
A situational analysis was completed for sanitation in informal settlements in George to inform the selection of suitable non-sewered sanitation solutions.
On April 10th 2025, the project facilitated a roundtable between LCCR Water partner municipalities and national stakeholders including the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), National Treasury, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Water Research Commission (WRC), and Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent. This identified opportunities for enhanced support and policy alignment, initiating discussions between DBSA and both George (sanitation in informal settlements and water reuse) and uMhlathuze (water reuse).-- On 28th May 2025, the project in cooperation with Drakenstein Municipality organised a 1-day peer learning event on NRW. With NRW levels around 20%, Drakenstein is amongst the best performing municipalities in South Africa. The municipality shared its success factors and participating municipalities discussed their own experiences and transferability to their local context. Participants included senior finance and technical staff from George, uMhlathuze, Newcastle, JB Marks and Drakenstein.
On 21st August 2025, the project in cooperation with George Municipality organised a 1-day peer-learning on smart water meters. George Municipality shared experiences from installing 8,000 smart meters, presenting successes, challenges, and practical solutions to participants from eight municipalities plus DWS, WRC, and University of KwaZulu-Natal representatives.
On 19th August the project organised a joint training for George and uMhlathuze on the development of wastewater management assessment tools becoming mandatory under DWS regulations. Participants included infrastructure services, human settlements departments of both municipalities, and DWS sanitation directorate staff.
On 4th and 5th September 2025, the project in cooperation with the City of Cape Town organised a peer-learning on sanitation in informal settlements for participants from George and uMhlathuze.
An operational assessment of uMhlathuze's wastewater treatment plants identified significant challenges resulting in non-compliance with effluent standards. The municipality's largest plant was flagged as the most urgent case. A pre-feasibility study for its refurbishment was developed by the project and approved by the Municipal Council.
A draft Stormwater Management Guideline — incorporating sponge city principles — was prepared for George and is under review by the relevant municipal departments. In parallel, the project is supporting the municipality in revising its Stormwater Policy and By-laws. In October 2025, representatives from George and uMhlathuze went on a study visit to Hamburg to engage with the city on its sponge city transition and stormwater management practices.
Drawing on experience from tariff assessments in George and uMhlathuze, the project was requested by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to support the development of national water and sanitation tariff guidelines. A first draft was submitted for internal review.
The National Climate Change Response Strategy for the Water and Sanitation Sector was endorsed in 2025. DWS and the project agreed on organising a Climate Champions training for representatives from all provincial offices of DWS to facilitate the country-wide implementation of the strategy. A training provider was procured, and training is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2026.
The project facilitated uMhlathuze's inclusion in Phase 2 of the EU Water Operator's Partnership, building on the successful first phase between Durban and Hamburg Wasser. Approved in February 2026, the partnership will bring additional technical expertise from Hamburg, Bremen, and Durban to uMhlathuze's operations.