Cement & Concrete SA’s (CSSA) CPD-accredited Concrete Working for Water Roadshow will facilitate important discussions around the looming water crisis that the country is facing to help to identify and bring to the fore durable responses.
The events will be held in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg in February 2024.
Together with the electricity shortage, the water crisis poses the biggest socio and economic risk to the country. It is being exacerbated by the challenge to retain and attract investment that is needed to implement solutions.
At present, 19% of the rural population does not have access to a reliable water supply and 33% of people residing in these areas do not have basic sanitation services. While rural citizens suffer the most, more than 26% of all schools and 45% of clinics in the country also do not have access to a regular and secure supply of water.
This backlog in essential service-delivery infrastructure continues to grow. By 2030, demand for water in South Africa is anticipated to increase by 17,7-billion m³. This will result in as much as a 17% shortfall between supply and demand.
Sponsored by AfriSam and Corestruc, leading experts from both the public and private sectors will present on a broad range of topics. These will highlight best practice and innovation in the design and application of concrete to deliver robust water and sanitation infrastructure. CCSA members, abe, Penetron, Euclid, Nyeleti, Verni and Xypex, will have their product ranges on display at the events where delegates will be able to interact with technical experts.
Speakers from the public sector include Nkosingiphile Cele, acting executive: Operations of uMngeni-uThukela Water board; Mike Killick, director of Bulk Services of the City of Cape Town; Leisel Bowes, area project manager of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality; and Wessel van Rensburg, deputy chief engineer of the Department of Water & Sanitation.
They will be joined by industry stalwarts, Dr Rod Rankine, a prominent construction materials specialist; Matteo Angelucci, a structural engineer at Zutari; Dr Frank Denys, technical specialist: Dams at Zutari; Alan Chemaly, specialist engineer: Dams at Zutari; and Willie de Jager, MD of Corestruc.
Esteemed water-resource management expert, environmental advisor, speaker and author, Dr Anthony Turton’s keynote address will set the scene by focusing on the extent of the water dilemma and the way forward to avert a potential disaster.
Bryan Perrie, CEO of CSSA, will provide an update on the cementitious materials for concrete standards.
Hanlie Turner, business development manager at CCSA, says highlighting the vital role concrete plays in providing cost-effective and durable infrastructure for fresh water supplies, as well as wastewater treatment facilities, is of significance for the agricultural and industrial sectors. Designers, specifiers, contractors, farmers and material suppliers will all benefit from the information being shared.
“Our CPD-accredited Concrete Working for Water Roadshow will provide an important platform to discuss the pressing issues at hand but, more importantly, focus on finding real solutions to the problem,” Turner concludes.
