1. Briefing the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation on the
Blue Drop Progress Report
Presented by:
Mr Dan Mashitisho
Director-General
26 January 2017
PRESENTATION TITLE
Presented by:
Name Surname
Directorate
Date

2. CONTENTS Background Blue Drop Assessment Criteria
National trends since inception
Provincial Performances
2014 Blue Drop Risk Rating (BDRR)
Distribution of the number of systems per risk category (BDRR)
Recommendations
Way Forward

3. Background Blue Drop Certification Programme
Incentive- based regulatory programme initiated in 2008;
seeks to amalgamate legal requirements and best practices within the domain of drinking water quality management towards sustainable improvement;
Includes implementation of risk management.

4. Background (cont)
In spite of relatively good performance since inception, challenges remain in:
Process Controlling:
Insufficient skilled process controllers;
Vacancies.
Monitoring:
Inconsistent and Insufficient monitoring compromising good performance;
Data uploading on Blue Drop System (analytical results not loaded under correct programme or results not loaded at all).
Water Services Institutions not always sufficiently prepared for adverse incidents.
Lack of investment on infrastructure.
Vandalism of infrastructure.

5. Blue Drop Assessment criteria
Weight
Key parameters
Water Safety Planning
(risk management addressing associated risks from catchment to point of use)
35%
Water Safety planning process
Risk assessment
Monitoring programme
Credibility of data
Incident management
Process Management & control 8%
Works classification compliance
Process control registration
WTW Logbook
Process control training

6. Blue Drop Assessment criteria (cont)
Weight
Key parameters
Drinking water quality verification
30%
Microbiological compliance
Chemical compliance
Operational compliance
Aesthetic compliance (bonus)
Management accountability & local regulation
10%
Management commitment
Publication of performance
Service Level Agreement/PA
Submission of data

7. Blue Drop Assessment criteria (cont)
Weight
Key parameters
Asset Management
14%
Annual process audit
Asset register
Availability & competence of maintenance team
O& M manuals
O & M budget & expenditure
Design capacity vs operational capacity
Water use efficiency & loss management 3%
Water Demand Management Strategy & implementation
Water Balance

8. National Trends since inception
Performance Category
2009
2010
2011
2012
2014*
Current analysis
National BD Score
51.4
67.2
72.9
87.6
79.6
Number of WSAs assessed
107
153
162
152
Number of systems assessed
402
787
914
931
1036
Number of Blue Drops awarded 25 38 66 98 44
*- 2013, no BD Report, however it was the initial Blue Drop Pat report (unpublished)

9. Provincial Performance
Province
Provincial Blue Drop Score
Gauteng
92%
Western Cape
89%
Kwa - Zulu Natal
86%
Free State
75%
Eastern Cape
72%
Mpumalanga
69%
Northern Cape
68%
North West
63%
Limpopo
62%

10. Gauteng
10 Water Services Authorities (WSAs) with 29 systems (supported by Rand Water in 17 systems, Magalies Water in 3 & Joburg Water in 2 systems);
Blue Drop (BD) score declined by 6% compared to 2012 from 98% to 92% in 2014;
9 systems achieved BD status compared to 16 in 2012.

11. Eastern Cape
16 WSAs with 155 water supply systems (supported by Amatola Water in 66 systems);
BD score declined by 10% from 82% in 2012 to 72% in 2014;
No system achieved BD status;
However, improvements were observed in Chris Hani DM, Koukamma & OR Tambo DM;
Only 1 system (Ikhwezi LM) in critical state compared to 50 in 2012 & 25 in 2013.

12. Free State
20 WSAs with 79 water supply systems supported by Bloem Water (16) , Sedibeng Water (9) Maluti a Phofung Water (3) & Rand Water (2);
BD score declined by 7.2% from 82% in 2012 to 75% in 2014;
6 water supply systems achieved the BD status;
No system in critical risk category.

13. Kwa-Zulu Natal
14 WSAs with 209 water supply systems supported by Umgeni Water (31), uMhlathuze Water(2), uThukela Water (34), Water and Sanitation Services SA (89), Amajuba LM (5) & Abaqulusi (5);
BD score decreased from 92% in 2012 to 86% in 2014;
8 systems attained the BD status;
2 systems (Donnybrook & Highflats-Harry Gwala LM) in critical risk category compared to 13 in 2012.

14. Limpopo
11 WSAs with 74 water supply systems supported by Lepelle Water (21) & Magalies Water (4);
Substantial decline in Provincial BD score from 79% in 2012 to 62% in 2014;
1 system (Polokwane) attained BD status compared to 9 in 2012;
2 systems (Mahwelereng & Mogalakwena rural) in critical risk category compared to 11 in 2012 & 32 in low risk category.

15. Mpumalanga
18 WSAs with 100 water supply systems supported by Rand Water (5), Bushbuckridge Water (13), Sembcorp Silulumanzi (5) & City of Tshwane (4);
BD score increased from 60.9% in 2012 to 69.9% in 2014;
9 systems attained BD status;
1 system (Greater Dipaleseng) in critical risk category compared to 20 in 2012.

16. Northern Cape
27 WSAs with 173 water supply systems supported by Sedibeng Water & private mines;
2 supply systems attained BD status (//Khara Hais LM- AH September & Ntsikelelo);
4systems[(Onseepkans/Melkbosrand/Viljoenskraal & Witbank- Khai-Ma LM), Andriesvale & Swakopdam – Mier LM –in critical risk category compared to 40 in 2012 and 38 in low risk category compared to 2 in 2012.

17. North West
11 WSAs with 95 water supply systems supported by Sedibeng Water, Magalies Water, Botshelo Water, Rand Water, Lekwa Taemane, City of Tshwane, Midvaal Water Company;
BD score substantially declined from 79% in 2012 to 63% in 2014;
1 system (Tlokwe) attained BD status;
16 systems in critical risk category compared to 49 in 2012;
15 systems in low risk compared to 3 in 2012.

18. Western Cape 25 WSAs with 122 water supply systems;
BD score declined from 94% in 2012 to 89% in 2014;
8 water supply systems attained BD status;
Systems in low risk category declined from 79 in 2013 to 53.

19. 2014 Blue Drop Risk Rating (BDRR)
BDRR serves as a precautionary tool for water services authorities to implement strategic and operational decisions to improve service delivery or mitigate identified risks.
It should not be confused with the Blue Drop status, but the latter may not be achieved without meeting the requirements of the BDRR (water safety planning, technical skills and drinking water quality compliance).

20. Distribution of the number of systems per risk category (BDRR)
BDRR improved compared to 2012 as follows:
A reduction in the number of critical system from 234 systems to 26 systems.
The number of systems in the high risk category also decreased from 580 to 249.
At the same time the number of systems in the low risk category increased from 16 to 365.

21. Recommendations
The decline in systems moving out of critical risk category is encouraging even though there is a decline in systems achieving Blue Drop status. The ff interventions should be prioritized by WSAs:
Monitoring & data uploading to be prioritised and aligned to SANS 241;
Implement water safety planning;
Improve compliance of final water; and
Source relevant technical skills.

22. Recommendations Medium to long-term interventions (WSAs):
Operational capacity within treatment plants need focused attention;
Infrastructure asset management;
Enhancement of funding to address.
O& M, and
related financial investment aligned to technology in use & infrastructure.

23. Way forward 2015 Blue Drop progress report Assessments done
Draft Report expected by end April 2017
2016 Blue Drop Progress Assessment Tool (BD PAT)
Training of assessors done
Assessments to be initiated during Quarter 4 (January 2017)
Draft Report expected by end October 2017

24. THANK YOU