By Nangamso Mabindla
11 April 2006

IN an effort to improve its water supply and sanitation services, Buffalo City has set up the Water Services Authority (WSA) in the City's directorate of engineering services.

The municipality was authorised as a Water Service Authority in terms of the Municipal Structures Act of 1998, in July 1993. The manager, Sandile Booi, said the new authority would deal with policies, planning for water services and ensuring that by-laws were in place and that the City complied with legislation related to water services.

"The citizens are also going to benefit from this new department. If they need by-laws and policies on water services, we are the right department for that.

"We will look at environmental requirements on new water services-related projects supported by the integrated environment and management plan unit, facilitate the preparation of the health and hygiene programme for the City and monitor the use of water [water conservation]," Booi said.

The authority's functions are monitored by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, using the WSA Legislative Compliance Check List.

Booi said that although his department was still new, the water services by-laws and the sanitation policy, both key documents of the WSA check list, were in final draft form.

"The intention is that the council will approve these documents not later than the end of June 2006."

The WSA manager was appointed in 2004, and the City plans to have the unit fully staffed, with about 80 people, during the 2007-06 financial year. At present some of the activities that will be performed by the WSA are being done by the water and waste water units.

The new department will work closely with other municipal departments that are involved in the delivery of water services and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.