Johannesburg had already saved more than 16,5 million kilolitres of water, worth R46-million, through Operation Gcin'amanzi in Soweto, Executive Mayor Amos Masondo told a summit of fellow leaders in New York on 15 May.
Masondo is attending the C40 Large Cities Summit on climate change in the US city. Mayors, governors and representatives from 45 of the world's largest cities are at the four-day event, running from 14 to 17 May, where they are discussing issues related to water and energy conservation, the reduction of carbon emissions and alternative energy sources.
The summit is aimed at sharing knowledge on combating global warming while ensuring economic benefits for cities. Masondo sat on Panel 3, with the theme "Keeping the tap running without running the well dry".
With some world cities losing 30 percent or more of the water pumped through leakage, theft and lack of maintenance of systems, the panel focused on how cities could make water systems more efficient.
The other panellists were the governor of Tokyo, in Japan, Shintaro Ishihara; and the mayor of Austin, in the US, Will Wynn. Former US president Bill Clinton delivered the key note address.
Lost water
Masondo said Operation Gcin'amanzi was launched in 2001 to focus on unaccounted for water within the city's reticulation network. Because of ageing infrastructure millions of litres of water were "lost" each year through underground leakages or burst pipes.
This led the City to set up a comprehensive campaign to replace old infrastructure, fix household leaks and install pre-paid water meters to help residents manage their domestic water consumption.
"This project has already reduced bulk purchases from Rand Water and we have created 11 500 jobs since its inception," Masondo said.
Rand Water supplies water to Joburg. It is then distributed by the City's Johannesburg Water utility.
"We are well on our way to meeting our target of [only] 25 percent unaccounted for water by 2011."
Johannesburg had also introduced stringent measures to reduce commercial water losses through leak detection and repairs within 24 hours, pipe surveys covering more than 7 000 kilometres of the water network every year, corrosion protection and the replacement of old and worn out infrastructure.
Changing weather
Masondo said the City was "acutely aware" of the impact of climate change and changing weather and rainfall patterns on the urban landscape. "We are also aware that unless we do something now, future generations will suffer the wrath of our irresponsible actions."
In addition, Joburg was focusing very strongly on reducing energy demand, aiming to cut electricity consumption by 25 megawatt hours over the next five years. Its actions included:
Johannesburg's mayor called on other delegates to become involved in the "global struggle" to stop the effects of climate change. "Let us work together and provide guidance and leadership by demonstrating that by thinking globally and acting locally, we can change the world."
Other speakers included New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; London Mayor Ken Livingstone; Chicago Mayor Richard Daley; and Toronto Mayor David Miller.
First summit
The first C40 Large Cities Climate Summit was held in London in October 2005. It aimed to create long-term international collaborations between large cities to cut carbon emissions and to encourage partnerships with businesses and national governments to accelerate action on climate change.
Representatives from Beijing, Chicago, Johannesburg, New York, Paris and Sao Paolo attended, as well as representatives from exemplar cities, such as Seattle and Stockholm, which are at the forefront of efforts to reverse climate change.
The C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group was formed at the first summit, which entered a partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI).
According to the C40 Large Cities Summit website, cities are responsible for three-quarters of the world's energy consumption and, therefore, must play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions and reversing dangerous climate change.
The CCI is working with members of the C40 to develop and implement a range of programmes that will quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The C40 and the CCI are expected to announce important global initiatives during the summit. Plenary sessions will serve as forums for the exchange of ideas about the summit's broad themes, namely: the rationale for taking action; economic development and job creation; communication; and innovative financing.
Panel sessions will serve as platforms for the exchange of city-to-city, business-to-city and business-to-business practices.
Source: joburg.org.za
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