A few years ago, Capetonians were faced with an unprecedented crisis in the form of a water shortage. Thankfully, the Day Zero crisis had been averted, but the rationing and – at that time – impending shortage of a natural resource has lead many to question when this could happen in other cities around the world.
The major drought southern Africa endured in recent years has made water an urgent topic of conversation at dinner tables and on social media. After all, water is even more critical to our health and wellbeing than power… that other critical topic.
Will we ever face water shedding in southern Africa? Can we trust the quality of our water? Are our dams full enough to see us through this pandemic and any other future unprecedented global moment which might bring more never-before-seen challenges?
WISA2020, the Water Institute of Southern Africa’s Biennial Conference and Exhibition – which will be a 100% virtual conference this year – will be held from 7-11 December.
This is the region’s biggest water sector event and WISA will be bringing leaders, professionals, researchers and other stakeholders together to thrash out vital issues in the field and provide ideas, solutions and new ways of thinking about how to answer many burning questions around water.
The theme of the conference reflects a universal interest and an urgent need for engagement in water matters: “#AllHandsOnDeck”.
All of us, whoever we are, share a need for “a reliable, clean supply of water and sanitation systems that work,” says Dr Marlene van der Merwe-Botha, Chair of WISA2020’s Technical Committee and past-president of WISA. “The intention of our theme is to place the emphasis on doing, on action, on implementation. We want to bring together all the actors in the water sector and related sectors, to engage outside of their boundaries but within a connected space, to ensure we create a sustainable water service and water future for South and southern Africa.”
Echoing the concept of renewed action and innovative change, the programme has been stripped of much of the protocols and rituals we’ve come to expect from conferences. This year WISA2020 is going virtual, with an exciting programme which includes presentations by an impressive array of speakers, e-exhibitions and posters, exhibition offers and discounts, and an opportunity to make the most of multiple one-on-one networking opportunities. There are so many benefits to the virtual world, including unlimited access to all the conference sessions and discussions – even after the event is over.
With the December conference fast approaching, we encourage you to book your tickets and look out for those early bird prices that will make WISA2020 an even more affordable and unforgettable experience. You don’t want to miss this year’s instalment!
Delegates will be able to enjoy sessions that follow these six topics:
- Govern and Regulate the sector – Dr Inga Jacobs-Mata
- Reduce water demand and increase supply – Zama Siqalaba
- Manage the resource for a capable ecology – Chris Swartz
- Develop skills and technology innovations – Prof Evans Chirwa
- Manage and monitor effective water and sanitation services – Dr Marlene vd Merwe-Botha
- Improve raw water quality and management – Dr Michele Kruger
Take a look at the detailed programme or head over to the WISA 2020 website for more information.
