George Municipality seeks global solutions to tackle water crisis
George engineer Esethu Nyamankulu brings back global water innovation insights from Singapore study tour.
Image: Supplied
With dam levels having dropped sharply earlier this year and water restrictions in place, George Municipality is turning to international expertise to strengthen long-term water resilience and service delivery.
The move comes as local water resources remain under pressure following below-normal rainfall, highlighting the need for both immediate demand management and longer-term solutions.
Against this backdrop, the municipality has highlighted the international experience of Esethu Nyamankulu, a senior process controller at its water treatment works, who was selected for the Young Engineers Changemakers Programme run by the Water Research Commission.
Nyamankulu was among eight young municipal engineers chosen nationwide to take part in the programme, which aims to build innovation and technical capacity in South Africa’s water sector.
As part of the programme’s international exchange phase, he participated in a study tour to Singapore from March 16 to 20, engaging with institutions including TÜV SÜD and the NUS Environmental Research Institute.
The initiative focuses on equipping engineers with skills to address key municipal challenges, including improving access to safe drinking water, reducing water losses, tackling ageing infrastructure, and advancing wastewater treatment and reuse technologies.
Reflecting on the experience, Nyamankulu said the exposure to global best practice offered valuable insights for local application.
“The exposure to advanced membrane technologies and water reuse systems showed how municipalities can improve water security and sustainability. Singapore’s ability to treat domestic wastewater to potable standards highlights the value of integrating technology with water conservation strategies,” he said.
He added that these insights could support diversifying George’s water sources beyond the Garden Route Dam, while strengthening existing infrastructure such as the ultrafiltration plant at the Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Works.
Nyamankulu also highlighted the value of circular economy approaches observed during the visit.
“Exposure to circular economy practices and waste-to-resource technologies demonstrated how municipalities can address landfill constraints and improve resource recovery. Singapore’s approach to converting municipal solid waste into reusable materials offers practical solutions to reduce landfill pressure. In George, this can support extending landfill lifespan while creating value from waste,” he said.
According to the municipality, the knowledge gained will feed into ongoing initiatives focused on responsible water use, infrastructure reliability and long-term sustainability.
Director of Civil Engineering Services Jannie Koegelenberg said the municipality recognised the importance of investing in technical expertise to benefit communities.
“Further insights from the programme will be incorporated into municipal operations and planning processes,” he said.
The move reflects wider concerns about water resilience in the province, as municipalities face growing pressure to secure sustainable supply amid climate variability and rising demand.