Report on the Analysis of Geographic Information Systems
Of Water Services Institutions in the Eastern Cape

For the full report click here

The primary objective of this report is to design a model or framework for building a spatial information system in the Eastern Cape and at District Municipality (DM) level, that would provide decision and operational support to DMs in implementing, managing, and operating their water services.

"Water services" is defined in this report to mean water and sanitation services.

Cognisance has been has been taken of recent reports and studies undertaken in the Eastern Cape. Most of this work has been commissioned by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). The most significant outcomes of these studies are as follows:

• There are several good quality spatial data sets that are readily available for use in a spatial database, including demographic, topographic, rivers, clinics, etc. A summary is attached as Annexure C to the main report.
• There is a need for more collaboration and communication between GIS stakeholders and government to define policy for sharing of data, spatial data standards and strategies for implementing GIS.
• The information needs of DMs are dependant on a spatial framework.
• A new business model based on an integrated approach to service delivery is to be implemented at DWAF. A spatially enabled National Information System is a key enabler of this new integrated approach.

The GIS capacity at DM level varies from poor to good. Three of the six District Municipalities have poor GIS capacity, whereas only the Western District Municipality has good GIS capacity.

The existence and condition of spatial data is poor at O R Tambo, Amatola and uKwahlambe District Municipalities, fair at Chris Hani and E G Kei District Municipalities, and good at the Western District Municipality. There is however little as-built information of pipeline infrastructure anywhere in the province.

Generally there is little recognition of the value of data standards throughout organisations that are involved with spatial information systems.

Detailed DM capability reports are attached as Annexure B to the main report.

An integrated Geographic Information (GI) model has been proposed that recognises the existing state of preparedness of each of the DMs and the provincial departments, in using information as a resource to plan for, manage and operate water services.

The main features of this model are:

• The system design makes use of the latest internet GIS technology and incorporates a very pragmatic yet effective strategy of empowering DMs to have access to a broad spectrum of water services information.
• The system design is based on an open architecture that will enable any stakeholder in the water services industry (Catchment Management Authorities, Water Services Providers, Consulting Engineers, Councillors, etc.) to use information stored in the central database, in a manner customised to his or her own particular requirements.
• The system proposed is a saleable solution, which means that the system can be built on over time as the needs of users change and evolve.
• Data maintenance procedures will be implemented to ensure that the central database is updated as soon as changes affecting water services or customer profiles occur.

Arrangements will also be made with the main data owners (Statistics South Africa, Chief Director: Surveys & Mapping, etc.) to ensure that updates to the base data sets are supplied as soon as these updates are completed.

The organisational structure designed to manage the system will ensure the following:

1. Strong organisational learning within the DWAF Regional Office in terms of data management and technical GIS skills.
2. Training and mentoring of DM GIS staff
3. Training and guidance of consulting engineers and water service providers in the use of GIS technology.

The budget for implementing this model is approximately R4.0 million, over a timeframe of 3 years. A detailed budget breakdown is given in the report.

The main benefits of implementing a GI system can be summarised as follows:

1. The model provides a readily accessible information framework that will enable DMs to efficiently design and implement their Water Services Development Plans (WSDP) for their areas. The model also provides for the facility (by virtue of the spatial component of the database, to integrate Water Services Development Plans into a provincial view for access by the regional office of DWAF and by other stakeholders. This facility is in line with DWAF's national information strategy of integrating WSDP's at a local, provincial and national level.
2. The spatial database will be designed using internationally accepted standards and open GIS principals. This will enable the transfer of information to be customised to the requirement of particular interest groups, for example, catchment management authorities, water service providers, etc.
3. The model provides for timeous maintenance of the spatial database, whenever updates occur, as a result of construction of new works, maintenance or maintenance of assets.
4. DMs will, immediately on implementation, have access to spatial information relevant to their water services and will have the facilities to properly plan for, manage and operate their water service facilities. The level of interaction with the system is initially graded from a relatively limited Internet browser application (in the case of O R Tambo and uKwahlamaba District Municipalities) , to full GIS capability (in the case of the Western District Municipality).
5. The use of consultants to operate the central clearinghouse will be of limited duration. The central clearinghouse function will be integrated into DWAF's GIS structure within the period of three years.

Recommendations
It is recommended that:

1. MAAP recognise the need to implement a GIS as described in this report, that will provide the framework for DMs to plan for, manage and operate their water services, and provide the ability for DWAF to regulate the use of water services.
2. Central to the implementation of the GIS system is a need for the DMs to implement a basic level of GIS support infrastructure. It is specifically recommended as part of this report that at least one GIS technician/specialist post is created within each DM to support this infrastructure. It is also recommended that Internet connectivity be upgraded to a full time on-line system that will cater for two- way communications between GI stakeholders.
3. A budget of approximately R4.0 million be secured to implement this system over a 3 year period.
4. MAAP confirm the use of DWAF's facilities for the location of the proposed central GIS system and accommodation of GIS consultants to be employed to implement and manage this system over a 3 year period.
5. Steps be taken to engage GIS consultants to implement and operate the system as proposed.
6. A project steering committee be formed with representation from the DWAF directorates of Macro Planning and Information Services, and Geomatics as well as a representative from the Office of the Premier in the Eastern Cape.