GeoWaQu project

Via Water Café @ SOMAGEP ()

SOMAGEP-SA & World Waternet co organized the 5th Via Water Café back in February 2019. All Malian 4 project owners, financed by Via Water, convene in a day long learning event in Bamako. They received training on pitching, team composition after sharing within the hub project updates. They also conducted a field visit to SOMAGEP-SA drinking water treatment plant at Djicoroni Para (Bamako). All with the objective to prepare the innovators for the continuation of their project after the VIA Water programme ends for them. By the way, they pitched their project in front of large public during a cocktail supported by Dutch embassy.

Training Distribution staff using Akvo Flow

GeoWaQu @ SOMAGEP is drinking water quality mapping project. The objective is geolocating water quality from raw water (source) to produced water and finally distributed water (at the tap of the final consumer).

We had some challenges regarding accuracy of results between field measurements and lab analysis. Thanks to the joint effort of all project partners (SOMAGEP-SA, Waternet and Akvo), all problems were solved. Then, the project was successfully implemented and all activities completed. Moreover, with extra effort from SOMAGEP-SA we save some money that have been used to equip new staff with water analysis devices. Also, we organized workshop on water quality while fixing leakage on drinking water distribution pipes.

WaterWorX: Non-Revenue Water

I represented our team at the 1^st international conference on Intermittent Water Supply (IWS) in Kampala from April 7^th to 9^th organized by IWA. The transition to water supply 24x7 was at the heart of the debates to eradicate this scourge that affects 90% of the African people. Presentations, workshops, networking, etc. all ingredients were together for a holistic approach to tackle this worldwide problem.

Following in the same place, was the side event organized by WaterWorX April 10^th and 11^th to share knowledge within freshly created hub: NRW WWX to minimize the water loss from the production plant till the consumer.

Around the world, many water utilities are struggling with NRW which is the quantity of potable water lost between the treatment plant and the final consumer (because of leaks, counting error, bad billing, etc.). For some African utilities, NRW is about 40% in average. In other words, 40% volume of total produced water is not charged. One major recommendation was a NRW team full time dedicated to this multidimensional problem touching production, distribution, billing and of course quality of drinking water. Up to date, in many water utilities no one is in charge full time and aforesaid departments are all focused on their respective objectives.

The only way to have best Performance Possible is with sustainable approach that is a combination of strategic investments and sustained practices.