By HOMELAND MEDIA TEAM
As the countdown begins for the 22nd African Water and Sanitation Association International Congress and Exhibition (AFWASA-ICE 2025), various participants are eager to share their knowledge and expertise to foster synergy in improving access to drinking water for people in Africa.
The congress, themed “Water and Sanitation for All: A Secure Future for Africa,” will be held at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Kampala, Uganda, from February 16 to 20, 2025. This event offers professionals from across Africa and beyond the opportunity to exchange knowledge, experiences, innovations, and breakthroughs that will help accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG6), ensuring a secure future for the continent.
According to Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), the congress will also inaugurate the African Water and Sanitation Academy (AFWASA) in Kampala, Uganda.
“This is another vehicle to build the capacity necessary for providing safe water and sanitation services for all in Africa,” said MD Silver Mugisha during the recently concluded 94th AFWASA meeting in September 2024.
He added that the conference has prepared an enriching program designed to facilitate dialogue, networking, and reflection. “The program will include technical sessions, poster presentations, special forums, a high-level symposium, and workshops,” the MD stated.
One successful participant following the recent call for abstracts on various topics related to water and sanitation is Waiswa Magumba, a staff member at NWSC.
He is scheduled to give a poster presentation under the Water Management track on his article titled “The Impact and Mitigating Strategies for Non-Revenue Water,” which addresses the challenges of non-revenue water (NRW) and proposes practical solutions.
In an interview, Magumba praised the NWSC’s top management, led by Congress President and Managing Director Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, for their creative and innovative approaches within the utility sector. He highlighted the exhibition’s significance and shared his research, which focuses on minimizing water loss due to leakage, unauthorized consumption, and meter inaccuracies—issues that result in financial losses, inefficient resource utilization, and increased pressure on water supply systems.
Recent research indicates that NRW in the Kampala Water zone averages between 37% and 46.2% as of May 2023, significantly exceeding the World Bank’s recommended level of 25%.
Magumba stressed the importance of identifying gaps and adopting practical, time-sensitive strategies to address NRW. He plans to advocate for a comprehensive approach centered around three major pillars: infrastructure, demand-side management, and technological advancements.
He believes that implementing advanced metering infrastructure and smart metering systems will enable accurate measurement and monitoring of water consumption. Real-time data collection and analysis could help identify consumption patterns, detect anomalies, and pinpoint areas with high NRW.
Magumba suggested that regular maintenance and calibration of meters are necessary to ensure accurate readings. Additionally, he recommended that a specialized team oversee both the assessment and planning phases as well as the implementation process.
Non-revenue water refers to water losses resulting from leakage, unauthorized consumption, and meter inaccuracies, which lead to financial losses, inefficient resource utilization, and increased strain on water supply systems.
The African Water and Sanitation Association (AFWASA) is a professional association comprising organizations, enterprises, and utilities involved in the areas of drinking water, sanitation, and environmental management throughout Africa. AFWASA has over 237 members, including 100 utilities from more than 40 countries across the continent.
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