WECISA News

The Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAGCC) invites qualified experts to submit proposals for participation in the WECISA project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) as part of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection (EXI). 

The project aims to support commercial and industrial companies in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to assess their water consumption, develop water management policies and plans, and implement short-term efficiency measures. 

Two experts — one for the commercial and one for the industrial sector — will be appointed to provide technical guidance through workshops, on-site assessments, metering strategies, and ongoing monitoring. 

Interested experts must submit their proposals by 21 July 2025 (close of business). 

2–4 September 2025 - Water Efficiency Workshop in Johannesburg 

From 2–4 September 2025, WECISA hosted its Water Efficiency Workshop at our Johannesburg offices, bringing together industrial and commercial companies, technical experts, and specialist facilitators to drive meaningful progress in water efficiency across Southern Africa. 

Over the three‑day programme, participants deepened their understanding of water efficiency concepts, learned from industry case studies, engaged with the ISO 46001 standard, and developed company‑specific water management policies and plans. 

A sincere thank‑you to our project experts AQUAffection and BBEnergy, whose guidance and technical expertise were central to the success of the workshop. 

We also extend our appreciation to the German companies DQS, Sewerin (represented locally by SA Leak Detection), and Diehl Metering (represented by Conlog) for contributing valuable insights on ISO standards, leak detection solutions, and water metering technologies. 

A Symbolic Milestone: Tree Planting Ceremony 

A highlight of Day 2 was the tree‑planting ceremony—an act symbolising the long‑term commitment required to grow sustainable water management practices. Just as a tree needs time, care, and the right conditions to thrive, so too do our collective efforts towards greater efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. 

Workshop video (still in progress)

October 2025 – February 2026: Site Visits, equipment installation and kickstarting monitoring 

At the end of February 2026, the WECISA project reached an important milestone with the successful completion of several on-site visits to participating companies across Southern Africa. These visits focused on the installation of advanced water meters and data loggers, forming the backbone of the project’s technical monitoring approach. By capturing real-time, high-resolution water consumption data, the installed systems enable companies to better understand their water use patterns, identify inefficiencies, and unlock opportunities for improved water management. The site engagements also provided a valuable platform for direct exchange between technical experts and company representatives, ensuring that installations were tailored to operational needs and that users are equipped to interpret and act on the data generated. These activities mark a key step toward strengthening data-driven decision-making and enhancing water efficiency in the commercial and industrial sectors. 

Following the installations, a series of individual monitoring workshops were conducted with participating companies to support the effective use of the newly available data. These tailored sessions focused on guiding participants through the online monitoring platforms, explaining key indicators, and building capacity to interpret consumption patterns and detect anomalies. By combining technical guidance with practical, company-specific insights, the workshops lay the foundations for the participants to translate data into actionable measures, further reinforcing the project’s objective of promoting sustainable and efficient water use. 

The sharing of water saving successes is supported by the #SurplusWater2025 initiative. Stay tuned for results from the WECISA project to be uploaded soon!