The establishment of the special purpose vehicle (SPV), Vaal Corporation Water Utility (VCWU), is progressing well, Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom said in a statement on Wednesday.

The SPV, launched in November last year, is a partnership between Rand Water Services and Emfuleni to manage, operate and rehabilitate water and sanitation services in the Vaal region.

The VCWU is now preparing to take over the management and operation of water and sanitation services from Emfuleni local municipality and address the severe problems that have plagued the region for many years.

“Several key agreements have been signed, with the remaining approvals, including the employee transfer agreement, expected by October 30. Staff and assets will then move to the new utility during November. A full board will follow, with six directors nominated by Rand Water Services and two by Emfuleni,” he said.

Further, for the next few years, Emfuleni will have to be a construction site to reverse decades of neglect with no proper maintenance or replacement of water and sewer infrastructure.

“Old asbestos cement pipes are collapsing and pump stations need to be rebuilt.”

The priority is to reduce Emfuleni's 75% non-revenue water, most of which is wasted through leaking pipes, starting with 164 identified priority leaks.

Backlogs include 1 700 water-related complaints, 912 leaking meters and 2 598 sewage spills.

An additional 11 teams have joined the normal 16 teams to fix the priority leaks.

Department of Water and Sanitation director-general Dr Sean Phillips describes it as an important partnership model that should be followed elsewhere in the country.

“By ring-fencing water revenue for reinvestment in water services, it prevents these funds from being diverted elsewhere. It also draws on Rand Water's management expertise and financial capacity to mobilise the funding needed to rehabilitate the system,” he says.

Bloom assures that he will continue to monitor progress to ensure that the VCWU becomes fully operational as planned.

“It offers the best opportunity to modernise the water and sanitation infrastructure, reduce leaks and sewage spills and restore the Vaal river for recreation, tourism and job creation,” he concludes.