RESEARCH PROJECT TITLE: Water Conservation and Water Demand Management in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM)
The aim of the interview questions is to gather more information which will supplement the qualitative data information taken from the documents. Please note that the questions are not in sequences; however, they will be applied as the conversation-opening questions to develop more supplementary questions for the interviews.
The question will be asked at the strategic level through the participation of programme managers and managers, at a tactical level using engineers and senior technicians and at an operational level using technicians as participants. Participants will be selected from three departments that are key role players in the development and implementation of BCMM WC/WDM Strategy.
1. WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT (WC/WDM) ASPECTS
i. What is your understanding of water conservation and water demand management (WC/WDM)?
ii. As South Africa is currently facing a freshwater crisis, how would you ensure that BCMM does not overutilize and constrains its natural water sources?
iii. How have you prepared for the future to cater for the ever-growing population and development (as one of the major threats) within BCMM in terms of managing and conserving water as a resource?
iv. What are your environmental considerations and obligations, as is it predicted that there will be a need for more water supply throughout the country?
v. Can you define the level of your development, distribution and management of your water resources in ensuring that there is effective & efficiently use of these water resources in balancing the needs of consumers and eliminating negative environmental impacts?
vi. Are there any challenges, opportunities or/and successes you have encountered during the development, distribution and management of your water resources?
vii. What was your approach in developing your integration water resources management (i.e.
taking into account the natural hydrological cycle, water users/stakeholders, spatial water distribution & usage, and the availability and demand of water resources)?
viii. With regards to water conservation, how have you planned in ensuring that there is a reduction or elimination of water wastage and losses within your system?
ix. Provide/describe programs or plans that you have to ensure that you encourage the culture of saving water in people or communities at large?
x. How would you ensure that environmental & water resources (such as dams) protection are prioritised and are there any contingency plans for natural disasters such as droughts or floods?
xi. How well are you prepared with regards to water re-use strategy?
xii. How is your unaccounted and non-revenue water?
xiii. What plans do you have in ensuring that there is a reduction in unaccounted and non-revenue water?
xiv. What intervention measures have you incorporated on your WC/WDM for improvement?
xv. In ensuring that people are being conservative in their water usage, how would you improve your billing system?
xvi. What current constraints would you identify when it comes to the application of water conservation and water demand management?
2. UNDERSTANDING OF BCMM WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
i. BCMM has developed a Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) strategy; in your own understanding can you describe what the strategy is all about and what is its main purpose?
ii. Can you identify and elaborate any linkages and alignments between the BCMM WC/WDM strategy, BCMM policies and the WC/WDM national strategy?
iii. What important consideration do you think BCMM needs to apply in order to implement the strategy successfully?
iv. How would you evaluate BCMM’s present performance and progress towards fulfilling the WC/WDM strategic goals?
v. How would you ensure that the strategic goals are achieved within the specified timeline?
vi. What needs to be improved to ensure that there is an effective and efficient implementation of the WC/WDM strategy?
3. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
i. As your department is one of the committee members overseeing the development and implementation of the WC/WDM strategy, tell me about the key roles your department is/would be performing towards the strategy.
ii. What important consideration do you think your department needs to apply in order for the whole BCMM implement the strategy successfully?
iii. Can you discuss or elaborate coordination or linkages of your Water Services Development and Master Planning with the WC/WDM strategy?
4. GENERAL TECHNICAL and THEORETICAL ALIGNED QUESTIONS
i. Provides any plans in place in your department or BCMM that eliminates the water wastage or overuse
ii. Can you explain and elaborate any methods or programmes you have as the department to prevent the water scarcity within BCMM?
iii. How would you know that these methods or programmes are operating effectively and sufficiently?
iv. As water scarcity is one of the major impacts caused by climate change. How have you prepared as BCMM in term of drought resistance or adaptation strategies or plans?
v. How is your asset management?
vi. How would you link your asset management plan such as your infrastructure development programme with your WC/WDM strategic objectives?
vii. Are there any plan or programmes within BCMM to address issues concerning with the ever- increasing water demand and consumption?
viii. How is the current state of your main water sources and infrastructure?
ix. How are your current water resources and infrastructure state affecting the progress and performance of the municipality towards fulfilling the strategic goals of WC/WDM?
xi. What is the current status of your non-revenue water?
xii. How does the municipality address the issue of non-revenue water in ensuring reduction of water loss within the system?