Pretoria - The Department of Water and Sanitation has launched a new web-based water information system.
The new technology, called the National Integrated Water Information System (NIWIS), was launched in Pretoria.
NIWIS will provide information to water management institutions, water users, the public, researchers, scientists, decision makers and those interested in getting a deeper understanding and knowledge of the water status in the country.
The department said the system was user friendly, containing essential water related information and can be accessed 24/7 through personal computers and mobile devices.
“Through the system, the user can drill down and query the most basic data available from the national level to the lowest water management information system,” said the department.
Users will be able to access information relating to:
- Water monitoring and information, such as water quality, waste water quality, waste water treatment authorisation, drinking water quality;
- Water use, such as actual water use versus registered volumes, water use registered volumes and revenue per sector and non-revenue water;
- Regulation, such as information on enforcement case management, legal compliance, classification of offences by activity type, classification of offences per sector and status of the legal process;
- Water services, such as the Municipal Strategic Self-Assessment, access to municipal water scheme infrastructure, water tariffs and Water Board tariffs;
- Water-use authorization, such as raw water tariffs, municipal tariffs, water use license application monitoring, existing lawful water use, general authorisations and water licenses;
- Water sector decision makers, representatives and external stakeholders.
The department said the water sector community and the public will benefit maximally from the system. The system will enable faster and efficient decision making.
Deborah Mochotlhi, Planning and Information Deputy Director General, explained that the Department of Water and Sanitation comprises of many units with various needs and these units have been operating in silos for a long time.
Therefore through NIWIS, the information from various business units of the department will be integrated and made available in one system for easy access and convenience.
The establishment of the NIWIS is also an important development in government’s ongoing commitment to maximizing the potential benefits of ICT in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public service delivery.
For more information about the NIWIS system please go to http://niwis.dwa.gov.za or call Andy Sambo on 012 336 8403 or send an email to sambom@dwa.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za
