Michael Webster is Executive Director for Water and Waste at City of Cape Town. We explore the City’s water strategy and key commitments, lessons from the 2018 water crisis, recent progress made, future thinking, new technologies, opportunities and challenges for private sector collaboration, and advice for cities grappling with water management.
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Discussion highlights
This episode is presented in partnership with the City of Cape Town
Read the Water Strategy here
How Cape Town compares to other international and African cities in the water sector
Key takeaways from beating the water crisis of 2018
In hindsight, what the City would have done differently to avert the water crisis of 2018
5 commitments of the City of Cape Town water strategy
How these commitments will be met and against what indicators and schedule
Progress made to date (June 2021)
Key technologies that can help achieve the Water Strategy’s vision
Advice, opportunities and challenges for private sector to collaborate with the department
Advice for cities grappling with water management
About Michael John Webster
Leadership, management and operational experience in water and sanitation over 25 years. Currently, Executive Director of Water and Waste in the City of Cape Town. 16 years with the World Bank in Africa, Europe and South Asia.
As Executive Director of Water and Waste, responsible for the Water and Sanitation Department and the Solid Waste Management Department of the City of Cape Town. The municipality provides utility services to over a million households ranging from informal settlements to formal freehold and cluster housing, and strives to do so in a sustainable, equitable and affordable way. The Executive Director is part of the Executive Management Team reporting to the City Manager.
Prior experience includes water and sanitation specialist in different units of the World Bank since 1999, and 8 years’ experience outside of the World Bank working on informal settlement upgrading and rural development in South Africa.
Holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University, as well as a M.Sc in Water and Waste Engineering from Loughborough University and a B.Sc in Civil Engineering from the University of Cape Town.
Source: LinkedIn
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