Water security: A woman’s work is never done
Kaiser’s book will be invaluable for role players in water-scarce cities
Gisela Kaiser is soft-spoken, reserved and measured — selfeffacing even. But what comes out of her mouth and flows from her pen certainly packs a punch. And she has a big story to tell. One that could serve as a cheat-sheet for anyone tasked with building water security globally. It’s the story of how she spearheaded the management of the worst drought any city in the country had ever seen. The drought that threatened to devastate Cape Town in the late 2010s was the worst in the city’s history, with the dreaded Day Zero hanging over the entire citizenry like the Sword of Damocles.
Kaiser’s soon-to-be-published book about the experience sketches the political ups and downs as the crisis unfolded month after month. More importantly, she methodically picks apart the technical challenges and victories — not to mention the many lessons learned — in the long, traumatic days that preceded the winter of 2018 when the rains finally came to break that terrible drought.
The book, Parched: The Cape Town Drought Story, looks at the history of water management in the Western Cape, the political shenanigans that ensued as the crisis deepened, and very specifically, at the various interventions considered and tried. It details some of the economic impacts of various attempts to alleviate water scarcity and the levels of success or failure of each. This is a book that will be valuable for water scientists and other role players in waterscarce cities in many parts of the world.
Going global
As a civil engineer with an MBA and PHD, Kaiser moved into executive management of the City of Cape Town about 10 years ago. As Executive Director for Utility Services, she felt fortunate to be the technical lead on the drought response. This position garnered her the opportunity to take a deep dive into water supply and demand, especially under crisis conditions.
Today, after closing the chapter on her position as executive director as soon as the drought was broken, Kaiser consults on sustainable water management, a field that encompasses all aspects of water supply and demand. One of her clients is Water Globe Consultants LLC, a small Us-based company specialising in water management, supply and treatment. She heads up its sustainable water management portfolio.
“Covid-19 has put a bit of a stop to my travel and work plans. But my current work is still on desalination plants worldwide. I am also working on projects in two other metros in South Africa on better water demand management,” she says.
Green agenda
Kaiser studied civil engineering in the late 1980s, at a time when few women were doing so.
“When the environment took centre stage in the mid-2000s, I found the argument for sustainable development compelling,” she says. “Ever since, I have always had a green agenda and aimed to advocate widely through my staff, project development and implementation. In a country with so many competing priorities, in the face of poverty and inequality, it is hardly ever easy to find balance, but with climate change accelerating, no one can afford to ignore the risks.”
Pains and gains in a time of drought
Managing the Cape Town drought created an inordinate amount of anxiety and trauma, she
says. “But it was also an extremely exhilarating experience. During this time, I had the opportunity to engage with top international water specialists and apply best practice in the development of a water strategy aimed at ensuring a resilient water future for Cape Town.
“I have been lucky in my career. People have taken a chance on me when I had the right qualifications but not necessarily the right experience. Growing up when and where I did perhaps resulted in my being more tolerant of sexism, and choosing my battles carefully. It is still true that women often need to work harder to be accepted in traditionally male fields of expertise. But once you have the respect of your
staff or colleagues, it is easy to actualise and be authentic, bringing skills to the table that would have been joked about two or three decades ago.”
Future water security
The water space is fraught with problems and people don’t always consider the impact of their behaviour on themselves and future generations. Future water security is one of these pressing problems.
Approximately 41% of the potable water produced by municipalities is lost through leaks, or is water that is used but not measured. Kaiser believes the cheapest way to increase water security is through water demand management.
“In the worst-case scenario, climate migration may accelerate, but South Africa is fortunate to have a vast coastline, and although expensive and environmentally complicated, desalination offers a virtually limitless supply of potable water to coastal regions.”
Women’s role in the climate economy
Kaiser says the amount of women who rise to senior positions in the arena of climate change is growing.
“Women’s role in society is enormous. Although the status quo has transformed significantly during my lifetime, it is still largely a man’s world. Institutions and the economic fabric still tend to undervalue conventional women’s work, generally involving caring for people.
“The climate economy provides an opportunity for easier entry, and is likely to appeal to women who are naturally attuned to the needs of people and of the planet. The integration and care, which mostly comes naturally to women, could add significant benefits in this field.”
Kaiser’s advice for women who want to enter this space is to believe in themselves, to find allies, and to support other women or anyone who is struggling.