Dear Infra_Man Member,

Distribution from this grouping has been rather silent for a while.  Maybe that is set to change.  See what foillows and the tests now ot indicate what might work better for us.  Any comments are welcome for what follows.

Crucially this DWA-led WIAM Strategy has been pushed / re-released into the public domain.  The email below and the attached document then refers.  Notably time for individual responses to this Strategy is extended to 11th October.  The key issue is more practical input from users and interested parties is sought.

 And to put this in a larger context, maybe, maybe, the WIAM programming might “yet grow legs”.  It is still resource-constrained but there are still ways to unlock action at increasingly decentralised levels.  (So, for instance) If any of you are going to be in the vicinity of IMESA 2010 in East London on 25^th October and have a personal interest in “Water Loss Improvement” applied in the contact of IAM, then let me know.....  Well at least in the hope of Eastern Cape Programming but plans seem to be emerging for NC Province and soon KZN.  I can say this due to emerging DWA and DBSA Strategic partnering, like the 25^th October refers.  But the underlying message is perhaps “Infra_Man” is now to come to and get to more practical content....

Usually this Infra-Man facility serves as a public  email repository – maybe it is long time since you visited it.  I have only opened this Infra_Man grouping temporarily to specifically send out this message and also to test media matters in order to gather your responses on behalf of DWA.;

SO PLEASE rather do not respond to this message immediately but give me until this long weekend to set up the media to test your choices.  I want there to be two chioices;

a)      Email responses back to this Infra_Man group, which I will close before then and then the group website will (at least temporarily) operate as a Bulletin Board as it gathers any email responses....

To view all messages you can check here in future;    http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Infra_Man/messages

b)      Direct Internet comment submission to the WIN-SA Infrastructure Asset Management grouping which has its own Discussion spaces.  I must still create another one there for this WIAM Strategy – so just give me until tomorrow.  [But out of your interest - another key discussion is started there already around our SA access and use of PAS55 – the (British originated) international standard for IAM and its application increasingly emerging here in South Africa.]  Just note that you will need to be in membership of this WIN-SA Networking Facility.....

Dear WS IAM team,

As you might know that 2 years ago the Department of Water Affairs (by then DWAF) started a process of drafting a Sector Wide Water Services Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy with an effort to address some of the challenges Water Services Institutions (WSI) are faced with in terms of Asset Management. The Strategy has been discussed at length by the Department’s Top managers and some of the gaps were identified and addressed internally. 

During the delays on the internal process driving towards the strategy approval, it was noted that WSI are already implementing Asset Management projects and these practical experiences were deemed important on the current relevance of the strategy before its approval.

You are a kindly requested to provide inputs on the strategy before the 27 September 2010.

This invitation for comments can be extended to other relevant people within your organization.

Regards,

Bekubuhle Mbentse

Dept. Water Affairs and Forestry

Water Services

Waterbrone 744

Email: xkf@...

Ph.: + 27 12 336 7451

Fax: + 27 12 336 6560

Cell: + 27 82 941 6994

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