The unit would like to work with the consulting industry, municipal services, bulk water suppliers, and local government and become a regional knowledge hub for sustainable use and management of water and environment for socioeconomic development.

USWE aims to provide scientific information on sustainable use of water for strategic decision support, and in doing so, enhance water security and sustainable environment.

  • be empowered to swiftly react on rapidly changing driving forces identified in water and environment sector.
  • focus on innovation and sustainable water use and management.
  • provide hands-on training to relevant stakeholders.
  • focus on operational and management support and the monitoring of projects.
  • establish a network of stakeholders to promote the common interest for everyone involved.

Our core services are: (1) Training; (2) Contract Research and (3) Community Engagement.

Training Focus Areas

The following training focus areas will be considered in the Unit:

  • Training programs at post-graduate level,
  • Focused continuous professional development programs aimed at professional and practice needs, within municipal services, consulting firms and local government.
  • Focused specific training programs at any level as may be required by and for a specific client, within the water and environment related industry and local government departments.

Contract Research

Research work within the unit will include contract research on appointment within the water discipline, either via tender process or direct appointments. Moreover, the Unit will serve as research platform for post-graduate studies in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement work include dissemination of knowledge on water and environment to local community and creation of awareness on sustainable use of water in the form of seminars, workshops, local newspapers, radio stations, etc.

The unit has sufficient expertise available in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences. Currently, there is enough expertise in various areas of services in both faculties including well equipped laboratories. Moreover, participation of industry stakeholders will also be sought depending on the nature of the service required.



The official launch of the Unit for Sustainable Water and Environment took place on 14 October 2015.

Prof. Alfred Ngowi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, set the scene on the new Global Sustainable Development Goals with specific reference to water and sanitation. This was followed by Dr David Wiberg who presented the keynote on Sustainability under Scarcity: Multisystem Challenge. Dr Wiberg, is a collaborating partner of the unit, who resides in Vienna, Austria where he serves as a Director of Water Programme at the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Dr Wiberg’s presentation touched on the experience of IIASA and on the importance of multidisciplinary approach in addressing the water scarcity issue as its cuts across several disciplines, such as engineering, economics and social sciences.

Several presentations highlighted the important work being conducted by the unit in areas that include: the extreme hydrological events and its impact on sustainable development, flood analysis and drought forecasting.

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Members of the unit and invited guests.

From left to right, front: Prof. Woyessa, Head: Department of Civil Engineering and Head of the Unit for Sustainable Water and Environment; Mr OJ Gericke, Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering and member of the Unit; Dr David Wiberg, invited keynote speaker (IIASA, Vienna, Austria); Prof M van Veelen, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Director: Environment Division at ILISO Consulting; Dr L Esterhuizen, Lecturer in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences and member of the Unit; Mr S Tetsoane, Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering and member of the Unit; Prof. JDM Ndambuki, Water resources expert in the Department of Civil Engineering at Tshwane University of Technology; Prof. AB Ngowi, Dean: Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology; Dr M Dinka, Water resources expert in the Department of Civil Engineering Sciences at the University of Johannesburg;

Back: Mr JP Pietersen, Junior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering and member of the Unit; Dr DC Edossa, Senior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering and member of the Unit; Ms Marinda Avenant, Centre for Environment Management at the University of the Free State.

Uploaded: 17 March 2020
Research and Development:
  • Woyessa Yali
  • Tel: +27 (0)51 507 3452
  • ywoyessa@cut.ac.za
  • View details
Training and CPD Courses:
  • Gericke Jaco
  • Tel: +27 (0)51 507 3516
  • jgericke@cut.ac.za
  • View details