Limpopo residents with Coca-Cola water wheelers, which allow for easy transportation of the precious liquid
South Africa is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world and is prone to droughts. More than three million households live without access to clean running water; the shortage is ever-growing and there’s a need for proactive and effective solutions to the crisis.
Launched in 2020, the Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) Coke Ville Project — an off-grid, solar-powered groundwater harvesting and treatment programme — is targeted at indigent communities experiencing water insecurity. To date, the project has generated more than 150-million litres of water to the benefit of more than 15 000 households in urban and peri-urban communities across nine sites in Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, with a projected 12 more systems planned for 2022.
One of Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa’s solar-powered water harvesting and treatment projects
“Consistent access to clean running water remains a challenge for many rural and peri-urban communities across South Africa. Having access to clean running water is the difference between compromised human health, environment protection and socioeconomic development,” says Nozicelo Ngcobo, CCBSA Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Director.
Coke Ville is The Coca-Cola Company’s Water Stewardship Strategy 2030, which is a three-pronged strategy to water, primarily focusing on regenerative operations, healthy watersheds and resilient communities. CCBSA’s efforts in support of the Water Stewardship Strategy in South Africa show how a global strategy can be turned into concrete local programmes that enhance the quality of life.
Ngcobo adds that enhanced community water resilience is focused on the provision of clean access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and empowering women and girls, who are the most vulnerable in most of the communities where Coca-Cola operates. This pillar also focuses on assisting communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Regenerative operations are intended to reduce local shared water challenges by complying with Coca-Cola’s water stewardship requirements to prevent water wastage, reducing the amount of water being used and safely discharge water, and achieving regenerative water use by reducing, reusing, recycling and replenishing within Coca-Cola’s operations.
“Our Strategy focuses on sustainable, efficient water usage, improving local water challenges and partnering with others to improve watershed health and enhance community water resilience, with a focus on women and girls,” says Ngcobo.
‘Tata Mhulu’ sits on a Coca-Cola water wheeler
Healthy watersheds are about rehabilitation, restoration and protection of South Africa’s watersheds and catchments. This second pillar is aimed at addressing long term, sustainable and cost-effective water security through nature-based solutions such as clearing of alien invasive species.
The Water Stewardship Strategy is in tandem with the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goal 6 and the National Development Plan, both of which advocate for universal and fair access to clean drinking water for all, by 2030. March 22 is World Water Day and this year’s theme is “Groundwater – making the invisible, visible”. The theme is aimed at key decision and policymakers all over the world.
“By implementing water sustainability practices, we reduce costs, protect ourselves from operational disruptions resulting from insufficient water supplies, and maintain and strengthen our licence to operate. It ultimately results in more than [just] water,” concludes Ngcobo.
For more information, visit: https://www.ccbsaco.com/
About CCBSA
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) is a proudly South African company that began operating as a legal entity in July 2016, after the merger of six non-alcoholic ready-to-drink bottling operations. We are a level 1 B-BBEE empowered company. We employ over 7 000 people at 13 manufacturing facilities across the country. As a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) and a bottler for The Coca-Cola Company, our vision is to refresh Africa every day and make our continent a better place for all. We manufacture and distribute Coca-Cola beverages that make life’s everyday moments more enjoyable, while doing business the right way. The result is shared opportunities for our customers, our employees, our communities, and our shareholders. We conduct our business ethically, transparently, and conscientiously. We espouse an inclusive business culture to reflect our African identity. We accelerate sustainable, profitable revenue growth across all categories and offer an innovative portfolio of products that respond to customer needs and consumer preferences. Profitability is important, but not at any cost. People matter. Our planet matters. We do business the right way by following our values and partnering for solutions that benefit us all.