Hamlin and Wilson both had experience of the Institute of Sewage Purification in England.  Both were later elected as President of that organisation.  They were keen to see a forum established under the auspices of this organisation where South African experience and problems could be discussed.

INTRODUCTION   

WISA was officially formed in 1987, not as a body that had been spontaneously created at that time but as one that had evolved over more than half a century incurring several name changes en route. 

The first creative steps were taken at a meeting held at the Cydna Biochemical laboratory in Johannesburg on May 4. 1937, when the following resolutions were passed: 

• That it is unanimously agreed that an Association shall be, and is hereby formed, the objects of that Association being set forth in pages 13 to 15 of the Articles of Association of the (British) Institute of Sewage Purification.

• That this Association shall forthwith take steps to become recognised as the South African Branch of the Institute of Sewage Purification.

• That a temporary committee be elected to deal with local by-laws and necessary correspondence, the committee to consist of: Messrs H Clausen, JA McLachlan, BR Spencer and H Wilson. 

Those present at the inaugural meeting were Messrs Alison, H Clausen, JA McLachlan. KA Murray, J Pollock, J Richardson, P O'Reilly, J Sampson, BR Spencer. H de Vaal, P Vosloo, and H Wilson. 

Membership of the Branch increased at a satisfactory rate and additional Group committees were formed in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. 

Biennial conferences became routine and venues were rotated between the larger centres.  In 1963 and 1974 conferences were held outside the Republic of South Africa and in both cases the host city was the then Salisbury in Rhodesia (now Harare in Zimbabwe). After the latter conference the Branch was renamed the Southern African Branch in line with its enhanced geographic coverage. 

As the Branch grew in stature it slowly gained acceptance as a vehicle for comment on matters of national importance such as the Bill leading to the promulgation of the 1956 Water Act, the introduction of biologically 'soft' or degradable synthetic detergents, grazing of cattle on sewage irrigated land etc. 

In the educational field the Branch arranged for the production of a manual for sewage works operators and provided appropriate training courses terminating in an examination and the presentation of a certificate to successful candidates. This latter function was subsequently taken over by the Technical Colleges, who still obtain their updated course manuals from WISA. 

By 1967 general consensus had been reached by the Parent Body to change the Institute's name to the Institute of Water Pollution Control (IWPC) with expanded objectives of promoting the science and practice of wastewater management including: 

   • The purification of domestic and industrial wastewaters; pollution control of rivers and the seas; and the optimal reclamation and re-use of purified effluents for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes.

   • To provide a professional home for a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines that are required to achieve these aims. 

In order to uphold high professional standards in the Institute's membership, a Diploma Examination was introduced and had to be successfully passed to be awarded corporate membership. The content of the British examination was unsuitable for local candidates and the Southern African Branch had of necessity to create its own infrastructure, including tuition facilities for this purpose. The Examination Committee drew up lecture notes, and the examination consisted of a theory paper as well as a practical report on a specific water pollution problem. This entailed collecting and forwarding the required samples to candidates, some as far a field as the then Rhodesia. No easy task! With the aid of the Branch the Technikons (colleges for higher education) eventually provided courses to suit the water industry. 

The change in name of the Institute also necessitated the design of a new Coat of Arms, which in lay terms is described as follows:

The shield bears horizontal wavy lines to represent a river with three 'fountains' upon which a Kingfisher is perched symbolising its tributaries. The black segment of the shield represents pollution, with the 'roundels' symbolising bubbles of gas rising to the surface. The Kingfisher feeding on fish and water insects represents an unpolluted stream and the sword it holds in its beak, as well as the sword on the shield, represents the aim of the Institute, i.e. water pollution control. The motto means 'Towards Purity'. 

1987 was a significant year for the water related professional institutes in Britain, viz. IWPC, The Institution of Water Engineers & Scientists and The Institution of Public Health Engineers when they decided to amalgamate as The Institution for Water and Environmental Management (IWEM). With the maturity reached by the local Branch it was therefore decided that the time was optimal for a totally autonomous institute to be formed locally. 

In terms of the separation agreement reached with the Parent Body the newly formed Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) would retain all the assets accrued during its 50-year association with the British Institute, but would create a R20 000 Trust Fund which could be used for the establishment of a South African Branch of IWEM, if local demand and interest warranted this action. During the three year tenure of this Trust IWEM did not establish a South African Branch and the money reverted to WISA.  Members of IWPC wishing to join WISA were slotted into the WISA membership structure at grades identical to (or very close to) their IWPC grades. 

The mission of WISA is to provide a forum for the exchange of information and views to improve water resource management in Southern Africa. Its objectives include inter alia ‘the promotion of and application of scientific and engineering knowledge and management skills in the planning, design, construction, maintenance, investigation, research and education in connection with the natural and controlled water cycle, including but not be limited to the application of scientific engineering and management skills to all or any of hydrology water resources, river management and flood alleviation, recreation, water supply and distribution, sewerage, sewage and industrial waste treatment, disposal and water pollution control.’ 

Robert A Laing of Colington, Ygr, was commissioned to design a Coat of Arms for WISA which would also provide a recognisable link to its past association with IWPC The final design was accepted and registered by the State Herald:

The IWPC Kingfisher has been retained as a dominant feature but has a fish in its mouth instead of a sword thus indicating a need for fresh water resources. This idea is further confirmed by the motto Aqua Vita Est, i.e. Water is Life. The black area, as in the IWPC, design represents polluted water containing bubbles of rising gas. The 'fess' or bridge represents man's intervention leading to the production of clean water depicted by the wavy lines beneath the bridge. The design alludes to a Cape Dutch Gable thus reinforcing the South African sphere of operation. 

In the WISA logo the shape symbolises dynamic motion and the colouring represents the transformation of polluted water (dark) to clear, 'clean' water. 

A vastly improved coverage in specific specialised technical fields has been achieved by the progressive introduction of 10 Technical Divisions (12 in 2002) and now only called Divisions, operating on a national basis in the following fields, viz. anaerobic processes; membrane technology; mine water; nutrient removal; river basin management; sludge management; water reticulation; community water supply and sanitation, and lastly watercare. This last named came about when the fully autonomous Association for Water Treatment Personnel with four national branches agreed to amalgamate with WISA. Its membership, assets and administrative infrastructure were then used to form the nucleus of the new Watercare Division (February 1992).  

Non-WISA members were permitted to join Divisions, for one year, but were obviously encouraged to subsequently take up WISA membership. 

International affiliations established when still operating as a branch of IWPC have been maintained and include representation on the South African national committee of IWA-SA, which came about through the amalgamation of the International Water Supply Association and the International Association on Water Quality. WISA is a Member Association of the Water Environment Federation (USA) and is entitled to two representatives on its Board of Control. 

Liaison arrangements exist with the Australian Water and Wastewater Association (now the Australian Water Association) and the International Water Resources Association, while contact is maintained with the Chartered Institution of Water Environmental Management (UK). A journal exchange system was operative with the Japan Sewage Works Association for a period of one year. 

South African affiliations include membership of the South African Industrial Water Association, the Vaal River Catchment Association, the IWA-SA and the Habitat Council. A partnership agreement was also reached in 2000 with the South African Women’s Empowerment Foundation. 

Membership of the Institute currently stands at 1349 (2002) including 231 corporation members such as local authorities, Water Boards, universities etc. WISA also has some 41 members residing in 12 countries beyond the borders of South Africa. WISA has never acknowledged race, colour, gender, nationality or religion as a factor in determining the admission of any person to membership. Patron membership was introduced in 1996 and in 2002 WISA had 12 such members. Council introduced a Code of Conduct for members in 1999.

When WISA was founded in 1987 it operated as a legally accepted “Association not for gain” with a constitution that was lodged with the Receiver of Revenue.  Exemption from the payment of income tax was thereafter granted.  However, with the increasing growth of the Institute it became necessary for WISA to register with the Receiver in terms of VAT legislation and in January 2000 it was finally registered in terms of the South African Companies Act as a not for gain Section 21 company, as the WATER INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. 

ADMINISTRATION   

The Institute of Sewage Purification was a registered company in terms of the British Companies Act and its Articles of Association made provision for the creation of Branches (but not for their dissolution!).  The South African Branch operated under these conditions and was required to pass the vast majority of its income from membership fees to the Parent Body to assist in financing the costs of the Journal.  The 10% (approximately) of income left in South Africa was insufficient to support paid administrative staff and for nearly the first half century secretarial duties were carried out on a largely honorary basis, with token honoraria being paid in the late 1980’s, this included the post of bookkeeper.  A full time paid secretary was appointed in 1987 and a salaried part-time Director was appointed in 1994. The latter post was elevated to a full-time basis in 1995 and in April 2000 was converted to that of Chief Executive Officer who was appointed in terms of a contract for three years.  

OFFICE ACCOMMODATION     

The Johannesburg City Council at its Cydna Laboratory very generously provided office accommodation for the S A Branch of the Institute of Sewage Purifiction and its successors at no cost over a period of 50 years.  In recognition of this support WISA donated a framed oil painting to the Laboratory.  The original painting purchased was stolen before it could be affixed to a suitable wall and it was necessary to supply a replacement.  Messrs Clausen and Alison, the only surviving foundation members were invited to the presentation ceremony, but whilst Mr Alison was present Mr Clausen had become suddenly ill and died shortly afterwards. 

With increasing membership and activities the Institute had to seek more spacious premises and sectional title office space was then purchased in Burke House, Randburg, and rented out pending occupation by WISA.  During this period, however, WISA was offered a minority share holding in New Road Properties Pty Ltd. and rented accommodation in one of its office blocks in Thandanani Park, Matuka Close in Midrand. The share holding was accepted and the Randburg property sold. Since then, WISA has moved again in 2005 to Rosen Office Park, Invicta Road, Midrand.

INSTITUTE JOURNAL   

Neither WISA nor its predecessors has ever produced its own journal.  In the early days papers presented at the Institute were published in the magazine “Public Health”.  When the financial burden to that Institute became too great arrangements were made with the parent body of the Institute of Sewage purification to publish South African papers once per year in part III of its Journal & Proceedings.  A photograph of the current S A Branch Chairman would also be presented on the first page of this particular part. 

Once again this arrangement suffered financial problems and came to an end with the formation of IWEM.  For a limited period local presentations were published in IMESA (The Institution of Municipal Engineers of South Africa) until an arrangement was made for WISA material to be incorporated in “Water Sewage and Effluent”, copies of which would be made available to its members at no cost.  Members were also able to receive two publications of the Water Research Commission viz. Water SA and SA Waterbulletin.  Journals of the American Waterworks Association and WPCF of the USA were available to members via the Institute Library. 

At the request of the Water Pollution Control Federation the South African Institute facilitated the collection of a number of papers describing South African wastewater purification technology, which were published as a separate feature in a monthly edition of the Federation Journal.

CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS   

Conferences organized under the banner of the Institute of Sewage Purification and the Institute of Water Pollution Control basically aimed at breaking even financially.  Exhibitions were introduced at a much later date on a very minor scale.  A conference committee consisting of Institute members, working on an honorary basis, did all planning and organization. 

Soon after the formation of WISA the policy changed to make these events more profitable.  Thus in 1991 the conference held at the World Trade Centre in Kempton Park took on an air of professionalism with parallel sessions and a separate exhibition hall laid out with professionally prepared stands.  All organization, including the selection of paper posters, was still done by the secretary, assistant secretary and the conference committee. 

The financial success of this venture led to WISA employing professional conference and exhibition organizers for subsequent events.  With continued financial success WISA decided to further improve its profitability by employing its own full-time staff to arrange these events.   

During the years of political isolation of South Africa the Institute maintained its contacts with overseas water related Institutes by sponsoring their Presidents to attend the locally organised biennial conferences in Southern Africa.  Sponsors arranged by the local Institute met expenses. 

Mr Hillier, President of the Institute of Sewage Purification was the first to be invited to a conference held in the large committee room at the Johannesburg Public Library.  Presidents of other international water related organizations were also to accept invitations at a later date.

Final Word:   

Well the “Final Word” is that in history there can never be such a thing.  History, by its very nature, comprises any number of points of view and interpretations, as well as omissions, perspectives and contexts.  All this is just to say that what is written here is the best information available to date.  This document is however a “living document” and as such we welcome any additions, inputs and perspectives that you should have access to and wishes to share.

Other information about the history of WISA

• WISA's historic link with training