Water Wheel Nov/Dec 2024: Water Heritage

Abstract

Heritage is not for the sake of heritage, wrote Prof Ragab Ragab. “It has important sustainability lessons for our future survival.” President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Ragab commented on the value of the World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) Awards, established in 2012 as part of a programme that documents historical structures worldwide that have contributed to the evolution of irrigation and drainage in agriculture through history. This past September, WHIS recognition was given to a South African structure, namely the Douglas Weir, situated on the Vaal River. Prof Sylvester Mpandeli, Chair of the South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID), ICID Vice-President and WRC Senior Manager, received the award on behalf of South Africa. Mpandeli led the submission of the South African nomination. South Africa now becomes part of an exclusive club of only three African countries (the other two being Egypt and Morocco) who have had their heritage irrigation structures recognised by ICID.

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