The path toward efficient and modern water management is not traveled through technology alone, but through close technical and human collaboration. Recently, part of the iCarto team traveled to Eswatini to work hand-in-hand with the Joint River Basin Authorities (JRBA), achieving two fundamental milestones for the project’s sustainability.
Main achievements: Billing and Real-World Data
This field visit was decisive in consolidating the system’s operability. Thanks to the joint effort, we succeeded in fulfilling the two main planned objectives:
- Billing Module Launched: The implementation and startup of the billing module is now a reality. The JRBA has started issuing and using printed invoices directly from the SIRH (Water Resources Information System). This represents a qualitative leap in their management and a critical milestone for the JRBA’s billing strategy, providing the necessary foundation to achieve their cost recovery goals.
- Integration of the 2024 Water User Survey: We successfully finalized the integration plan for incorporating the new operation areas identified during this year’s water user survey into the SIRH database. This ensures the system operates based on the actual reality on the ground, improving accuracy of decision-making and also strengthening billing and cost recovery processes.
Technology Ownership: A System Driven by Its Users
For iCarto, the success of a GIS project does not lie solely in the robustness of the code, but in how users make it their own. Seeing how the tool has been organically integrated into the institution’s daily operations is the ultimate validation of our work. The successful adoption by JRBA staff confirms that a user-centered approach—positioning the GIS as a problem solver—is the only way to build truly sustainable technology.
We would like to deeply thank the entire team and the management of the JRBA for their availability and support. Their openness and horizontal collaboration have been key to ensuring this technical deployment was fluid and effective.
Looking Toward 2026 and New Challenges
This project, which is funded by the BlueDeal program, is now entering its final phase, with a scheduled completion date in 2026.
Although we are approaching the end of this stage, we are aware that innovation in water management never stops. This visit helped us identify exciting new horizons, such as the potential implementation of SIRH Mobile and a Digital Customer Portal for water. We will continue working to ensure that GIS remains the backbone providing real and sustainable solutions to future water challenges.