Regulation 3630

30 June 2025 DEADLINE for registration for supervisors of all water and wastewater works.

Regulation 3630 in terms of section 9 of the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997), requires all organisations that operate water and wastewater treatment plants in South Africa to be overseen by someone who has the relevant qualifications and experience to ensure compliance with best-practice principles.

This means that any facility in South Africa which treats water and/or wastewater – including non-municipal plants on mines, manufacturing sites, housing estates, etc. owned by the private sector – should comply with the following requirements:

  • obtain a classification certificate (NB: this is not a Water Use Licence) from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS),
  • have process controller and operational & maintenance (O&M) support services in place, and
  • employ or contract a registered Professional Process Controller as supervisor.

Organisations with water or wastewater treatment facilities must meet all the requirements of Regulation 3630 by 30 June 2025. After this date, facilities operating without properly qualified and assigned personnel will be in breach of national regulations, which could lead to fines, legal action, or forced closure.

Complying with the requirements to hold a Professional Process Controller designation as awarded by Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) is the easiest way to prove compliance with the supervisory requirement, as the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has determined WISA to be the sole custodian of the designation.

Compliance with Regulation 3630 is not only a technical or operational issue — it is a staff qualifications and employment compliance matter.

Checklist

Use this checklist to see whether your facility complies with the “Qualified Personnel” requirement of Regulation 3630 of the National Water Act.

Download Checklist

FAQ

How do I know if my organisation needs to comply with this regulation?

Many organisations run treatment operations without calling them “treatment plants.” If your organisation operates any kind of water or wastewater treatment system – no matter how small – you are affected. Examples include:

  • a sewage treatment plant for staff housing, offices, or mining camps
  • a factory that treats its effluent before discharge
  • a housing estate or golf estate with its own water recycling system
  • a farming operation that recycles irrigation water
  • industrial parks with decentralised water or sewage systems
  • any facility that recycles, purifies, or treats water or sewage on-site
  • packing plants on housing estates, farms, or lodges
  • meat processing plants
  • chemical processing operations
  • production plants that produces and/or treats waste water
What exactly must we have in place to comply?

By 30 June 2025, you must ensure:

  • Each plant has an official Classification Certificate issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (this is separate from a Water Use Licence).
  • A qualified Supervisory Process Controller is appointed at each plant.
  • A qualified Process Controller is on duty for every shift.
  • Operations and Maintenance (O&M) support (electricians, mechanical and civil support) is available.
  • Staff qualifications are properly documented and, where possible, registered with a recognised body (such as WISA).

To determine the extent of the effect of Regulation 3630 on your organisation, first, determine the classification of your facility:

  1. Request the classification form and process directly from the DWS regional office, visit https://ws.dws.gov.za/IRIS/contacts.aspx
  2. Submit a request for a Classification Certificate (this is not the same as a Water Use Licence).
  3. Once you receive the classification, refer to Schedule 3 of Regulation 3630 to determine the required qualification level for each staff role.
What are the risks if we ignore compliance with Regulation 3630?
  • Fines and penalties for non-compliance with a national regulation
  • Forced shutdowns of water/wastewater facilities by authorities
  • Operational risks if unqualified staff manage critical infrastructure
  • Damage to company reputation with investors, customers, communities, or regulators
  • Potential civil or criminal liability for environmental or health violations
Who in the organisation should take responsibility for Regulation 3630 compliance?

Typically, responsibility should be assigned to a senior operations, facilities, environmental compliance, or SHEQ executive who has authority to:

  • Audit existing operations
  • Appoint and train staff
  • Coordinate external applications (for classification and registration)
  • Report progress directly to executive management
Is an engineer or scientist qualification sufficient to meet the “Qualified Personnel” requirement of Regulation 3630?

Municipalities and/or companies can’t opt out of registering their process controller or simply register one of their engineers or scientists instead, as either scenario would make them non-compliant. While experts in engineering or natural science are highly specialised, they don’t necessarily have the competency to manage water treatment processes and run the actual plant itself. Regulation 3630 mandates that all licensed water and wastewater treatment plants in South Africa must have a senior, professionally registered process controller as their supervisor.This means that a Professional Process Controller registered with WISA – not an engineer or scientist – must be the supervisor at the treatment plant. An engineering and/or scientist qualification is therefore not sufficient if the person to be registered does not also comply with the requirements of a Professional Process Controller as per https://wisa.org.za/product/professional-registration/

Who can apply to be a registered Professional Process Controller? And how can they apply?

All requirements are listed at https://wisa.org.za/product/professional-registration The application must be submitted to pr.pcwater@wisa.org.za with the following documentation attached:

  • Complete the online application form
  • Certified copy of the applicant’s ID or Passport
  • Copy of applicant’s qualifications
  • Full CV of applicant
  • Two completed copies of Form A3 – Referee Report
  • Proof of payment of R1,000 administration fee (bank details for payment is included in the application form)

Once the application has been assessed, the outcome will be communicated to the applicant, together with a Professional Process Controller certificate if the application was successful.

What should I do if there isn’t a current employee who fulfils the requirements to become a Professional Process Controller?

You have two options: Option 1: Upskill through accredited training

  • Enrol employees in water or wastewater treatment qualifications through the EWSETA-accredited training providers (https://ewseta.org.za). The qualifications must be aligned to the National Qualifications Framework (NQF)

Option 2: Use Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

  • RPL allows experienced staff to have their skills assessed and formally recognised without repeating studies. Queries regarding WISA’s RPL process can be addressed to pr.pcwater@wisa.org.za.

Tip: Consider running an internal “skills audit” to gather CVs, qualifications, and experience logs for all current water/wastewater staff.

Can I register a Professional Process Controller at another organisation?

In short, no. The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) has determined WISA to be the sole custodian of the Professional Process Controller designation. Therefore, while registration of process controllers with the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) isn’t mandatory, registration as a Professional Process Controller is the easiest way to prove compliance with one of the “Qualified Personnel” requirements of Regulation 3630.

Do all WISA memberships satisfy the Regulation 3630 requirements?

No. Only the Professional Process Controller membership category of WISA fulfils the requirements of Regulation 3630. Other membership categories hold significant value for both members and their employers, but are not suitable for Regulation 3630 compliance.

What if I can't afford to register a Professional Process Controller before the deadline?

We are aware that municipalities and other organisations may have funding constraints when trying to comply with Regulation 3630. We have therefore created various partnerships in the sector to assist where possible. WISA, LGSETA, and EWSETA will work together with experts to ensure that all process controllers receive the required training to gain and maintain their professional status. EWSETA and WISA have created a partnership to professionally register 100 process controllers and are in communication with number of water service institutions and stakeholders regarding Regulation 3630. The partnership also includes the CPD training of process controllers in the sector. Further to this WISA is working with the LGSETA for the registration of an additional 50 potential Professional Process Controllers. WISA has a specific membership category aimed at municipalities, this membership includes the registration of two professional process controllers, further registrations may be provided at a reduced rate, helping municipalities to meet the requirements of the regulation. In addition to this, municipal members will receive a number of additional benefits and will be given preferential access to funded CPD training to the benefit of their registered professional engineers, scientists and process controllers to retain their professional status.

Which classes of process controllers must be registered as Professional Process Controllers?

Class V and Class VI process controllers (known as senior process controllers) must be registered as Professional Process Controllers. For additional requirements, please visit https://wisa.org.za/product/professional-registration/

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