About ERWAT
ERWAT, the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company, was established in 1992. It is a municipal entity, and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality holds the majority share. The City of Johannesburg and Lesedi Local Municipality hold smaller stakes. Its head office is at Hartebeestfontein Office Park in Kempton Park.
The company manages 19 wastewater care works. It provides bulk wastewater conveyance and treatment for more than 3.5 million people and many industries. The works vary in size, from small plants of about 0.4 megalitres a day to a large works of 155 megalitres a day. ERWAT has also won national recognition for wastewater management, including Green Drop awards.
How ERWAT supports students
Running plants of this size takes engineers, chemists and biotechnologists. Water quality rules are strict, and equipment must work around the clock. ERWAT therefore offers an external bursary to build skills for the sector, and especially for the community it serves.
The bursary has recently been open to students in degree programmes such as biotechnology, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Studies must take place at a public university in Gauteng. Preference is given to applicants who live in the Ekurhuleni area. In earlier years, the focus was on students who had finished their first year of study.
Funding covers tuition, books, accommodation and a monthly stipend. For a student from a township or a low-income home, that package removes most of the money worries that cause dropouts. The stipend helps with daily costs such as food and transport.
What to know before applying
Recent calls required South African citizenship and an age between 18 and 35. Applications were sent by email to the recruitment address with a bursary reference in the subject line. Shortlisted candidates were contacted after the closing date. Dates change each year, so check the ERWAT website or careers portal for the current notice.
Prepare your documents carefully. You will usually need a certified ID, your latest academic results, proof of registration or acceptance and a motivation. Incomplete applications are normally not considered.
ERWAT's published information does not set out a formal work-back obligation. Do not assume this, however. Ask ERWAT to confirm the terms, including any service commitment, before you accept an offer. The company lists 011 929 7000 as its main number.
Careers in wastewater are practical and in demand. Graduates may work on plant design, process control, laboratory analysis or maintenance, all of which protect rivers and public health. Municipalities and water utilities across the country need qualified staff, so these skills travel well beyond Ekurhuleni.
Students who finish a bursary may also find it easier to compete for later internships and vacancies in the water sector.
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