Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT)

ERWAT, the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company, treats wastewater for the East Rand. ERWAT was established in 1992 as a municipal entity, and the City of Ekurhuleni owns the majority, with the City of Johannesburg and Lesedi Local Municipality holding smaller shares. ERWAT runs 19 wastewater care works with a combined treatment capacity of around 696 megalitres a day.

Registered name

Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT)

Type

Municipal entity (wastewater treatment)

Fields funded

Science and engineering disciplines, for students who have completed first year

Website

erwat.co.za

Six Green Drop awards

In 2026 ERWAT won six of the 14 national Green Drop awards, the government’s recognition for excellent wastewater management. ERWAT presented the result as confirmation of its leadership in wastewater treatment, and the awards matter at a time when many South African municipalities struggle to treat sewage properly before it reaches rivers.

ERWAT also takes part in community activities, such as a training run with ERWAT Athletic and Runners of Hope, which appear alongside its technical news.

An external bursary for students after first year

In January 2026 ERWAT announced an external bursary opportunity for qualifying university students committed to academic excellence in science and engineering disciplines. ERWAT aimed the bursary at talented students who have successfully completed their first year of study, so first-year and school-leaver applicants do not qualify.

ERWAT says the bursary supports students with strong academic potential and a clear commitment to South Africa’s scientific, engineering and infrastructure development. ERWAT published the full eligibility criteria, required documents and application process in a downloadable PDF, and asked applicants to read it carefully.

How to research ERWAT’s bursary

Download the bursary PDF from ERWAT’s news page and check the list of qualifying fields, which ERWAT sets out in the document. Wastewater treatment uses civil, chemical and mechanical engineers, chemists and microbiologists, so students in those fields should read the requirements closely.

Learn what the Green Drop programme measures before applying. Explaining why effective wastewater treatment matters for public health and rivers shows ERWAT that you understand its work. Ask ERWAT whether bursars do vacation work at treatment works and whether they must work for ERWAT after graduating.

ERWAT’s treatment works stretch across Ekurhuleni and beyond, so bursars may gain exposure to large plants that handle industrial as well as household wastewater.

See our civil engineering bursaries page for other water-sector funders.