The old adage that says “it’s a man’s world” literally holds no water for Amatola Water’s two high-flying female plant superintendents.

Phumza Mboso, 35 and Buyiswa Badi, 38, who head up the Nahoon Dam and Laing Dam Water Treatment Works respectively are the only two female plant superintendents at Amatola Water.

Their achievement is significant if you consider that female plant superintendents are a rare occurrence in the water sector.

Says Amatola Water corporate services director Mzwandiel Gogwana: “The utility currently has two female plant supervisors, which is uncommon in the water sector and testimony that women can rise to the high ranks in the water sector.”

Phumza and Buyiswa’s rise to the top of the water chain has followed a similar path. Both began their careers with the utility on a learnership pogramme in 2002 and 2005 respectively and were subsequently employed as class 2 operators. Class 2 operators are mainly responsible for water purification.

In 2005 Phumza moved to Binfield water Treatment Works and was promoted to a class 3 operator before being appointed in 2007 as a junior plant superintendent at Tsojoma Water Treatment Works in Cofimvaba in Chris Hani District Municipality. In 2009 she was promoted to plant superintendent at the same works before moving to Nahoon Dam in the same capacity in December the same year.

Phumza’s tasks involve taking care of the Chintsa Water Works and the Chintsa Waste Water Treatment Works while leading a 14 member staff team.

“The water business is a challenging but exciting environment. Knowing the contribution you are making in ensuring that communities receive quality water brings a sense of fulfillment,” says Phumza.

Realising that she needed a bigger challenge in a bigger plant, Buyiswa, who heads a 13-member team moved to Laing Dam in 2008 and became a class 3 operator. In April 2010 she acted as a plant superintendent at the works before being appointed full-time in the position in 2010.

“As plant superintendents we perform staff supervision and ensuring the smooth running of the plants as well as administration,” says Buyiswa.

Buyiswa says she draws strength from knowing that she ensures the delivery of a life-sustaining resource to communities.