Water&Sanitation Africa September/October 2015 by 3S Media

Promoting professional excellence in the water sector

Water& Sanitation The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

Complete water resource and wastewater management

Africa

DANFOSS Do more with less

REGIONAL FOCUS Prioritising Cape wastewater treatment

IN THE HOT SEAT July

WATER TREATMENT Daphnia, shrimp, and snails, oh my!

WATER BOARDS Water utilities’ winds of change

“Although we’ve gone through numerous name changes, we’ve been around for 50 years and have built a reputation based on our quality, support, and the state-of-the-art technology that we bring to our customers.” Louis Du Toit, ImproChem MD

P12

September/October 2015 • ISSN 1990-8857 • Cover price R50.00 • Vol. 10 No. 5

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R E I N V E N T I N G T H E WAY WAT E R I S M A N A G E D Nalco Africa Operations 1 AMPÈRE ROAD, CHLOORKOP, EDENGLEN 1624 Tel: +27 (0)11 578 5000 Fax: +27 (0)11 393 1567 nalcoafricareception@nalco.com www.nalco.com/sa © 2015 Ecolab USA Inc. All rights reserved

CONTENTS

Vol. 10 No. 5

Promoting professional excellence in the water sector

Water& Sanitation The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

Complete water resource and wastewater management

Africa

DANFOSS Do more with less

ON THE COVER

INSIGHT

REGULARS Editor’s comment Africa round-up

3 24

COVER STORY

Do more with less

in the hot seat July

Water treatment Daphnia, shrimp and snails, oh my!

Water boards Water utilities’ winds of change

“Although we’ve been through numerous name changes, we’ve been around for 50 years and have built a reputation based on our quality, support, and the state-of-the-art technology that we bring to our customers.” Louis Du Toit, ImproChem MD

P12

July/August 2015 • ISSN 1990-8857 • Cover price R50.00 • Vol. 10 No. 5

Water restrictions not new

Paying professional dues

HOT SEAT

Watertight treatment for total efficiency

regional focus Prioritising Cape wastewater treatment

WISA

Danfoss engineers technologies that enable the world of tomorrow to do more with less, saving clients significant time and money, and improving resource efficiency; all while creating a betterrun plant. P4

REGIONAL FOCUS Prioritising Cape wastewater treatment

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Making the right connection

INSIGHT Addressing water quality and quantity

22 PROJECTS IN AFRICA

PROJECTS IN AFRICA Treatment technology beyond borders

WATER BOARDS Water utilities’ winds of change

WATER TREATMENT Daphnia, shrimp and snails, oh my!

WASTEWATER TREATMENT Revolution solution

Cooperation bridges troubled waters

SANITATION Local alternative sanitation successes

45 SANITATION 45

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES PIPES IX

Choosing the right isolating valve

METERING Measure for measure

EVENTS IFAT to hit SA shores

PRODUCT NEWS Analytics in red and blue

Pumping market excellence

52 METERING SEPT/OCT 2015

Renewedpipes pipesfor forPretoria PretoriaWest WestHospital Hospital Renewed Customer: Pretoria West Hospital state hospiCustomer:Pretoria PretoriaWest WestHospital Hospitalis is isa a astate statehospihospiCustomer: tal in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipaltal in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipaltal in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Leaks from the corroded cast iron storm water ity.Leaks Leaksfrom fromthe thecorroded corrodedcast castiron ironstorm stormwater water ity. downpipes, encased in the building’s structural coldownpipes,encased encasedininthe thebuilding’s building’sstructural structuralcolcoldownpipes, umns, were causing extensive water damage to the umns, were causing extensive water damage to the umns, were causing extensive water damage to the building. building. building.

Circumvention: Replacing the pipes was a completeCircumvention: Replacing the pipes was completeCircumvention: Replacing the pipes was aa completely unviable unviable option option as as the the roof roof slab slab and and walls walls would would ly ly unviable option as the roof slab and walls would need to be cut open in multiple places to access the need be open multiple places access the need toto be cutcut open inin multiple places toto access the failing pipes. The only two options were to reroute, failing pipes. The only two options were reroute, failing pipes. The only two options were toto reroute, which is is very very time time consuming consuming or or reline reline which which was was which which is very time consuming or reline which was completed in less than a month. completedininless lessthan thana amonth. month. completed

System: The damaged system consists cast System:The Thedamaged damagedsystem systemconsists consistsofof of2323 23cast cast System: iron full bores feeding vertical storm water stacks iron full bores feeding vertical storm water stacks iron full bores feeding vertical storm water stacks running from the roof to the ground floor. The stacks running from the roof the ground floor. The stacks running from the roof toto the ground floor. The stacks are encased in structural columns. areencased encasedininstructural structuralcolumns. columns. are

Solution: Nu Flow’s Flow’s unique unique technology technology is the the most most Solution:NuNu Solution: Flow’s unique technology is isthe most cost effective solution in this situation. Using specosteffective effectivesolution solutionininthis thissituation. situation.Using Usingspespecost cialised micro-cutter cleaning machine and purcialised micro-cutter cleaning machine and purcialised micro-cutter cleaning machine and purpose designed cleaning heads Nu Flow technicians posedesigned designedcleaning cleaningheads headsNuNuFlow Flowtechnicians technicians pose cleaned and de-scaled the inside of the damage cleaned and de-scaled the inside of the damage cleaned and de-scaled the inside of the damage pipes returning them to their original diameter. pipes returning them to their original diameter. pipes returning them to their original diameter.

Situation: The integrity of the vertical cast iron stacks Situation: The integrity the vertical cast iron stacks Situation: The integrity ofof the vertical cast iron stacks was seriously compromised by corrosion and major wasseriously seriouslycompromised compromisedbybycorrosion corrosionand andmajor major was leaks. Replacement of the stacks by conventional leaks. Replacement of the stacks by conventional leaks. Replacement of the stacks by conventional means would require extensive structural work bemeanswould wouldrequire requireextensive extensivestructural structuralwork workbebemeans cause the pipes are built into the building’s columns cause the pipes are built into the building’s columns cause the pipes are built into the building’s columns and was simply not option. andwas wassimply simplynot notanan anoption. option. and

Made measure epoxy saturated structural liners Madetoto tomeasure measureepoxy epoxysaturated saturatedstructural structuralliners liners Made were then winched into the pipes. Within the liner were then winched into the pipes. Within the liner were then winched into thethe pipes. Within the liner is a rubber bladder. Once liner is in position the is a rubber bladder. Once the liner is in position the is a rubber bladder. Once the liner is in position the bladder is inflated and the epoxy left to cure. Once bladder inflated and the epoxy left cure. Once bladder is is inflated and the epoxy left toto cure. Once cured, the bladder was removed leaving a “new cured, the bladder was removed leaving a “new cured, the bladder was removed leaving a “new pipe” within the host pipe. No more leaks and no pipe” within the host pipe. No more leaks and pipe” within the host pipe. No more leaks and nono more water damage. morewater waterdamage. damage. more

Need relining done? Needrelining reliningdone? done? Need Want to become a Nu Flow Installer? Wanttotobecome becomea aNu NuFlow FlowInstaller? Installer? Want Contact us: Contactus: us: Contact

(+27) 87 160 0330 (+27)87 87160 1600330 0330 (+27) enquiries@nuflow.co.za enquiries@nuflow.co.za enquiries@nuflow.co.za www.nuflow.co.za www.nuflow.co.za www.nuflow.co.za

S SO OU UT TH H A AF FR R II C CA A SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA

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Publisher Elizabeth Shorten

EDITOR'S COMMENT

Associate publisher Nicholas McDiarmid Editor Frances Ringwood Head of design Beren Bauermeister

Planning for success

Chief sub-editor Tristan Snijders Sub-editor Morgan Carter Contributors Jo Burgess, Lester Goldman, Shanna Nienaber, Hendrik van Rhijn Digital & marketing manager Philip Rosenberg Client services & production manager

Antois-Leigh Botma

LTHOUGH NOT ALL plans will necessarily result in good outcomes – Robert Burns said they “Gang aft agley” (often go awry) in his famous poem ‘To a Mouse’ – planning is, nonetheless, the most important factor governing whether demand can be met over the long term. Since the South African Constitution states that everyone has the right to have access to sufficient water, the government is under strict obligation to ensure that all citizens have access to clean water. This means good planning is a critical skill in municipalities, with good revenue collection systems and enforcement of laws governing industrial users following on closely.

Production coordinator Jacqueline Modise Distribution manager Nomsa Masina Distribution coordinator Asha Pursotham Financial manager Andrew Lobban Administration Tonya Hebenton Printers United Litho Johannesburg t +27 (0)11 402 0571 Advertising sales Avé Delport t +27 (0)11 467 6224 • Cell: +27 (0)83 302 1342 f 086 502 1216 • avedel@lantic.net Publisher MEDIA Physical address: No 9, 3rd Avenue Rivonia 2191

Postal address: PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117, South Africa t +27 (0)11 233 2600 • f +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 frances@3smedia.co.za

Water shedding looming Projections made available through both Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Johannesburg Water indicate that there is the risk of a possible shortfall in supply if demand increases along an expected curve. Once the first waters from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project enter Gauteng in about 2023, the risk of shortfall should no longer to be a problem. In the meantime, however, people need water. Human beings lived for thousands of years without the luxury of electricity but it’s impossible to survive more than 9 or 10 days without water. As a result, the major metros in the Gauteng area are promoting water demand management (WDM) strategies to prevent water outages. However, municipality-led WDM is expensive and, while the budget for water and wastewater infrastructure is R670 billion over the next 10 years, it is doubtful that it will be enough for the whole country. The former minister of the former Department of Water and Environmental Affairs said that this would only be

ISSN: 1990 - 8857 Annual subscription: R300 (SA rate) subs@3smedia.co.za Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. All articles in Water&Sanitation Africa are copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publishers. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Water Institute of Southern Africa or the publishers.

WISA CONTACTS: HEAD OFFICE Tel: +27 (0)11 805 3537 Fax: +27 (0)11 315 1258 Physical address: 1st Floor, Building 5, Constantia Park, 546 16th Road, Randjiespark Ext 7, Midrand BRANCHES Eastern Cape Chairman: Hennie Greeff t +27 (0)41 453 3102 Secretary/Treasurer: Chris Dickson t +27 (0)41 507 8200

www.ewisa.co.za

Free State Chairperson: D.R. Tlhomelang t +27 (0)51 403 0800 Secretary/Treasurer: Riana Wessels t +27 (0)56 515 0375 KwaZulu-Natal Chairman: Chris Fennemore t +27 (0)31 311 8734 Secretary/Treasurer: Stephanie Walsh t +27 (0)31 302 4077 Western Cape Chairman: Gareth McConkey t +27 (0)21 712 4260 Secretary/Treasurer: Eleonore Bondesio t+27 (0)21 872 0322

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IN THE HOT SEAT July

“

RISE MICROENTERP BIOLOGY THROUGH microalgae’s Wastewater ntial biofuel pote

Coastal case studies Regarding how best to lower domestic water use, South Africans already have experience with lowering their consumption. In the Eastern Cape, when Grahamstown was experiencing water outages (which it still does from time to time, due to the connection of new and old infrastructure), citizens started turning to rainwater harvesting, grey water reuse, and dry sanitation solutions to meet their needs. More recently, Durban residents have experienced intense drought conditions. Municipal authorities warned, years ago, that dam levels were low, but high rainfall alleviated that problem. This year, it didn’t, and Durbanites were forced to share showers, put bricks in their loos, and limit garden watering hours, among other measures. We’re a country that knows how to save water, but it’s no good doing so only in a crisis. Forewarned is forearmed and it’s time that we, as a nation, get much more serious about planning for water conservation and water outages – not just government, but everyone.

sector in the water

itation Water& San Africa Promoting

about half of what’s needed. What does this shortfall mean? If WDM strategies can’t be implemented 100% as needed, does that mean that there will certainly be water shedding? It does look likely. Although there is still some hope, municipalities and water boards can’t solve the problem alone. But, if the private sector were to assist with activating citizen awareness, a great deal could still be achieved.

TRENCHLESS GY TECHNOLO ning Langa slipli bilitation sewer reha

e as a and maintenanc s see service table, e don’t alway le to be proﬁ nment, peopl way, it’s possib “In our enviro ached in this ’s new MD P10 when it’s appro South Africa 4 science but, • Vol. 10 No. Fourie, Xylem price R50.00 times.” Pierre 7 • Cover tough 1990-885 in ISSN • even ust 2015 July/Aug

COVER OPPORTUNITY In each issue, Water&Sanitation Africa offers companies the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the magazine. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings contact Avé Delport on +27 (0)83 302 1342 or email avedel@lantic.net. SEPT/OCT 2015

COVER STORY

Do more with less Electricity and maintenance are two of the highest operational costs in manufacturing. Selecting the right variable-speed drive (VSD) or other soft-start option will save significant time and money, improving resource efficiency, while creating a better-run plant.

ANFOSS ENGINEERS technologies that enable the world of tomorrow to do more with less. Danfoss products and services are used in areas such as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, motor control and mobile machinery. The Group is divided into four business segments: Danfoss Power Solutions, Danfoss Cooling, Danfoss Drives, and Danfoss Heating. Danfoss Power Solutions is a leading player in hydraulic systems and components for powering off-highway mobile machinery. Danfoss Cooling is a global player in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry. Danfoss Heating enjoys leading positions within residential heating, commercial heating, and district energy. Danfoss Drives’ key expertise lies in low-voltage AC drives, power modules, and stacks for a number of industries. However, since the company began developing its proprietary VLT drive technology in 1986, Danfoss has come to stand for increased plant efficiency across all pump- and motor-dependant sectors. Products that save on pump and motor start-up, shutdown, and operational energy costs have been particularly appealing in the food and beverage sector, preventing production line disruptions and unnecessary breakages while contributing towards lower overheads. Over the years, Danfoss’s range has been developed to Food and beverage factory conveyor

Products that save on pump and motor start-up, shutdown, and operational energy costs have been particularly appealing in the food and beverage sector, preventing production line disruptions and unnecessary breakages while contributing towards lower overheads handle more corrosive environments and higher voltages, driving the company’s VSDs and soft starters to become award-winning solutions for mining and municipal water and wastewater applications. The technology is also highly effective for the heating, air-conditioning, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) market.

Energy-efficient pumps

“In theory, any electrical motor could be equipped with a VSD; this technology increases efficiency because it changes the load from inductive to capacitive. It is particularly important to look at the

efficiencies that can be achieved in the start-up and shutdown of equipment,” explains Roland Sargent, managing director of Danfoss South Africa. “Starting up pumps equipped with a Danfoss VSD is much smoother because users can control the pump’s power usage and, by extension, the torque. Pump impellers are generally heavy pieces of steel, requiring large amounts of energy during start-up to begin rotating. Working against the fluid forces of liquids like water and slurries will cause mechanical stress if it happens too quickly. By limiting that initial start-up stress, pump users can save on the lifespan, maintenance, and bearings of the pump – not only that, but localised electrical infrastructure is also shielded from excessive stresses,” he adds. Both VSDs and soft starters have this effect; however, the added benefit of a VSD is that plant operators can continue controlling pumps’ operation, running them at optimal flow rates and desired pressures. “This makes the most sense in cases where more than one pump is in use. Take a geyser, for example. If one pump is attached to a geyser and there’s not enough pressure, there’s no choice but to start another pump. But, when two pumps are running at their full load capacity, operators then need to begin throttling back on their valves to lower pressure. With a VSD, the first pump can be pushed slightly faster than its rated frequency, allowing for a higher load capacity. Then, if the second pump is still needed – once it’s started up – both pumps can be ramped down, controlling pressure more efficiently through load sharing,” says Sargent.

Robust design

Pumps and motors are often situated in outdoor environments and Danfoss offers drive technology rated to work in humid

SEPT/OCT 2015

COVER STORY or wet weather conditions. The company also has a range that can be housed within a motor control centre or substation. “VSDs generate heat, just like any other electrical components. These conditions require the use of air conditioners to keep the equipment cold, especially when housed inside a structure. Air conditioners bring their own challenges, requiring maintenance and power to run the compressor. Since it’s undesirable to begin using energy to cool a product aimed at reducing energy consumption, Danfoss has developed a back-channel cooling option. “This allows for a much better atmospheric heat exchange so that air conditioning isn’t needed. Greater efficiencies are thus created, saving on money that would otherwise be spent on air conditioners, coolers, or chillers,” explains Sargent.

Water industry

VSDs are used in a wide variety of water-related applications, including water, wastewater, dams, reservoirs, and pump stations. “Looking specifically at wastewater treatment plants, there are a number of areas that would benefit from the use of products geared towards energy savings. This includes reticulation, agitators, and aerators. For example, aerators are typically fitted with large impellers – a heavy piece of equipment needing to do a great deal of work to churn wastewater. Getting more efficiency out of these is a clear way to generate savings,” clarifies Sargent. Because of the large size of aerators, smooth stopping and starting is also beneficial for reducing noise and minimising maintenance and replacement – two distinct advantages in the sewage treatment environment.

Powering down

Where loadshedding and brownouts are common, repeated aggressive plant start-up and shutdown can severely decrease the lifespan and efficiencies of pumps. Danfoss’s active front-end drives are capable of giving pump owners the ability to ramp down equipment during power cuts, or even allow the pump to ride through smaller dips in supply. “Having technology such as this installed really does pay dividends for any piece of plant equipment that has high inertia and high momentum; such equipment

VLT variable-speed drive plus model number

doesn’t only include pumps but also fans, conveyors, compressors, and more,” states Sargent. “Also bear in mind that, in the event of a brownout, phases can go out of alignment, causing an inrush current, which can be extremely damaging to plant owners’ equipment if there is no way to control how power is distributed throughout a component,” he adds. Worth mentioning about Danfoss’s drives are the ‘regeneration’ features that regenerate power into the grid when plant components are switching off and slowing down, which lowers power consumption for many types of plant. “When switching off an electric motor or a pump, there is leftover energy from the inertia of rotating components. The minute a motor is being spun by the load, it actually starts to regenerate power. Rather than losing that power, by virtue of a drive with an active front end, you can now take that regenerated power and put it back into the grid,” explains Sargent.

visitor this drive and say: ‘This is how good Danfoss is. This drive keeps going and nothing we throw at it can kill it’,” says Pierre Prinsloo, product and power support engineer for Danfoss South Africa’s Power & Electronics Division. Running for an excess of 12 years, the unit receives very little maintenance and, yet, it gives no problems. “Over the years, we have developed a system where we protect our computer boards using conformal coating. The board is sprayed with a lacquer to seal and protect it, and we’ve stepped up the coating technology as the drives have progressed. But the specific model at Northam Platinum mine had no such coating.” What the mining engineer did was to purchase an off-the-shelf lacquer to prevent corrosion; since then, the unit’s never given a problem. “That’s always been a story that makes me proud of being part of a company producing a product that delivers,” concludes Prinsloo. At this point in time, Danfoss’s own house-brand drives, as well as its Vacon range, allow the company to offer voltages from single-phase 220 V up to 3.3 kV. Danfoss’s local and international offices are continually investing in research and development, and Sargent and Prinsloo hint at future innovations, including much larger and smaller voltages, solar power, and products designed specifically for the agricultural market.

Roland Sargent, managing director of Danfoss South Africa

Impressive lifespan

As for lifespans, Danfoss products feature impressive longevity. At Northam Platinum’s Limpopo mine, one of Danfoss South Africa’s very early drives – the VLT 5000 – continues to run at top efficiency despite running in a harsh, chemically saturated environment. “It just doesn’t stop going; every time we visit the site, the head engineer will show some new

www.danfoss.co.za

In each issue, Water&Sanitation Africa offers advertisers the opportunity to promote their company’s products and services to an appropriate audience by booking the prime position of the front cover, which includes a feature article. The magazine offers advertisers an ideal platform to ensure maximum exposure of their brand. Please call Avé Delport on +27 (0)11 467 6224/ +27 (0)83 302 1342 to secure your booking.

SEPT/OCT 2015

CEO'S LE T TER

Water restrictions

not new

Lester Goldman, WISA CEO

South Africa has always been a water-scarce country and, in times of drought, we must tighten our belts. That being said, the tenor of public debate is becoming more urgent and it’s time for water professionals to talk about the issues.

A time to act OW TIME FLIES; half myths, a public service our orMaybe the time for discussing the year has come and ganisation is perfectly situated to these historic water challenges gone. I hope that the perform. I look forward to reading has also come and gone. And the second half of the year your informed articles and opinquestion should now be, how do holds promise and opportunity for ions soon. we action these items? I know all our members. I grew up in the Membership note that no individual stakeholder can Eastern Cape, and water restricMeanwhile, at WISA, we have resolve the issues, and that a team tions were something that became introduced two new membereffort is required. I also know that the norm. So, when I hear about ship categories: Municipal water shedding in some Eskom’s loadshedding and Academic Institutions. areas, it does not ring any alarm bells for me – yet, the has certainly heightened The Municipal category is reserved for municipalities, public seems alarmed. I must our alarmist response and we will focus on assisting admit, Eskom’s loadshedding, mechanisms. We know municipalities in identifying has certainly heightened our alarmist response mecha- that a lack of water poses and mitigating their individual water-related risks. The nisms. We know that a lack a considerably greater risk Academic Institutions cateof water poses a considerably than a lack of electricity, gory is reserved to registered greater risk than a lack of higher education institutions, electricity, and rightly so. and rightly so and we want to partner with Increasing public awareness the passion within the sector is them in improving the level and Various articles and opinions I’ve a great catalyst for creating sucstandard of education and trainread seem to indicate that this cessful teams. So, send me your ing provided within the sector. is not something to be alarmist ideas, opinions, and concerns to The criteria and benefits will be about. However, there does seem ceo@wisa.org.za. This is somerelayed in our newsletters over to be a lack of information flowing thing we may be able to the rest of the quarter. to the public, and maybe that is consolidate and share with our where our members can assist. divisions – and that is one way Some of the critical factors of going from talking to doing. Maybe the time for blamed for water restrictions WISA is a body of exceptional include resource depletion and and talented individuals, all discussing these contamination, growing demand, of whom have something historic water and inefficient infrastructure. of value to add. We have to challenges has also None of these are new, yet it start somewhere. seems like there has been a lot of Let’s get some informative come and gone. talk without action. I, personally, articles out there in publications And the question come from a financial background such as this, as well as more mainshould now be, and do not claim to be a scientist stream sources, so our members or engineer. But, I know that withcan assist in getting the facts how do we action out measurable actionable items, straight. Knowing the facts will these items? we will not solve any challenges. clarify and demystify existing

SEPT/OCT 2015

PRESIDENT'S LE T TER

Paying

professional dues Jo Burgess, president of WISA, discusses why it’s important for water professionals to pay their non-financial dues, as a service, to the sector.

ABOVE Jo Burgess, T IS WIDELY RECOGWISA MEMBERS’ REASONS FOR WISA president VOLUNTEERING NISED that capacity 2 Simple Changes, building and sustainable Big Rewards: A knowledge transfer are and make it a better place. Feel better Make a statement with Practical, Easy about myself my life critical concerns for the water Even helping out with the Guide for Healthy, sector. The loss of intellectual smallest tasks can make a real Happy Living assets is a major threat to difference. By dedicating your Achievement Feel involved Make new friends effective water management, time as a volunteer, you may Bringing about Feel needed Meet new people particularly in water-scarce make new friends, expand social change countries where the onus your network, and boost your Contribute to a Feeling of Personal growth has always been on the social skills. cause I care about belonging scientific community to find Additionally, volunteering Demonstrate technological solutions for can provide a healthy boost commitment to Find purpose Pressure from a friend the cause societal challenges. to your self-confidence, Additionally, a large skills self-esteem, and life satisfacGain leadership Recognition and Develop new skills skills feedback flight has been perceived in tion. You are doing good for recent years. Water specialists others and your community, Get to know the Share a skill Do my civic duty water sector in developing countries often which provides a natural emigrate to apply their trade sense of accomplishment. Enjoy a meaningful Giving Strengthen my CV conversation something back in developed countries, but Your role as a volunteer can Expand my This is where I see my also move to international and also give you a sense of pride Help others friends horizons multinational organisations. and identity. And the better Explore new areas Impress my Use my skills in a The repercussions for the secyou feel about yourself, the of interest girlfriend productive way tor include high staff turnover, more likely you are to have Make a as well as the loss of skills a positive view of your life Family ties difference and institutional memory. and future goals.Reducing Developing countries’ young the risk of depression water professionals, in particular, are, Why do people volunteer? is another important benefit therefore, faced with the threefold chalWith busy lives, it can be hard to find time of volunteering. A key risk factor for delenge of developing their skills, finding to volunteer. However, it is not a one-way pression is social isolation. Volunteering mentors to help them do so, and grapstreet in which all the benefits go to the keeps you in regular contact with others pling with the added responsibility of reorganisation you work for on a voluntary and helps you develop a solid support learning knowledge that could have been basis. The benefits of volunteering are system, which, in turn, protects you retained through sustainable knowledge enormous for you, your family, and your against stress and depression when transfer policies and programmes. To community. The right match can help you’re going through challenging meet these challenges, several organisayou find friends, learn new skills, and times. Volunteering also helps you tions have launched initiatives, such as even advance your career. According to stay physically healthy at any age, but the Rand Water Academy, and the War studies, volunteering can also help pro- it’s especially beneficial in older adults. on Leaks. These formal mechanisms are tect your mental and physical health. Studies have found that those who often efficient, and keep employees very volunteer have a lower mortality rate busy. So, who has time for anything else? The personal benefits than those who do not, even when And why should they do anything else, Volunteering allows you to connect to considering factors like the health for that matter? your professional and local community of the participants. SEPT/OCT 2015

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PRESIDENTS LE T TER Last, and most importantly Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness, in a large group of American adults, they found that the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine. Compared with people who never volunteered, the odds of being “very happy” rose 7% among those who volunteer monthly and 12% for people who volunteer every two to four weeks. Among weekly volunteers, 16% felt very happy – a hike in happiness comparable to having an income of $75 000 to $100 000 versus $20 000, say the researchers. The professional benefits If you’re new to your career, or even if you’re not, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practise important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organisation. Valuable work skills Just because the work is unpaid does not mean the skills learned are basic. Many voluntary opportunities provide extensive training. Volunteering can also help build existing skills and use them to benefit the wider water community. For instance, a successful sales person could raise awareness for their favourite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving public speaking, communication, and marketing skills. Fine in theory, but why do people volunteer really? For those who like lists, the table on page 7 contains reasons from a variety of active WISA members as to why they volunteer in their conference committee, division, or branch. Possibly the most powerful motivation, though, is the sense of professional, personal, societal, or environmental duty – which arose time and time again. In any walk of life, a person inevitably benefits from someone else’s unpaid effort – if you have ever attended a conference run by a non-profit organisation, or had an article reviewed, or needed feedback on a draft document you wrote, or even asked a question of someone who was not your line manager, then you were the beneficiary of that person’s or those people’s willingness to volunteer. And that’s why, when you are next asked to review something, or help your local branch or technical division with something, there are so many reasons to say yes.

SEPT/OCT 2015

Y WP-WISA

Discovering

enviropreneurs

At the recent Imvelisi business boot camp, the International Water Association and WISA’s Young Water Professionals (YWP-ZA) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s GreenMatter network discovered some amazing young talent making a difference. BY SHANNA NIENABER*

reen entrepreneurship and its associated skills development needs is a hot topic in South Africa at the moment. There are numerous national drivers that make the issue of skills for developing a green economy strategically important. Moreover, the issue of persistent unemployment in South Africa is a serious concern, especially for the youth. This is largely because too few jobs have been created to absorb growing numbers of new entrants into the labour market. The green economy is receiving particular attention as a priority sector to increase labour absorption in developing countries. Natural resources management – encompassing water and biodiversity – is seen as one of the largest potential contributors to job creation in South Africa, due to our rich endowment of natural capital, the need for its protection, and the complex socioecological challenges that exist in this space. Notably, the National Development Plan, New Growth Path, and Industrial Policy Action Plan all highlight the role that small and medium-sized firms will play in employment

creation in South Africa, but also emphasise that skills challenges are one of the major limits to stable expansion.

Meeting aspirations Equally important is the reality that many young South Africans are increasingly attracted to being self-employed, as they see this as

The green economy is receiving particular attention as a priority sector to increase labour absorption in developing countries a career path that allows for different degrees of flexibility than that offered by mainstream organisations. A further advantage is that self-employment is a way of securing employment in the broader context of job scarcity. These factors convinced the YWP-ZA and GreenMatter to get involved in the water

SEPT/OCT 2015

ABOVE LEFT Seventeen participants at the pilot Imvelisi business boot camp, which took place earlier this year, learned valuable skills for taking their green ventures to the next level ABOVE RIGHT More and more young South Africans are looking at self-employment options as an alternate career path in a tough economy

and biodiversity entrepreneurship sector. Together, these two networks have conceptualised and implemented the Imvelisi – Developing Enviropreneurs programme. This developmental programme focuses on nurturing a pipeline of potential entrepreneurs towards a greener economy, with a particular focus on water and biodiversity businesses. Imvelisi is designed to improve the potential of aspiring enviropreneurs in gaining access into mainstream incubators and business funding streams.

Imvelisi boot camp Imvelisi 2015 took place from 13 to 17 July this year, as a pilot initiative partly funded by the Department of Science and Technology

Y WP-WISA (DST). The programme complements and works in partnership with, among others, the Industrial Development Corporation, the Innovation Hub’s Climate Innovation Centre, and investment company Impact Amplifiers. This year’s events saw 17 inspiring, practical, creative young people participate in our training programme. Partners Awethu and GreenTalent were contracted to develop and run the training programme and its developmental components. Imvelisi 2015 had a particular focus on upskilling hand-picked participants in terms of: • the early stages of concept creation for business development • an appreciation of entrepreneurship as a possible career path •e xploring the alignment of their ideas to national and local priorities • learning how to assess market potential • understanding the funding and partnership landscape •n etworking with entrepreneurs in the same space, and developing pitching and presentation skills through a simulated ‘Dragons Den’.

A strong foundation for infrastructure success

Participation results The boot camp was an intensive week, rewarded with remarkable growth in confidence, deepening clarity of business ideas, growing understanding of sustainability businesses, and extensive personal insight. In addition, participants learned a great deal about their own entrepreneurship strengths and weakness, as well as how to progress in their individual business journeys. YWP-ZA and GreenMatter congratulate all the remarkable enviropreneurs who participated in this year’s programme and look forward to walking a journey with them over the coming months.

*Shanna Nienaber is the chairperson of the South African Young Water Professionals.

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The Lightweight Concrete Sanitation Unit from ROCLA Is an all concrete structure that can be erected in under 15 minutes. With hard-wearing hardware supplied for all ﬁxtures (doors, bolts, pins, piping) and able to be installed almost anywhere in variable conditions, the Sanitation Unit has developed skills and created jobs across communities in South Africa. ROCLA is Southern Africa’s leading manufacturer of pre-cast concrete products for infrastructure, including pipes, culverts, manholes, roadside furniture, retaining walls, stock troughs, poles and other related products.

This developmental programme focuses on nurturing a pipeline of potential entrepreneurs towards a greener economy, with a particular focus on water and biodiversity businesses SEPT/OCT 2015

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HOT SEAT

Watertight treatment for

total efficiency Many service providers specialise in either engineered solutions or chemistry. ImproChem managing director Louis Du Toit explains how his company is capacitated to bring the two disciplines together for improved cost reduction, risk mitigation, and environmental efficiencies. What are some of ImproChem’s broad product and service categories for the industrial and mine water treatment markets?

LDT As a company, we are split into a number of business divisions: Industrial, Energy, Public Water, and Mining. Each of these different divisions can be further broken down into different specialised segments. For example, in Mining, we focus on the various mining segments (gold, coal, etc.) and within our Industrial division, we partner with various customers from the food and beverage and lighter industrial markets. We structure our offerings for the various segments; but specific to the mining industry, into: basic water treatment, with the focus on cooling water, compressor cooling, and fridge plants; steam generation, dust control, and process water treatment also form part of our application-specific offerings. We focus on solid-liquid

separation, specifically for underground water treatment and inf surface operations. We use clarification and thickening solutions in order to assist with solids removal; this protects pumps and other critical components, allowing us to reduce energy costs as well as operation and maintenance overheads for our mining customers. We offer various equipment solutions; among these unique offerings to the mining industry are our mini-RO units – these are portable reverse osmosis plants – which have operated exceptionally in providing potable water to mine workers at their various work stations. Our industrial segment offering is very similar. We provide chemicals and solutions for boiler water applications, cooling water applications, pretreatment, and effluent management. We offer mechanical solutions, which include reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, sludge removal, filters, softeners, SEPT/OCT 2015

ABOVE ImproChem managing director Louis Du Toit

and various package plants, as well as custom-engineered plants. These are often used for the recycling and reuse of water, minimising clients’ operating costs and water use footprint. Connected to this is an array of wastewater services, where we assist clients to be compliant in a given regulatory environment.

How does ImproChem reduce downtime and deliver greater customer value in these sectors? There are many applications designed specifically to reduce downtime. In general, we look at what impacts the customer’s outputs have on the environment and then asses which of our products or combination of products and

HOT SEAT LEFT All of ImproChem’s process control equipment is capable of sending a signal, meaning that water inside pumps, pipes, and storage tanks can be monitored remotely from any smart device

contact with the client, enabling them to take corrective measures. We are doing this in order to be more proactive on our customer sites. We use trends for benchmarking between group companies and track international standards.

equipment can be deployed to enhance the client’s productivity. This can be effected even on simple equipment such as heat exchangers. For example, if a critical heat exchanger gets fouled, the customer could be forced to stop the plant, take it out, and clean the heat exchanger to ensure that the processes can continue running efficiently. This can take as long as a day; cleaning components also costs money. By applying the correct water treatment, as well as on-site monitoring and control, longer run lengths are facilitated; this can save plant owners anything from thousands to millions of rands, depending on what they manufacture. ImproChem can also provide its own onsite experts that work from clients’ premises, providing proactive customer support through hands-on monitoring and control.

How would you characterise ImproChem’s service footprint?

What kind of software solutions or smart functionality do you offer for monitoring and control?

ImproChem is wholly owned by AECI. As the parent company, AECI provides us with an enhanced footprint through our sister companies in Africa, positioning us well in the market place. Moreover, AECI’s strategy is broken into five pillars: Mining, Water, Energy, Agriculture, and Speciality Chemicals. ImproChem is a key player in AECI’s larger vision, and looks to AECI for funding and support for large projects. As a responsible parent, AECI also provides us with corporate governance, and legal and human resources support. GE is our technology partner, putting ImproChem at the forefront of stateof-the-art technologies. GE’s Water and Process Division is at the leading edge of water treatment and is seen to be one of the bigger international water treatment companies. It’s important to have that alliance with GE because many of our customers have international footprints and like to see the same technology applied across developed and developing regions – in a responsible and committed manner. GE

Most of our monitoring and control instrumentation can be linked via a 4–20 mA transmitter to our im-PROSERV TrueView web platform, which has the ability to email critical parameters and alarm conditions, whether we’re monitoring conductivity, heat transfer, pH, solids, hardness, or even more sophisticated parameters such as silica in high-pressure boilers or heat exchanger efficiency. This enables us to have results accessible online, where we can work out which parameters have a direct impact on the customer’s performance. Using im-PROSERV, we can also upload manual information to a server, where it is consolidated and monitored using client-specific set points and standards. When the customer is either trending in the wrong direction or has a peak that exceeds a certain specification, our sales technologist in the area receives an SMS, which is also automatically forwarded to the client. Our sales technologist then makes

ImproChem has a large footprint in Africa; everything we are capable of doing in South Africa can be done anywhere else in sub-Saharan Africa. Not only do we have legal entities in quite a few countries but we also have many people on the ground in places like Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, the DRC, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and more. Additionally, we’re now expanding into Uganda and Mali, with public water applications. In countries where we are successful, we tend to follow our customer by training local talent as support staff.

Could you describe ImproChem’s relationships with AECI and GE and how these elevate the company’s water sector offering?

“By applying the correct water treatment, as well as on-site monitoring and control, longer run lengths are facilitated; this can save plant owners anything from thousands to millions of rands.”

SEPT/OCT 2015

“Not only do we have a number of legal entities in quite a few countries but we also have many people on the ground operating in Africa.”

ABOVE Pretreatment is an important step in industrial process water treatment, minimising sediments

also supplies us with domain experts at the forefront of these technological developments. When a customer requires access to a global technology expert, GE can supply that knowledge. Additionally, we are the only distributors of GE water and process technology in sub-Saharan Africa.

What does the ImproChem brand stand for in the local market? Stability – once we’ve made a commitment to a customer, we stand by it. Although we’ve been through numerous name changes, we’ve been around for 50 years and have built a reputation based on our quality, support, and the state-of-the-art technology that we bring to our customers.

www.improchem.co.za

REGIONAL FOCUS

Prioritising Cape

wastewater treatment Several years ago, increased funding led to extensive upgrades at a number of Cape Town’s key wastewater treatment plants. FRANCES RINGWOOD catches up with Kevin Samson, City of Cape Town wastewater treatment manager, to find out about more recent improvements. What are some of the reasons that Cape Town’s wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) require regular upgrades?

KS Like most cities, Cape Town is experiencing rapid urbanisation and growth; therefore, the necessary infrastructure has to be in place to ensure that these essential services are available and accessible. The City of Cape Town’s wastewater branch has a 10-year master plan that guides its capital improvement programme for the implementation of new infrastructure, as well as the refurbishment or replacement of related equipment. In this regard, several of its 27 WWTWs are either in the process of being extended to increase treatment capacity, or scheduled BELOW Treated wastewater from the Athlone works is released into the Black River – of the most of the City of Cape Town’s WWTWs feed into rivers, with only three leading to ocean outfalls

for upgrade or refurbishment. Besides increasing capacity to meet the needs of Cape Town’s growing population, the WWTWs are being upgraded to meet with Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Department of Environmental Affairs licence requirements.

Would you please provide a brief description of some of the technologies employed at your WWTWs?

Of the 27 WWTWs, there are three deep-sea marine outfalls. These have preliminary treatment mechanisms, i.e. fine screening and some grit removal. Afterwards, wastewater is pumped out to sea at a distance of 1.7 km and discharged through a series of diffusers at a depth of about 30 m. Of the other WWTWs, we have various treatment capacities and technologies, including oxidation ponds, rotating biological contactors, trickling bio-filters, and activated sludge plants.

SEPT/OCT 2015

The Zandvliet and Bellville WWTWs also have membrane bioreactors (MBRs).

What are some of the city’s latest WWTW upgrades and plans for the future?

Zandvliet WWTW is currently undergoing an 18 MLD (million litres per day) extension, including upgrades to the existing rising main and its associated screening station, and the Macassar pump station. The approximate value of these works is R800 million. In addition, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) investigation is underway for a further 50 MLD extension. The final basic assessment report (BAR) will be submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) regulatory authority before the end of the calendar year. At the Macassar WWTW, a 32 MLD EIA investigation is currently underway and the draft BAR is out for comment. A 50 MLD EIA investigation is being carried out at

REGIONAL FOCUS the Athlone WWTW, and the draft BAR will be released for comment within the next month. Potsdam WWTW is undergoing a 53 MLD capacity extension, which will be carried out over the next three to six years. We will appoint a professional services provider (engineering consultants) and aim to make the appointment early in the next calendar year. At Melkbosstrand WWTW, several contracts will be carried out to address processes at the inlet works, sludge dewatering, and some general building works improvements. Additionally, several tenders are underway to improve the treatment processes at the Wesfleur WWTW, in Atlantis, with respect to aeration blowers. The motor control centre and sludge dewatering tenders will be advertised within the next year. Finally, the smaller WWTWs at Philadelphia and Klipheuwel are also undergoing an EIA assessment for capacity extensions and final BARs for both will be submitted to the DEADP shortly.

Could you provide more information on your MBR works?

As stated earlier, both Zandvliet and the recently completed Bellville WWTWs (as well as the future upgrades at Potsdam) use MBR technology. These are conventional activated sludge treatment works that use membranes instead of secondary clarifiers to separate the sludge stream from the liquid stream; in doing so, they produce a superior final effluent quality. The advantage is that this water can be readily reused in industrial applications as well as for irrigating golf courses and vineyards. The reuse of the wastewater effluent is presently

“The capital budget for the extensions and upgrades will be in the region of R2 billion over the next six years – that’s an average of R330 million per year.” part of an investigation for the reclamation and further processing of wastewater to a much higher standard for possible direct or indirect use. In addition, we are limiting the nutrients discharged into the environment. The nutrients captured in the sludge will be part of the sludge beneficiation project, which will realise a sludge quality of Class A1 for the production of biogas. This will be used for energy generation to offset electricity consumption at the plants. Most of the biogas will be used to keep the sludge digestion process sustainable.

Cape Town has a number of innovative systems at its various WWTWs. Can you please describe one of the latest systems aimed at solving a treatment challenge?

No two WWTWs are identical, nor do they treat the same composition of wastewater. A works like Borcherds Quarry, for example, treats high levels of both industrial and domestic sewage. This WWTW also receives human waste via trucks and bakkie tankers from the nearby informal settlements, which presents its own challenges. To date, this plant used manual operation. Borcherds Quarry is noteworthy as we will soon be installing an automated system to minimise

human intervention needed for cleaning human waste.

How do you monitor municipal outfall water quality?

Weekly sampling is performed on various unit treatment processes at each treatment works. For example, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and ammonias are tested to assess whether theses parameters are compliant with the standards set by the regulatory authorities. In addition, operational monitoring is scheduled daily, for every shift.

What is the capital budget for these upgrades and how does it fit in with the city’s plans for long-term improvements?

The capital budget for the extensions and upgrades will be in the region of R2 billion over the next six years – that’s an average of R330 million per year. The capital budget allocation links in with the city’s strategy for economic growth. Moreover, all planned extensions and upgrades have been on the wastewater branch’s long-term capital improvement programme and now fall within our existing 10-year budget.

What percentage of your allocated wastewater budget do you manage to spend on average and what is the secret to spending wastewater operation and maintenance funds well?

Our last 15-year average rounded up to the nearest percentage point is 95% net capital expenditure, and our last 13 years’ total operational expenditure, which includes maintenance, is 96%. The key is planning well in advance and good budgeting. But there is no substitute for dedicated, hard-working wastewater specialists and passionate officials.

Do you also play a role in regulating industrial outfalls?

The wastewater branch, which manages the entire city’s WWTWs, uses the services of the internal division of pollution control inspectors, which monitors industrial effluent sources. If a breach is detected, appropriate actions in the form of further investigations or penalties are undertaken.

LEFT The Athlone WWTW (seen from above) is one of the 27 wastewater treatment works operated by the City of Cape Town

SEPT/OCT 2015

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Making the

right connection Water shedding looms over South Africa and other parts of the African continent – this fact has led canny business owners, facility managers, and private water users to ensure their water security in order to prevent unsanitary conditions, illness, and business losses.

AVING AN EMERGENCY water tank for potable supply, as well as grey and black water on a property, is the water industry’s parallel to generators and inverters used to shore up electrical supply during loadshedding. As a result, experienced local tank manufacturers are investing in ways to extend their offerings and services to meet growing demand for bigger, more versatile storage options. For example, South African tank specialist Abeco has secured an exclusive agreement with global leader Tank Connections to distribute bolted and hybrid storage tanks for both dry bulk and liquid tank applications. “Abeco has, historically, stuck to its own locally made water tanks over the years. What is interesting now is that our

partnership with Tank Connections has allowed us to expand in the tank market for different types of liquid, as well as dry bulk, storage,” explains vice-president of sales Mannie Ramos Jr. “This allows us to enter new markets such as the digester market and bulk storage applications, like as ash, coal, and sand. In spite of growing our range, we’re sticking to our knitting in that we are still providing water tanks – and these tanks are installed using the same method. The biggest benefit of the Tank Connections range is that we are now able to supply much larger tanks, as well as tall tanks for small installation footprints,” says Ramos. Abeco continues to supply its trusted circular, square, and elevated tanks but, now, industrial and mining clients needing water security have access to a whole new range of high-volume storage options, while achieving greater logistical economies of scale.

Geodesic tank domes are not only functional, they look beautiful too

SEPT/OCT 2015

When bigger is better Traditional moulded tanks are usually available only in smaller sizes – about 5 000, 10 000, or 20 000 litres, and Abeco galvanised tanks are available from 1 800 litres to 10 million litres. However, precision-rolled, tapered-panel (RTP) tanks can be installed to hold millions of litres and they can be transported in kit form, cutting down on transportation costs. “Tank Connections’ RTPs are the number one bolted tank design selected worldwide – panel tanks are easily transportable because they can be stacked and put on the back of a truck and sent wherever they need to be. This is particularly useful for remote mining and construction sites, as well as rural areas where there are accessibility issues,” says Ramos. Also, because of the nature of panel tanks, they can be expanded easily as the need arises. “This makes the size range virtually limitless. Our biggest tank is 30 million litres,” adds Ramos. Abeco has already gained experience installing the new products at a number of sites in Southern Africa. “We’ve installed five in Boksburg and three in Midrand. At the moment,

IN THE SPOTLIGHT we’re also shipping a large six million litre and a three million litre tank – those are going out to the Free State towns of Bethlehem and Harrismith, respectively. We’ve also installed one in Uganda and a couple in Mozambique,” says Ramos. The new tanks are all destined for liquid storage. The majority are specified for storing potable supply, except for the five tanks in Boksburg, which are being used for wastewater.

Concrete facts

Because Tank Connections' products can be used for much larger applications, it offers a far cheaper, less risky alternative to concrete storage tanks. “Tank Connections’ large, powder-coated options have lifespans as long as or even longer than concrete reservoirs, and they’re far less likely to leak,” says Ramos. Concrete tanks were historically the only choice for those wanting to store tens of millions of litres of liquid. Bringing Tank Connections' RTP range to Africa means that the local market is now provided with a second, more affordable option. “Additionally, concrete storage tanks are often designed knowing there will be leakages and they provide a substrate for algae growth. Added to that, the curing time for concrete, as well as the logistics of such projects, can cause costly delays. RTPs go up in a fraction of the time, dependent on size,” Ramos points out.

Choosing the right tank

Abeco offers accurate, reliable consulting, ensuring that each client gets the correct container for their specific needs. “These tanks are relatively easy to erect, so we give clients the option to install the product themselves, which has cost benefits. We also offer an installation service for those who would rather we handle the process,” says Ramos. Another important factor to take into account is location, because even the minor seismic activity occurring in South Africa, as a result of tremors, can have an effect on the specifications of larger tanks. Abeco’s engineers are trained to provide the best advice for prospective tank buyers, taking into account all relevant parameters. Knowing the characteristics

of the medium being stored is also important. “We look at the pH levels of the liquids – whether or not water is from a borehole or if it is more acidic will also play a role in the type of inner coating or coatings recommended,” explains Ramos. “Even in the most unusual cases, our engineers are able to find the right solution for the job,” he adds.

Partnership that works

What makes Tank Connections unique is the fact that it is the industry leader in bolted, field-weld, shop-weld, and hybrid storage tanks. The company also boasts dedicated service departments for each tank type, as well as over 2 100 years’ worth of combined experience in the design, manufacturing, and field installation of dry bulk and liquid storage systems. “The synergies between Abeco and Tank Connections are great in that we are also a dedicated tank company. There are other companies out there who sell tanks only as a part of their business. Tank Connections was looking for a local supplier who knew the tank business well, as opposed to suppliers that aren’t as focused on tanks and who might struggle to provide the high standards of service required for this type of product,” explains Ramos. Although Abeco continues to supply its own, locally manufactured tanks, there is no conflict of interest and the arrangement is mutually beneficial for both parties. Up to a certain size, Abeco recommends its own products, because components sourced in South Africa translate to lower end-user costs. On the other hand, Tank Connections’ products are recommended for larger applications, due to design specifications, which ensure advanced pressure-handling capabilities. “Worth considering is that Abeco uses galvanised steel to reduce corrosion, whereas Tank Connections' products are available with special powder coatings – therefore, we are also more likely to recommend its products for storing aggressive materials and corrosive liquids such as sea water,” says Ramos. Tank Connections' powder coatings are available in a wide variety of colours, providing clients with the opportunity to apply SEPT/OCT 2015

their own corporate branding. Another factor in favour of Tank Connections is the company’s aesthetically pleasing geodesic covers, engineered for functionality as well as good looks. “These covers assist to distribute pressure more evenly throughout tanks, and prevent contamination. We’ve had mining clients ask specifically for this design to ensure minimal negative visual impact from water storage,” says Ramos. In conclusion, when it comes to storing high volumes at the right price, Tank Connections’ range – now available in Africa through Abeco Tanks – is hard to beat. Utility, flexibility, affordability, and aesthetic appeal put these products ahead of the rest. However, for those wanting to store smaller quantities of liquids in locally made tanks, Abeco continues to offer its own distinctive, widely used, and reliable products. BELOW Abeco vice-president of sales Mannie Ramos Jr

Concrete tanks were historically the only choice for those wanting to store tens of millions of litres of liquid. Bringing Tank Connections' RTP range to Africa means that the local market is now provided with a second, more affordable option

www.abecotanks.co.za

INSIGHT

Addressing water

quality and quantity On 29 July, experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research gathered to discuss the issue of water quantity and quantity in South Africa. Their findings indicate that the looming water crisis may already be in effect. BY FRANCES RINGWOOD

T A TIME WHEN the country and, more specifically, the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape are battling against serious water challenges, research, data gathering, and informed action are crucial in reducing the impacts of a water crisis, which South Africa is already experiencing in some parts of the country.

Catchment perspective Water quality and aquatic ecology expert Dr James Dubrowski has worked on a number of projects in many local catchments. “A former colleague of mine, Dr Piet Ashton, was famous for his off-the-cuff witticisms and one that is highly relevant to South Africa’s current situation is ‘in South Africa water is usually found in one of three forms: too much, too little, or too dirty.’ He was referring to the floods, drought, and

pollution that afflict the country,” says Dubrowski. As a water-scarce country, South Africa has a relatively low mean annual rainfall, most of which falls in the eastern parts of the country. It’s dry in the west and a great deal of money is spent shifting water to where it needs to be so that there is enough supply for all the different water users in South Africa, including domestic users, the industrial sector, agriculture, power supply, and mines. “Apart from low rainfall, another thing to consider is that one of our main constraints is high evaporation in catchments throughout the country. The amount of evaporation exceeds the amount of precipitation that falls in all of those catchments. “In fact, less than 9% of South Africa’s rainfall is actually converted into runoff. This is about 40 mm – way below the global average of about 266 mm,” SEPT/OCT 2015

explains Dubrowski. Water quantity has always been a major constraint in South Africa and this has been recognised throughout the past. It is only in the last five or six years that water quality has come to the forefront of debates and planning strategies. “Water quantity issues immediately exacerbate water quality issues, because there is very little water with which we can dilute inputs into the system,” adds Dubrowski.

Enough to go around?

According to the National Water Resource Strategy II, 98% of South Africa’s available water resources have been allocated. In most scenarios from 2020 to 2025, a 1.5% increase in GDP will result in about a 2% deficit in water allocation. That doesn’t take into account the many things that can be done to improve

INSIGHT

Hydrogeologist Dr Mark Gush

Dr Emma Gardner is an expert on climate change and water quality

Dr Harrison Pienaar, CSIR’s competence area manager for water resources

South Africa’s water efficiency. Dr Harrison Pienaar, the CSIR’s competence area manager for water resources, points out that there are myriad interventions that can mitigate supply shortfalls, from desalination technology and improving water loss efficiencies to better water demand management. Hydrogeologist Dr Mark Gush, who worked on the Atlantis Managed Aquifer Recharge System in the Western Cape, believes that underground water may go some way towards improving the situation, with a significant advantage being the elimination of the evaporation problem. However, testing is only just beginning to determine to which extent that landfills and tailings dams may have affected these sources. Debates continue over whether South Africa is facing a looming or existing water crisis. Headlines appear every few weeks in the local newspapers asking “Are we facing a water crisis?” and telling readers “Water crisis has become the leading global risk”. Supply projections for Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, tend to show projected shortfall in the next 10 years, up until large-scale water supply projects come online. However, it does appear that, if money is spent judiciously on the right technology and if water users work more towards conserving water, the crisis may be downscaled to a manageable, if somewhat dangerous, nuisance (see Figure 1). On the other hand, Dubrowski points out that water quality is seldom factored in to decision-makers’ future scenario projections. “This also makes water, in effect, unusable. Having water that cannot be used is the same as having no water. Therefore, the quality of water also impacts water scarcity issues,” he says. Quality impacts quantity, and quantity impacts quality – it is a self-reinforcing cycle. Also, most existing projections are drawn up on the assumption of a ‘business-as-usual’ basis and don’t take into accounts the effects of climate change and shifting rainfall patterns. Taking into account impacts of South Africa’s water quality from effluent, sewage,

“The amount of evaporation exceeds the amount of precipitation that falls in all of those catchments. In fact, less than 9% of South Africa’s rainfall is actually converted into run-off.” SEPT/OCT 2015

Water quality and aquatic ecology expert Dr James Dubrowski

Aquatic ecologist Dr Marius Claassen

sediment, pharmaceuticals (including endocrine disruptors), salinity, and agricultural run-off, it appears that South Africa’s water supply could be under a larger threat than most of the available data indicates.

Water and climate change

Dr Emma Gardner, an expert on climate change and water quality, noted that there have been robust findings concerning increasing temperature to date – at least over the past 30 years, and predictions show this is likely to increase into the 21st century and beyond. “When we look at the way forward, all modelling approaches predict temperature increasing. By the end of this century, we see significant warming projected from all models, some of

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INSIGHT them as high as 5° C to 8° C – particularly over the interior, due to the effect of oceanic thermoregulation.” Greater temperature rises are likely to increase the prevalence of droughts. “If we take a regional approach, looking at the Southern African region as a whole, there are no long-term trends in rainfall to date, but there are good isolated historical studies that show increased inter-annual variability, possible increases in the number of heavy rainfall events, and some studies indicate trends for increasing dry season lengths and increases in average rainfall intensities. We are also seeing changes in seasonality, possibly more widespread drought, and increases in heatwaves,” says Gardner. Extreme weather is likely to affect all water users in different ways. The largest water user in South Africa is agriculture, consuming about 60% of the national supply. The water-energy nexus is frequently emphasised in water quality discussions; however, water’s connection to food security is fast becoming a high-priority concern, both locally and abroad.

More crop per drop

By monitoring water quality issues and climate change, and factoring those into the country’s intervention strategies, much can be achieved. For example, Dr Gardner and several CSIR scientists recently worked together with colleagues in the Western Cape to ensure sustainable rooibos farming. “Because rooibos can only grow in regions with winter rainfall, it’s confined to a particular area in the country and any changes in winter rainfall patterns affect these farmers immediately. Rooibos farmers have just recently survived a particularly bad season, as well as another bad season in 2003. ” These farmers have responded to challenges by effectively cornering a niche market in sustainable agriculture – so they now export under a ‘wise water and soil use’ label. “The caveat is they we’re supported by a local non-government organisation. So it’s important to have local institutional support. That NGO brought on board international scientists to discuss climate change projections and how to integrate that into planning, and that’s been a 15-year process,” says Gardner. She concludes by emphasising government’s role in supporting farmers to maintain productivity in spite of changing rainfall patterns.

Figure 1 Rainfall pattern projections for Gauteng (Source: Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality)

“These farmers had no support from local government, as there is no local extension officer for their area. The gap in this case has been a lack of much-needed local support. It has been difficult for the farmers to integrate research findings, access the market, and attain sustainability certification.” Nonetheless, this shows how farmers can and do think innovatively about how to incorporate concerns about soil and water conservation into marketing agricultural commodities.

Crisis response

Aquatic ecologist Dr Marius Claassen provided several scenarios for how South Africa could possibly react to the crisis, cautioning that short-term fixes, ‘busy-ness’ for its own sake, and ignoring the problem are not desirable responses. He counselled that taking a measured response that looks at the complexity of current water quality and quantity issues, as well as a long-term perspective on sustainable development, is the wisest course of action.

Summing up

The conclusion to be drawn from all of the above findings is that, in South Africa, our crisis is not quantity – that’s a fact of life. The real crisis stems from people taking water for granted for too long and now having to effect massive behavioural and societal changes to avert consequences that are already in SEPT/OCT 2015

“According to the National Water Resource Strategy II, 98% of South Africa’s available water resources have been allocated. In most scenarios from 2020 to 2025, a 1.5% increase in GDP will result in about a 2% deficit in water allocation.”

effect. Water quality has been undermined by anthropogenic activities and these effects are exacerbated by the impact climate change will have on the country over the coming century. While it is still difficult to predict exactly what these effects will be, it is broadly understood that all sectors will be affected, with agriculture certainly being hit the hardest.

PROJEC TS IN AFRICA

INCE THE BEGINNING of the year, NuWater has undertaken many exciting projects, including three that Holmes discusses below. The first is an expansion and term extension at NuWater’s flagship mine wastewater treatment plant at Anglo American Thermal Coal’s New Vaal Colliery. The second is NuWater’s awarding of a new 20 million litres per day water treatment augmentation project based on ultrafiltration technology, with the eMalahleni Local Municipality. Last, but not least, is a major roll-out of modular sewage treatment plants with a leading waste management company.

Treatment technology

beyond borders

to municipalities across the country, and the fact that we own and operate these plants means that these solutions are much more affordable and, therefore, more accessible to municipal customers. Our expertise in the use of advanced membrane technologies also offers a step-change in the efficiency of the municipal water sector.”

Distributed solutions

Just as exciting for NuWater is its move into the wastewater This year is turning out to be another treatment sector. The delivexciting one for NuWater, as it secures ery of efficient and effective sanitation services is an infurther landmark projects, expands Mine water creasing challenge – not just its product offering, and enters into Holmes explains the relationship in South Africa, but across with Anglo, “Anglo American new strategic alliances with local and sub-Saharan Africa. The has been a customer of strategic international companies. John Holmes, company appears to be levimportance for us for a number eraging its leading position NuWater’s CEO, tells us more. of years now. We have investin modular and mobile water ed heavily in our technology treatment plants to offer and plant to ensure we deliver similar solutions for sewage industry-leading solutions for treatment. This is confirmed mine drainage wastewater recby the strategic supply lamation and reuse. NuWater’s agreement the company has modular and mobile solution has entered into with Sanitech, proven to be incredibly flexible, one of South Africa’s leading allowing us to be responsive to sanitation solution providers. the changing water chemistry Holmes confirms NuWater’s at the New Vaal mine. “This reambitions in wastewater sponsiveness has been rewarded treatment, “The delivery with project expansions and a of wastewater treatment further three-year extension to solutions across sub-Saharan our contract. We continue to Africa represents a major own and operate this plant as a com- Public sector impact challenge for both central and local plete wastewater treatment solution It is not just in the industrial sectors that governments, as well as for the private for the mine and the plant provides NuWater is making waves. NuWater sector. This challenge presents a signifihigh-quality process water to Eskom’s is commissioning the first large-scale cant opportunity for NuWater to expand neighbouring Lethabo power station – a ultrafiltration-based plant in South its innovative solutions set. great example of effective wastewater Africa to be used in the public sector. Our relationship with Sanitech is an Holmes explains, “We are, again, using reclamation and reuse.” important part of our strategy to deliver NuWater’s collaborative approach with our modular and mobile technology rapidly deployable and cost-effective Anglo and other mining customers has suite to rapidly deploy a solution that decentralised wastewater treatment also helped these customers to identify will have an immediate positive effect solutions across the region. Our track new areas where water can be more on the water treatment capacity of the record in delivering truly modular and effectively and economically recycled eMalahleni Local Municipality. We have a mobile solutions, which perform reliably and reused. Holmes continues, “Our work three-year contract to augment the muin the toughest operating environments, at Anglo New Vaal serves as a blueprint nicipality’s existing conventional water means we have immediate credibility for the solutions we are developing with treatment capacity. We believe our technology and busiother mining customers. We have already ABOVE NuWater's collaboration with demonstrated that our modular solutions ness model offer a highly reliable and Acciona Agua allows the company can be effective at other mines with cost-effective solution to the growing to also target large-scale wastewater different water treatment requirements service delivery challenges in South infrastructure projects and wastewater chemistries; for example, Africa. The flexibility of our solutions OPPOSITE NuWater and Acciona Agua allows us to easily roll out similar plants at Gold Fields’ gold mines in Ghana.” both offer world-class desalination solutions

SEPT/OCT 2015

PROJEC TS IN AFRICA with potential customers as we look to expand into the sanitation and wastewater sub-sectors.” NuWater has also teamed up with Miranda, a leading international provider of biological wastewater treatment technology, to offer completely modular and rapidly deployable wastewater treatment solutions. The Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) technology used in these package plants ensures the lowest possible energy consumption, together with the highest levels of reliability, with minimal maintenance requirements.

the most practical power solution for our off-grid solutions. We are seeing a steady upturn in demand for our completely off-grid solutions, from both existing and new customers.” NuWater has joined forces with leading waste management company Sanitech for a major roll-out of modular sewage treatment plants

Off-grid solutions

Central to NuWater’s business model is its focus on decentralised water and wastewater treatment solutions that can be rapidly deployed and, where relevant, redeployed. However, in its target markets of Southern and sub-Saharan Africa, one of the biggest challenges to the delivery of water and sanitation solutions remains access to adequate and reliable electrical power. NuWater has, therefore, developed completely off-grid solutions using solar energy as an alternative. Holmes explains, “Water and wastewater treatment are energy-intensive processes. Historically, water and wastewater treatment infrastructure has been centralised and large in scale, relying on the supply of power from an established power grid. In addition, centralised infrastructure requires investment in conveyance and distribution pipelines and utilises significant energy moving water and wastewater to and from these centralised plants. The central premise at NuWater is that water and wastewater should be treated as close to where it is produced and consumed as possible, minimising the investment in costly infrastructure and facilitating the local reuse of water. This requires a very different approach and mindset to solutions and service delivery. NuWater has, from the start, been built around offering these flexible, decentralised solutions.” Holmes continues, “In order to maximise the relevance of our solutions and services to our target markets, we have had to also ensure that we offer suitable flexible power options. As our decentralised plants are, by definition, smaller than the conventional centralised plants, it is far more practical to use alternative renewable energy sources. We have chosen to focus on solar as

One of the biggest challenges to the delivery of water and sanitation solutions remains access to adequate and reliable electrical power. NuWater has, therefore, developed completely off-grid solutions, using solar energy as an alternative

SEPT/OCT 2015

Holistic approach

Not content with its apparent leading position in decentralised water and wastewater treatment solutions in Southern Africa, NuWater has also recently entered into a strategic collaboration with Acciona Agua – a world leader in the design, construction, and operation of large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure – to target infrastructure projects in South Africa and neighbouring SADC countries. Holmes tackles this apparent contradiction in strategy for NuWater, “In Acciona, we have found a like-minded and dynamic team with complementary skills and experience that allow us to address the water and wastewater markets in South Africa holistically. We believe the combination of NuWater’s position as a dynamic leader in distributed, or decentralised, solutions, together with Acciona Agua’s skills and experience in engineering world-class, large-scale infrastructure will offer our customers a complete solution set, backed by the credibility and thought leadership of our combined companies.” In conclusion, NuWater is a dynamic and fast-growing company, poised to meet all new water and wastewater treatment challenges as they occur in Southern and sub-Saharan Africa.

www.nuwaterglobal.com

AFRICA ROUND-UP

Water, sanitation, and

Hygiene Africa

Water infrastructure in Africa has been relatively quiet over the last few months, with large roads and energy projects gaining prominence. Nonetheless, water projects never really abate and the big news in the last two months has been the early completion of Egypt’s new Suez Canal. ANGOLA

Supporting urban water supply and sanitation

A loan agreement of $123.8 million for institutional and sustainability support for the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Service Delivery Project has been signed between Angolas’s government and the African Development Bank (AfDB). AfDB resident reprentative Septime Martin and Angolan Minister of Finance Armando Manuel signed the

undertaken this year. Martin also urged the authorities to improve the implementation pace of AfDB-financed projects, particularly, in the areas of procurement and financial management. Finally, he said that the AfDB is taking these challenges as a serious risk and has recently placed long-term consultants in the AfDB’s Angola field office to provide support in these critical areas. The institutional and sustainability support to the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Service Delivery Project envisages the creation of seven provincial water and sanitation utilities, the establishment of the regulator for the sector, and fostering national dialogue to improve governance and accountability in urban service delivery. In broad terms, the project will directly benefit close to 900 000 urban residents and over 2.3 million people over time.

The European Investment Bank, France, and Italy have pledged to provide EUR81.4 million in financing to assist Ethiopia in modernising its water infrastructure deal on June 24 this year. In his speech, Martin underscored the good partnership between the AfDB and the Angolan government, and commended the authorities for their increased commitment to reforms, following the 2014 approval of the AfDB’s $1 billion power sector support programme, and the Public Financial Management and Fiduciary System Review to be

EGYPT

New Suez Canal unveiled ahead of schedule

Egypt’s new $8.5 billion ‘Suez Canal’ was unveiled on August 6 this year, a full two years ahead of schedule. A major extension of the Suez Canal, this megaproject has

ABOVE Urine-diverting dry toilet in Arba Minch, Ethiopia

emerged as a cornerstone of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s efforts to restore national pride and revive the economy after years of unrest. Originally planned as a three-year project, El-Sissi ordered the new segments to be finished in just one, citing the urgent need for an economic boost. On the day of the unveiling, it was reported that ships at sea around the world blasted their horns in celebration. The expansion has been tipped to more than double the canal’s income over the next 10 years, by making the trip faster and cheaper for shippers.

ETHIOPIA

Europe finances water infrastructure

The European Investment Bank (EIB), France, and Italy have pledged to provide €81.4 million (about R1.1 SEPT/OCT 2015

billion) in financing to assist Ethiopia modernise its water infrastructure. The EIB will loan €40 million (about R557 million), the French Agency for Development will provide €20 million (R278.7 million), and Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will lend €15 million (about R209 million), the Luxembourg-based lender said in a statement. An additional €6.4 million more in grants will also be provided. The money will be used for new water, wastewater, and sanitation infrastructure, as well as updating existing services in small and medium -sized towns. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy will be responsible for ensuring that about 120 000 households benefit. “The programme that we’ve agreed to jointly

AFRICA ROUND-UP finance today is expected to lead to improvements in health conditions and, thus, the quality of life of many Ethiopians,” said EIB vice-president Pim van Ballekom.

KENYA

Colonial dam revival

KSh750 million (about R94 million) has been earmarked for the rehabilitation of Kenya’s Matinga Dam in Kitui West sub-county. According to Kenya’s The Star newspaper, Kitui governor Julius Malombe has claimed that reckless human activity is the cause of the pre-independence dam’s shrinking. Matinga has been the primary water

Waste management to improve sanitation in Arba Minch The African Water Facility (AWF) announced on 1 July this year that it’s providing a €1.2 million (about R16.7 million) grant to Ethiopia’s government KSh750 million has for the improvement been earmarked for of sanitation and faecal the rehabilitation waste management in the city of Arba Minch, of Kenya’s Matinga about 500 km south Dam in Kitui West of Addis Ababa. The sub-county project will benefit over 21 000 people who will have access to improved source for thousands of restoilet facilities. idents in the area since 1955. It will also boost local In July this year, it was without agriculture through the pro- water for the first time since vision of new, affordable fer- commissioning. Malombe tiliser. The project will focus alluded to cultivation in the on improving and increasing dam’s catchment area, leadvarious public and private ing to erosion and silting, as services provided along the the main causes for the dam’s sanitation value chain, from lack of performance. waste collection to transportation and processing. SUDAN This will be done by help- International GERD consulting ing small, private businesses The seventh meeting of better leverage the income the tripartite technical potential of the sanitation committee of the Grand business and earn additional profits from the sale of the by-products of urine and faecal waste as biogas and compost. “The AWF is spearheading new ways of looking at sanitation provision in Africa,” says acting AWF coordinator Jean Michel Ossete. “In the past, the focus was on increasing sanitation coverage, with much less attention on downstream processes of collection and handling of waste. By looking at waste as a resource, sanitation provision becomes a much more viable, effective, and financially attractive enterprise.”

Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) took place in July, at Corinthia Hotel in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. Water departments from Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia were in attendance. The meetings discussed proposed technical and financial offers of French and German companies selected to carry out the studies on the time during which the dam can be filled without affecting water flow to Sudan and Egypt. These measures were recommended by the international experts who submitted their reports in the middle of last year. The studies are scheduled to be submitted within five months.

Rural water harvesting loan agreements approved

The technical committee of the cabinet economic development sector, in a July meeting chaired by finance ministry undersecretary Moustafa Hawli, approved the loan agreement of KWD20 million (Kuwaiti dinars; about R842 million) for financing the rural water harvesting projects between the Sudan and the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development. The Kuwaiti loan is allocated for funding the first stage of

SEPT/OCT 2015

water harvesting in Sudan’s rural areas, of which the total cost is estimated at about $170 million. At the same meeting in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, it was agreed that funding of $700 million would be raised between the Sudan Republic and the Chinese Export and Import Bank to build Khartoum’s new international airport.

TANZANIA

Parents asked to help build school toilets

The Manzintiswe Primary School in Tanzania’s Rukwa region has appealed to parents to contribute to the construction of pit latrines to save 1 000 pupils from having to study in an unhygienic environment. The school’s existing pit toilets are in a bad shape, posing a health risk to students. The Sumbawanga municipal education officer for primary schools, Peter Mwashusa, urged each parent to contribute a reasonable sum of money for new latrines, warning that the school would be closed if something was not done soon.

BELOW On the day the canal was unveiled, it was reported that ships at sea around the world blasted their horns in celebration

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WATER BOARDS

Water utilities’

winds of change

An institutional realignment for South Africa’s water boards began in 2014. FRANCES RINGWOOD caught up with a few affected water utilities to find out what challenges, success, and opportunities have resulted from this momentous shift.

OUTH AFRICA’S WATER boards play a vital role in numerous water- and sanitation-related service areas – strengthening and supporting the local, district, and metropolitan municipalities under their stewardship. These services include managing supply agreements with municipalities, increasing infrastructure assets, overseeing and planning projects in the role of implementing agent, and working towards higher standards in the provision of bulk water and sanitation services. Over the past year and a half, many changes having been taking place inside South Africa’s water boards. Last year, the number of water boards in the country was reduced from twelve to nine, in order to streamline services

and ensure that remaining authorities were better capacitated to undertake a leadership role in their designated regions. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), through Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, announced the department’s intentions for institutional realignment in the DWS 2014 budget speech. The nine remaining water boards are: Amatola Water, Bloem Water, Lepelle Northern Water, Magalies Water, Mlhathuze Water, Overberg Water, Rand Water, Sedibeng Water, and Umgeni Water. The three water boards that were dismantled were Botshelo, Pelladrift Water, and Bushbuckridge, with their service areas divided up among the remaining authorities. These decisions appear to already be strengthening the remaining utilities, with new SEPT/OCT 2015

The decision to institutionally realign South Africa’s water boards is already strengthening the remaining utilities, with new hires, a greater availability of funds, and more directed management goals

hires, a greater availability of funds, and more directed management goals being targeted through careful planning involving multiple stakeholders. Since the realignment has proved successful, it may be that at least one more merger is on the cards, which would reduce the total number of water boards in South Africa to eight.

From nine to eight

While some of the changes resulting from realignment have already been

WATER BOARDS boards and municipalities are both organs of the state. Changing assets will result in a review of the different entities’ equitable share to calculate the asset value of local government entities. Government will then allocate supporting funds accordingly. For this reason, it is not the number of assets that affect a municipality’s overall income but rather the number of people they serve.” He adds that once infrastructure spend is centralised, it will unlock capital flow, ensuring better maintained national infrastructure and more new builds.

Success in Limpopo

implemented, others are still in process. For example, there is a proposal in terms of the institutional realignment and reform process that the service area of Umgeni Water in KwaZulu-Natal be extended to incorporate parts of northern KwaZulu-Natal province that are served by uThukela Water, and in the Eastern Cape's Alfred Nzo District Municipality and O.R. Tambo District Municipality. The potential new customers in northern KwaZulu-Natal are Amajuba District Municipality, Umzinyathi District Municipality, uThukela District Municipality, and Newcastle Local Municipality. “Additionally, Minister Mokonyane announced recently at a meeting with the boards for Umgeni Water and Mhlathuze Water that the amalgamation of two water boards is being assessed. She assured all members present that due diligence will be performed and there will be full consultation with all affected parties. Staff will be kept up to date with the status of this process as it unfolds,” explains Harichunder.

Role of municipalities

Well-known engineering professional and executive Lefadi Makibinyane was appointed as Amatola Water’s chief executive in February this year. He explains that many of the changes already witnessed at water boards are set to increase and also change water boards’ roles in relation to municipalities. “The DWS’s consultations about the institutional realignment may not have gathered momentum at local government level yet. At this stage, it’s still intensely discussed within the DWS where the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997) and the Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) are currently being reviewed,” explains Makibinyane. He adds that the review may have implications for increasing water boards’ mandate to include bulk sanitation provision as well as existing bulk water services. “This will assist water utilities to align themselves with the DWS’s name change to incorporate sanitation in 2014,” says Makibinyane. “In the past, sanitation was the forte of local government and it was more a matter for the Department of Human Settlements. Now, to improve reporting to the DWS, the department is centralising all powers and accountability relating to sanitation by implementing this structural realignment among the water boards,” he adds. While it may sound as if the change could affect municipal revenues, Makibinyane assures this will not be the case at all. “The idea that the transfer of services to the water boards will affect municipal income is a false notion. Water

SEPT/OCT 2015

In spite of the challenges present at municipal level, some water boards have already incorporated new areas and are thriving as they embrace new responsibilities. For example, Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) was previously responsible for the Capricorn, Sekhukhune, Mopani, and Waterberg districts in the province of Limpopo. Now the Vhembe District Municipality has been added to that list. As part of LNW’s increasing responsibilities, the minister has announced that LNW will become the implementing agent for the Mopani District Revitalisation Scheme. “This programme is about assisting Mopani to restore water and sanitation services to areas in dire need. We have already started work in Giyani by restoring water and sanitation services to about 55 villages. Before this, it had been a very long time since communities residing in those villages received a drop of water from a tap,” comments Phineas Legodi, acting chief executive at LNW. Other achievements facilitated by

WATER BOARDS the realignment have resulted in 400 new boreholes being drilled in Giyani this year, increased municipal accounts security, and a realistic payment plan for the one district municipality in LNW’s jurisdiction that was battling to service its debts – Mopani District Municipality has worked out a realistic payment plan with the water board and will have paid off R318 million by 2018.

Success leads to success

Another water board that has seized the institutional alignment as an opportunity to shine is Sedibeng, which was initially established to service the Free State Goldfields. Today, the Sedibeng water utility’s footprint spans three provinces, including the Free State, North West, and Northern Cape. The Pelladrift and Botshelo water board areas were incorporated into Sedibeng’s service area. The official reason given by government for this decision was to “improve water resource management and water services in order to address challenges such as the rising

ife

cost of water resource infrastructure development, varying capacity and sustainability, as well as a lack of regulation and compliance.” Given these reasons, government’s decision to extend Sedibeng is an enormous show of confidence and good faith in the utility and its transparency.

Ongoing service commitment

In the midst of the institutional realignments, South Africa’s water boards have carried on providing top-quality services, in the same areas they have always managed as well as for new towns, communities, and businesses. For example, all of the remaining utilities continue to provide accredited laboratory services and regular water quality assurances through testing and monitoring. Also, the nine existing water boards frequently run awareness campaigns – reaching out to business and private citizens, encouraging them to use less water. Due to the regional placement of water boards, each of these entities is capable of providing targeted services,

information, and support to regions with shared concerns, such as farming, variable rainfall, mine water provision, or water used in manufacturing. Through close consultation with the DWS, South Africa’s water boards are in an excellent position to serve as government’s ‘eyes on the ground’ in their specific areas – a system that bodes well for better oversight and institutional capacity building for local government.

*All quotations were derived from presentations at African Utility Week.

SEPT/OCT 2015

Effective management of water resources, their yields, quality, costs and reliability is an integral part of successful water resource management. At AECOM we understand the constant challenge of managing, protecting and conserving water resources to meet the future needs of communities, agriculture, industry and the environment.

SEPT/OCT 2015

WATER TREATMENT

Tapping peace

of mind

ERHARDT CROUS, treatment growth centre manager at Xylem South Africa, says, “It’s well known that, in South Africa, the quality of water coming out of our taps is world-class. However, even at the best plants, there are days when certain systems might be down for maintenance or the process controller is distracted and might not add the right amount of chlorine. “Also bear in mind that not all water treatment facilities are equal. For these reasons, Xylem has been successful in supplying a compact ultraviolet water purification system to domestic users in the European market, particularly Germany, where householders regularly choose to purify tap water over and above municipal standards for added peace of mind,” he explains.

Light versus chemical treatment

Most municipal water treatment plants rely on regular chlorine dosing to kill harmful organisms. However, some of these can survive in municipal water and, when it's used for washing or drinking, can result in severe illness. “Young children and elderly people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable,” adds Crous. “The best way to ensure that harmful microorganisms are completely destroyed is to use UV disinfection. UV light is emitted by the sun, falling just below the visible light region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Higher-energy wavelengths in UV light have the unique ability to deactivate bacteria, viruses, and illness – making them inert and harmless,” he explains. While chemical disinfectants rely on chemical functions to disrupt microorganism life processes, UV light acts directly to cripple their DNA. Once DNA can no longer replicate itself, the organism effectively dies out. This form of treatment has the added benefit of reducing the need to use toxic compounds and their by-products for water purification, creating a much more environmentally friendly solution and minimising the risk of small children accidentally ingesting stored chemicals.

Although local water supplies are treated by various processes, microorganisms – including tiny bacteria, viruses, and cysts – can still reach the homes of domestic users. FRANCES RINGWOOD finds out what can be done to ensure 100% safety. Off-grid or on holiday

For South Africans wanting to experience life off the grid, UV disinfection presents a natural option that does not affect the taste of the water, is economical, and is also easy-to-use. “The product has also been popular in large-scale treatment plants for residential estates, in process water circulations, swimming pools, and even large aquaria,” says Crous, who believes the product will be particularly successful at game lodges and in remote locations. “The reason we chose to launch this product here and now is that local municipalities have recently become much more open to the idea of alternative technologies. If the municipalities are changing their mindsets and looking beyond chlorine, then there’s a good chance the domestic market will also be more open to the idea,” says Crous. He adds that connecting the Aquada UV unit to a residential water pipe or other water source is relatively easy, although the assistance of a certified plumber SEPT/OCT 2015

is recommended for first-time users. “Otherwise, the technology is easy, small, and portable enough so that, once owners get the hang of installing and uninstalling the device, it can even be taken on holiday to ensure families have safe, healthy water, wherever they are,” says Crous.

Aquada UV availability

At the time of writing, there are only a few Aquada units available in South Africa. These will be demonstrated and tested at a few of Xylem South Africa’s verticalmarket show days, held at Xylem’s Boksburg premises. Once the official rollout is underway, in September this year, there will be three models to choose from – each available in five different sizes, depending on the amount of water needing to be disinfected and where clients wish to install the device. BOTTOM The Aquada UV system, marketed under Xylem’s Wedeco brand, will be available in South Africa this year BELOW UV disinfection is highly recommended as a water purification method for homes, eco-lodges, and remote locations where off-grid living may be an emergency measure, a necessity, or a lifestyle choice

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WATER TREATMENT

Daphnia, shrimp, and snails,

oh my! S

CIENTIFIC LABORATORIES THE world over tend to stay well stocked with several species of small invertebrate animals used for testing the quality of water from rivers and other sources, assessing whether or not water has been excessively affected by pollution. For example, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria uses several methods to test the quality of various water sources – sometimes for simple monitoring purposes and at other times for the development and deployment of pollution reduction or prevention strategies.

fish species and parasites populate a source. We then bring those back to the laboratory and run blood, liver, and a host of other tests. After these tests, we release harvested organisms back into the environment. For laboratory testing, we use a variety of invertebrates, as well as bacteria. Different organisms in varying trophic levels have different sensitivities to water quality, and they respond in unique ways. We refer to this as a suit of tests or a bioassay, which is a way of weighing animals’ responses and determining what class or category a water source falls into, based on test results,” explains Hill. The CSIR uses many methods for testing water quality; leading scientists use these laboratories to provide advanced water quality testing facilities for large water utilities across the country, including Rand Water and

Tests of this nature determine whether dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and turbidity in a given water body are sufficient to support a living population to the extent that it is able to multiply successfully

Professional laboratories

One of the CSIR’s laboratories, overseen by aquatic toxicology expert Dr Liesl Hill, keeps a variety of microorganisms available for laboratory testing, including daphnia (water fleas), aquatic snails, and freshwater shrimp. The CSIR uses the snail species Pomacea canaliculata because of the breed’s hardiness, wide temperature range tolerance, and the fact that it reproduces readily. “Where microbiologists look at diseases, aquatic toxicologists look at ecosystem health. Tests to determine ecosystem health can be done ex situ and in situ (in the laboratory and in the field, respectively). For fieldwork, we gather fresh samples to see which

Small invertebrates are often used in laboratory environments to test water quality and ensure a water source’s safety for use by other living organisms like livestock and humans. FRANCES RINGWOOD finds out more about conducting controlled experiments with live populations.

Magalies Water. For this reason, the CSIR needs to be able to test for a wide array of contaminants, such as bacteria, E.coli, coliforms, water parasites, waterborne diseases, and viruses. The use of macroinvertebrates is just one method out of a whole variety of different options. What makes invertebrates interesting is their utility in determining whether water meets the most basic conditions for life. Tests of this nature show whether dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and turbidity in a given water body are sufficient to support a living population to the extent that it is able to live and multiply successfully.

Testing method

Daphnia, shrimp, and snails can be used in a bioassay. To conduct these tests, a well-defined geographic area or project scope is needed. Living organisms are then left in liveable samples of the water source being tested. These samples are usually gathered from

The CSIR uses the snail species Pomacea canaliculata because of the breed’s hardiness, wide temperature range tolerance, and the fact that it reproduces readily

SEPT/OCT 2015

WATER TREATMENT

Waste Water Treatment

TOP A female Daphnia magna (water flea) under a microscope – her egg clutch can be seen at the top of her back ABOVE Transparent shrimp are easy to monitor and highly sensitive to changes in their environment – they are commonly kept by aquarium hobbyists

Water Treatment

Advanced Technologies

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multiple different points in a water source over a period of time. Using a control sample, where invertebrates are left to live in ideal conditions to validate the findings of the experiment, is also vital. Scientists count how many organisms are present at the beginning of the experiment, expose the organisms to different water samples, and count the number of organisms that remain viable over a defined length of time. Such experiments are conducted by world-class scientists in top laboratories but can also be conducted by interested amateurs and school-age children to determine the water quality of their community dams and rivers. All that’s needed is some basic knowledge about keeping aquatic animals alive, a few fish tanks with filters and aerators, a bag of live macroinvertebrates, a log book, and a pen. Chemical dechlorinators should also be used if tap water samples are used at any stage. A way to make the experiment even more interesting is to look at transparent macroinvertebrates through a microscope to monitor them throughout the process. Shrimp and daphnids are particularly interesting from this perspective, as the viewer can see their tiny hearts beating as well as whether females are carrying egg sacks and how many eggs are being carried.

SEPT/OCT 2015

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Revolution solution Can the ‘yuck’ factor really evaporate in just five years? The reuse of effluent, especially as potable water, is not only technically possible, but in many ways preferable to other alternative water sourcing methods, such as desalination. Case studies of such schemes in Australia shed light on the possible key to unlocking this essential water resource. BY DR HENDRIK VAN RHIJN*

HERE ARE CURRENTLY more than seven billion people on the planet, a large proportion of whom still do not have access to safe potable water. The world has insufficient freshwater sources available near dwellings and nascent developments. As the world’s population grows, so does the need to use all economically available water sources for potable purposes. Water can be viewed as a carrying medium for wastes and, with modern technology available, it is possible to clean it to be of a higher quality than tap water, instead of discharging most of it into rivers or the ocean. It has been proven to be much more economical to reuse purified effluent with relatively low solids concentration than seawater with a solids concentration of more than 36 000 mg/ℓ. In Australia, schemes have been implemented where treated effluent can indirectly be reused for potable purposes. The most current example is the Beenyup Ground Water Replenishing (GWR) scheme being implemented in Perth, Western Australia. At the present time, communities prefer to drink desalinated seawater and are possibly unaware of how much more energy that process requires compared to treating purified effluent to potable standards. However, the ‘yuck’ factor makes treating effluent to a higher standard for industrial use or reuse in new developments for toilet flushing and irrigation, the most sensible application in the short term. This reduces the demand on current freshwater sources.

Within the next few years, with the proper community involvement and education, it might be possible that it will become acceptable to implement direct reuse schemes for effluent reuse.

A global issue

Affordable water sources are becoming increasingly scarce. Figure 1 gives an indication of water scarcity over the next few years. It is quite clear that both Australia and South Africa are fast approaching physical waterscarcity conditions.

Figure 1 This global water-scarcity map shows water insecurity is a global problem, whether caused by actual water shortages or socio-economic factors (Source: World Resources Institute)

SEPT/OCT 2015

Also, as the world’s population keeps on increasing at record levels, it can be seen that Africa’s population will also grow accordingly, which means further pressure will be exerted on the available water resources for consumption and food production (See Figure 2). The majority of water consumed for drinking purposes has come from the water cycle in the form of rain. Treated water is then consumed and generally discharged as wastewater to treatment plants or directly into a water body. This means that water is only used once before it is disposed of. As water can be seen as a carrying medium, it is quite possible to reuse the water numerous times, since the technology is available to do so. It certainly is occurring in several places, such as the Windhoek plant in Namibia, but it is the exception to the rule. There is evidence that wastewater was reused as a source of irrigation for agricultural crops more than 5 000 years ago. Piping of sewage through sewerage systems became common in the 19th century, but the inadvertent mixing of effluent into the water supply system led to major outbreaks of waterborne disease. Disease transmission mechanisms and risks were recognised after the British and European epidemics of the 1850s, and separated sewage disposal became more common.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT The solution

Figure 2 Predicted worldwide population growth

The greatest water recycling occurs in regions of the world suffering water scarcity, such as the Middle East, Australia, and the American south-west, as well as in regions with severe restrictions on the disposal of treated wastewater effluents, such as Florida, coastal and inland areas of France and Italy, and densely populated European countries such as England and Germany. However, with water scarcity increasingly becoming a global problem, it is no longer an issue reserved for countries with desert climates to tackle.

The solution is relatively simple. It is to have an integrated water management system, as shown in Figure 3, where all water sources such as stormwater, groundwater, surface water, recycled water, and desalinated water are used to provide – where possible – an integrated system, driven by economics and not by the yuck factor in the provision of potable water for human consumption. Inter-catchment transfer is an increasing part of the solution, with schemes such as China’s south-north diversion project and the Queensland water grid in Australia. However, such schemes rely on the availability of a suitably ‘wet’ catchment within practical distance for transportation. These schemes can also be very controversial and create friction between communities where one region feels that another is ‘stealing’ its water. Better management of unaccounted for water pressure, leakage, and non-revenue water is an opportunity for almost every water authority. International best practice equates to a non-revenue water percentage of about 12% and many utilities are achieving far worse results; this can be a cost-effective avenue for improving limited water resource use and improved business management.

Reuse options Figure 3 Integrated water management

In a broad sense, recycling is not new. For many years, reuse with limited or no treatment has occurred for agricultural

SEPT/OCT 2015

water and certain industries have recycled water within their site, often with very high degrees of treatment. In addition, there has always been inadvertent recycling where a wastewater outlet is upstream of another’s water supply intake. What has changed is that: • recycling and reuse have increasingly become planned activities subject to standards, regulations, and controls • reclaimed water is being recognised as a valuable resource – consequently, the wastewater used to produce reclaimed water is a business opportunity rather than an unwanted waste stream to be disposed of at the lowest cost. The need to create new distribution networks for recycled water is both a challenge and an opportunity. The raw water for a recycling scheme can come from a: • wastewater treatment plant • wastewater collection network • major point source.

Developing regulations

To protect farmers’ and consumers’ health, the World Health Organization published guidelines for the safe use of water in agriculture. They were developed on the premise that hygiene standards applied to waste reuse in the past were based solely on potential pathogen survival and have been stricter than necessary. A meeting of sanitary engineers, epidemiologists, and social scientists – convened by the WHO, the World Bank, and the International Reference Centre for Waste Disposal and held in Engelberg, Switzerland – proposed a more realistic approach to the use of treated wastewater and excreta, based on the best and most recent epidemiological evidence. The USA National Research Council determined, in 1998, that planned indirect potable reuse is a viable application of reclaimed water, but only when there is a careful, thorough, project-specific assessment that includes contaminant monitoring, health and safety testing, and system reliability evaluation. Indirect potable reuse is a last resort. It should be adopted only if other measures, including other water sources, non-potable reuse, and water conservation, have been evaluated and rejected as technically or economically infeasible. In the Australian context, government plays a strong regulatory role through the involvement

WASTEWATER TREATMENT of the Department of Health, Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Department of Water. Public health issues are at the forefront of any debate about recycled water. There are many approaches and these include: 1 Treat everything to a potable standard, even if there is no intention of potable reuse. The obvious advantage being that the supplier of the recycled water can be confident that accidental contact or ingestion will not be harmful, although the cost of treatment may be higher than might otherwise be necessary. 2 Provide as ‘untreated effluent’, ensuring off-takers clearly know what they are receiving, and there is no confusion about the need to properly handle this recycled material. This has been applied where there are a small number of off-takers, all of which are businesses capable of managing the issues associated with using largely untreated effluent. It would not be appropriate for supplying to the public at large. 3 Various risk-based approaches. This typically occurs when a partially treated effluent is being recycled; that is, less-than-potable quality.

WATER Water Supply | Water Treatment | Industrial Water Management Minesite Water Management | Water Reuse & Recycling Chemistry and Geochemistry | Numerical Modelling

Water management for sustainable business

Community acceptance

A possible reason why community perceptions remain a sticking point to direct wastewater reuse is that the press repeatedly refers to “treated effluent for water supply” and writes things such as “the government will consider introducing treated sewage into the drinking water”. This is highly emotive and misleading; it would help the community if the discussion were about pure water derived from highly treated wastewater. Regular research, using a number of methods, should be undertaken to monitor community support for the scheme. Based on studies, support for reuse schemes should also increase significantly when people are given sufficient information and allowed to learn through enquiry. This was demonstrated by a recent project in Australia, where the survey results from the scheme’s Visitors’ Centre showed that support increased from 74% before a tour, to 93% at the end of a tour. Australian and international research and case studies have demonstrated that traditional public relations activities alone do not increase consumer confidence in drinking recycled water. The available literature highlights trust in scheme providers and regulators as one of the deciding factors in whether a recycled water scheme will be successful. The community and stakeholder engagement strategy should employ the ‘two-step’ communication theory of informing opinion leaders first and then continuing to inform the broader community. In order to build trust, the strategy should primarily be based on a face-to-face approach, as shown in Figure 3, rather than relying solely on mass communication methods. These activities should be supported by advertising, media relations, and other traditional public relations tools where appropriate. Presentations and briefings should be conducted with health, environment, and local government stakeholder groups, including the local councils and other decision-making SEPT/OCT 2015

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WASTEWATER TREATMENT authorities, local Aboriginal groups, and community groups. Mechanisms for community engagement should include: • guiding adults and school children through visitors’ facilities • developing a website for the scheme and using other social media • advertising in community newspapers and providing media releases • presenting at community forums • quarterly water quality reporting on the scheme via the website.

Conclusion

Proven technical solutions exist for all forms of reuse, up to – and even beyond – potable standards. Whilst the successful implementation of any reuse project hinges on public acceptance, the ever-growing pressure on the world’s water resources makes effluent reuse an indispensable part our collective water future and will become an important part of the mix for an increasing number of locations globally. Future challenges are more likely to arise around meeting the requirements of increased regulation and control, and

managing the social and cultural aspects of reuse. This article is the first of a two-part feature, focusing on solving the challenges of water reuse. Part two will appear in the next edition of Water&Sanitation Africa.

Community kiosk in Western Australia

*Dr Hendrik van Rhijn is the manager: Water at WorleyParsons.

Why dry biogas?

IOGAS FROM ANAEROBIC digesters can easily reach temperatures of 40° C and higher, depending on climate conditions, sun radiation, and plant design. At this stage, it can be described as raw biogas, which is fully saturated with water. This creates the following electromechanical burdens: • A high gas volume requires unnecessary over-dimensioning of pipes and equipment. • Potential water condensation in gas pipes results in pressure fluctuation. • Moisture in combination with carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide cause corrosion in pipe and gas utilisation equipment. • Inefficiencies in the combustion process, due to parallel water evaporation, have a cooling effect. • Increased system downtime occurs, due to increased blockages, and crusting in gas utilisation equipment is caused by impurities in moisture.

Fact and figures

Biogas or sewage gas with a temperature of 40° C can absorb about 50 g/m3 of water, at a relative humidity of 100%. At a temperature of 45° C, it can absorb as much as 64 g/m³. If the gas is then cooled, its volume decreases and its water content drops. For instance, if the gas cools down to 10° C, it can only absorb around 9 g/m³ of water. The volume of water vapour in a 40° C saturated biogas is 7.3%; however, at 3° C, it is only 0.7%. The temperature at 100% relative humidity, at atmospheric pressure, is also referred to as ‘dew point’. In a case where a dew point temperature of <3° C is required, measures such as adsorption drying need to be considered.

Benefits of drying

Drying fermentation gases significantly increases the percentage of methane in the gas. Water also functions as an effective adsorbent medium for ammonia, which is removed from the gas SEPT/OCT 2015

through its condensation. This results in gas of higher quality, boosting the cost-effectiveness of the whole biogas utilisation system.

Blocked silencer of a gas engine (Source: Siloxa)

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Cooperation bridges

troubled waters According to a 2015 World Economic Forum report, water has reached the top of the global business risk list. In response, international finance giant PwC has launched its ‘Collaboration: Preserving water through partnering that works’ report, which encourages cooperation for supply sustainability. BY FRANCES RINGWOOD

WC’S REPORT ON collaboration starts out by restating many of the known facts concerning rising global water scarcity. These include the fact that demand for water will increase by 50% in the next 35 years and the World Bank’s recent research findings that that there will be a 40% global shortfall between forecast demand and available supply by 2030.

Questions arising from the data include how businesses will manage the risks, how communities’ needs factor into corporate cost-profit equations, and how small businesses will fair against large water users who argue for supply priority. The report also goes beyond the obvious to look at how increased natural disasters caused by climate change negatively impact not only home and business owners, but also SEPT/OCT 2015

As water becomes a more serious business risk, companies are more likely to secure their own supply using sophisticated (and expensive) reverse osmosis technology

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

the finance sector, as investors lose out on profits and insurers are forced to pay out. While there isn’t a South African case study weighing local business risks in the report, Jayne Mammatt, partner in charge of PwC’s Sustainability and Integrated Reporting Department, took time out to discuss the implications for local businesses with Water&Sanitation Africa. South Africa “South Africa is a semi-arid and waterscarce country, with only 9% of its already low rainfall being converted to river runoff. Further, water resources are unevenly spread, with the western parts of the country being particularly dry. An exacerbating factor is high evaporation, which is a problem in the North West where evaporation losses can exceed 2 750 mm. These influences reduce surface water availability, which hits farms and township communities particularly hard. “Moreover, South Africa’s agricultural sector is reliant on irrigation – only 12% of South Africa’s land is considered suitable for growing rain-fed crops and even a smaller portion of land (3%) is considered fertile. “Water is not only vital for food production and domestic use; it is an integral element of the industrial, mining, and power generation sectors, which use about 10% of South Africa’s freshwater. Most of South Africa’s electricity supply is dependent on water-intensive coal-fired power stations that use substantial amounts of water for cooling,” explains Mammatt. She goes on to point out that South Africa is fast approaching the cap of its available water use and that demand is on the cusp of outstripping supply. The problem is not only germane to South Africa but many other industrialised developing nations in

Africa and the Middle East. Mammatt notes growing concern in these regions about the standards that industrial effluent and municipal wastewaters are treated to. A further challenge is acid mine drainage, which poses a considerable threat in African countries heavily reliant on mining for economic growth. Corporate perspective Much of PwC’s research was conducted by tapping into the company’s massive worldwide client base – according to Mammatt. What the report found was that company owners are aware of the rising cost of water risks, and agree that steps need to be taken, both internally and externally, to mitigate business disruptions. For example, SABMiller’s senior manager for water risks, David Grant, notes: “Water now gets discussed at board level.” In the same vein, Nestlé’s chairman, Peter Brabeck, was quoted saying, “We have a water crisis because we make wrong water management decisions.” These and other responses chime with earlier research findings. “According to PwC’s annual CEO survey, 46% of CEOs agree that resource scarcity and climate change will transform their business in the next five years,” says Mammatt. Leading cooperation Using a number of illustrative case studies, PwC’s report outlines what groups are likely to start feeling the pinch of water scarcity, maps how these groups might begin to cooperate in future, and charts the challenges and benefits. One of the most interesting of these case studies involves Singapore’s economic miracle and how this impacted the national water management effort: “When Singapore prioritised SEPT/OCT 2015

Map showing water risk forecasts for 2017 (Source: University of Kassell)

becoming truly water self-sustainable, the government not only demonstrated leadership in setting the vision, it also took a very active role. It ensured collaboration across government agencies and between government, industry, and academia. It managed demand- and supply-side issues relating to water usage by organisations and citizens. It managed the demand and technological risk associated with new water technologies to encourage private sector involvement and expertise confidence. It also invested heavily in research and development, and technology. Consequently, Singapore has become internationally recognised for its water expertise.”Singapore’s success is attributed to strong government support, which is highlighted as a critical ingredient to making cooperation work. Other factors include choosing the right partners among non-governmental organisations, communities, government, and the private sector to start with. These stakeholders need to share a long-term vision and then have the will and insight to keep it going. Factors like mutual respect, funding, transparency, and regular communication cement these partnerships. Finally, to see a cooperative vision come about, momentum needs to be constantly measured, with the celebration of new milestones. At national scale, this means keeping up and bolstering existing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Challenges Stakeholders in a water risk management situation will often have conflicting water needs. For example, governments will

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY

want to keep their regions attractive for investment by keeping water tariffs low; businesses will want to lower operational costs by keeping their bills low but, if effluent isn’t properly treated, where will that leave local communities living downstream? These townsfolk may be grateful for industry’s job creation but if the price for work is a poisoned water supply, that price may just be too high. PwC’s report does not make the claim that cooperation is easy and outlines the following challenges: “Conflicts are likely to occur, stakeholders may abandon the effort, some parties may partake in bribery and corruption, and the very natural disasters that cause water crises might strike unexpectedly. These are occasions that create much tension and emotion. Being ready for them will help ensure the resilience of any collaboration efforts.” In spite of these difficulties, good collaboration is well worth the effort and the benefits far outweigh the risks. Some positive outcomes listed by the report are: driving innovation and behaviour change, driving new markets, driving regional prosperity, and driving resilience. In practice, this means creating new technologies to counteract water pollution and lower water use, implementing demand-side management, and creating green jobs and developing better risk management plans at municipal level. Water’s true value Perhaps the most sobering finding in the report is that, globally, we have a tendency to radically underestimate the real value of water. “As users, few think about the cost of extracting, transporting, chemically treating, and providing water. And then there’s the cost to our ecosystems of removing water from nature, the cost of polluting rivers, and so on. All of this has a price, but access to water is a basic human right – so prices are kept low, compared to real costs.” This is yet another conflict in the bigger picture of water management but, unfortunately, water’s low cost means that too many corporates and private citizens take clean water for granted. If different stakeholders in the water management chain don’t start cooperating soon, it may be the case that the only option left to administrators is to increase the cost of water. On this point, researchers reflect: “The reaction will be fierce, but behaviour would change.”

BUSINESS INSIGHT

Some of the PwC repor t’s ‘fast facts’ include: • “Water shor tages are more pressing than climate change. The impact of water stress is one of the most impor tant business risks for the agri-food business globally.” Paul Kelly, vice-president for corporate affairs, Asda • “We have a water crisis because we make wrong water management decisions.” Peter Brabeck, chairman, Nestlé • “The marginal cost of water is rising around the world. Previously, water was treated as a free raw material. Now, companies are realising it can damage their brand, their credibility, their credit rating, and their insurance costs.” Christopher Gasson, publisher of Global Water Intelligence • “Water now gets discussed at board level.” David Grant, senior manager for water risks and par tnerships, SABMiller • “Successful water management needs the cooperation of a wide network of water users, and public and private institutions.” WEF Global Risks 2014

SEPT/OCT 2015

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Beating back acid

mine drainage Acid mine drainage (AMD) is not only difficult to treat and a liability for mines, it is also extremely corrosive, meaning that corrosion resistance must be conscientiously applied in order to ensure real environmental gains through the treatment process.

HERE ARE MANY ways to skin the proverbial AMD cat. One of the more commonly used methods involves mixing a pH lowering agent with AMD. Ideally, this process will take place before water has steeped for too long in mine shafts, so as to mitigate heavy metals leaching. One such plant in Germiston, Gauteng, is successfully combating the harmful effects of AMD using a number of processes, including a comprehensive mixing system consisting of a combination of 53 specialised mixers, each of which is individually powered by an equal number of gearboxes manufactured and supplied by drive engineering company SEW-Eurodrive. The company that developed the mixing system is mechanical engineering firm, Mixtec.

Technical operation

Mixtec sales manager Brian Paxton says that the agitators’ role in the process can be split into different sections. “In simple

terms, the first is the make-up of lime into slurry, which, in turn, is introduced to reaction vessels where the lime slurry comes into contact with the AMD. By mixing the lime slurry with the AMD in this area, the lime reacts with the acid to neutralise it.” The by-product produced is gypsum – a soft sulfate mineral comprising calcium sulfate dihydrate, which is the main constituent in many forms of plaster and chalk and can also be used in fertiliser.

Combating corrosion

The mixing system had to be designed to accommodate the highly corrosive pH levels found in water contaminated by sulfides. SEW-Eurodrive contracts engineer Rudi Swanepoel notes that the gearboxes were covered with proprietary OS2 paintwork. “The 210 μm paintwork is specially designed for acidic environments. Viton seals were also fitted on the high- and low-speed shafts, which is standard SEPT/OCT 2015

The AMD plant consists of a combination of 53 specialised mixers manufactured and supplied by leading drive engineering company SEW-Eurodrive

for these environments. Without these extra precautions, the seals would perish and the paint would peel off.” SEWEurodrive’s scope of work included the supply of 36 MC mixing units fitted with extended bearing distance to absorb the radial forces encountered in mixing. A further 17 helical gear units were supplied, some of which were assembled with specialised adapters.

Long-lasting components

According to Swanepoel, the bearings on the system should last more than nine years. “Based on our calculations, the bearing life should be in excess of 100 000 hours, if they are properly maintained. This ensures high efficiency and minimal downtime,” he concludes.

SANITATION

Local alternative

sanitation successes A

LACK OF BASIC sanitation services is one of the leading factors contributing towards Massive infant mortality rates and sanitation backlogs environmental degradation. UN affect more than 2.5 billion statistics show that a child dies, every 20 seconds, as a result people the world over – according of poor sanitation. Almost to United Nations estimates. But, two-thirds of the world’s population relies on some form of in a world and region where water dry sanitation – mostly pit lascarcity is rising, flush toilets are trines – leaving about 1 billion people with no access to basic not going to solve the problem. sanitation, forcing them to defFRANCES RINGWOOD investigates ecate in the open. Environmental no- and low-water options. impacts include surface and groundwater contamination, resulting in about 80% of the diseases which affect poor and developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia rank among the nations who battle use, and distribution challenges and most with sanitation-related diseases. Pit latrines may save vast amounts of water but it’s little wonder they are far the message is clear: South Africa The statistics indicate that even basic less preferred to traditional pipes cannot afford to ignore alternative sanitation of the kind facilitated by pit infrastructure, given that maintenance is sanitation solutions. In spite of the latrines is far better than no sanitation. an ongoing drudge move towards non-piped sanitation Poorly installed latrines however, being potentially unpopular, governaggregate pathogens. If these contamment has thrown its weight behind inants reach ground or surface water, alternative sanitation technology for its the damage can be greater than having saying the gathering demonstrated merits as a demand-side-management no sanitation at all. that, working together, South Africa can tool. This was evident in DWS Minister find innovative solutions to enhance Why go waterless? Nomvula Mokonyane’s Budget Vote human dignity. He also spoke about South Africa’s apartheid legacy has had 2015, where she said, “We shall seek the progress the country has made so a significant impact on the social acto move our sanitation systems from far, pointing out that, “According to ceptability of non-traditional forms of highly wasteful water-borne sanitation. With generations of families sewerage to low-water Not to be outdone, the City deprived of plumbed sanitation in their and no-water solutions. of Johannesburg plans to homes, policy makers are understandThese innovations can incentivise and regulate the ably sensitive to what it represents to serve to promote new their constituents. industries and economic installation of low-flush toilets Nonetheless, South Africa’s water opportunities.” Here and water-saving urinals as scarcity has reached new critical lev‘no-water’ and ‘low-water’ a standard feature in homes, els in recent years. According to the sanitation options are offices, and commercial sites Department of Water and Sanitation’s used interchangeably with (DWS) 2013 Strategic Overview of the ‘alternative sanitation’. Water Sector in South Africa, current All tiers of South Africa’s govthe 2012 National Report on the Status water use exceeds reliable yield from ernment are mutually supporting of Sanitation Services, approximately available resources. Therefore, water regarding this policy direction. At the 11% of South African households do restrictions and drought are already National Sanitation Indaba held in not have adequate sanitation servicin effect in some parts of the counDurban this year, deputy-president es.” He added that the country “has try. Add to this governance issues, Cyril Ramaphosa came out in favour done well to achieve the Millennium wastage, leakages, inefficient water of alternative sanitation solutions, Development Goal of halving the SEPT/OCT 2015

SANITATION proportion of the population without basic sanitation well before the target of 2015.” This achievement can be measured against global efforts, which remain way off target. UN data reveals, “The world remains off track to meet the MDG sanitation target of 75%. Unless the pace of change in the sanitation sector can be accelerated, the MDG target may not be reached until 2026.” Moreover, an in-depth look at the countries’ sanitation projects reveals that, while many local and district municipalities are performing well, the metropolitan municipalities have taken advantage of their greater budgets and larger scope for experimentation to implement some truly inspiring projects, testing new and cutting-edge solutions.

Leading sanitation

eThekwini metro, for example, has been a leading light in this arena since the municipality provided urine diversion toilets and 200 litre yard tanks to three-quarters of a million people since 2000 – eradicating the hated bucket system and winning local and international acclaim. Some of the more recent technological innovations coming out of eThekwini include the municipality’s development of a dehydration pasteurisation machine. The device enables faecal sludge from ventilated improved pit toilets to be dried and pasteurised using infrared radiation. This allows for it to be safely used as compost without risking the escape of disease-causing pathogens, which would otherwise contaminate water and produce. Another exciting project – this one in Klipheuval, Western Cape – is faecal degradation using the larvae of black soldier flies. The larvae

TOP Black soldier fly depositing eggs in cardboard – the larvae can be used for faecal degradation and the creation of livestock feed BELOW eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has developed a dehydration pasteurisation machine. The device enables faecal sludge from ventilated improved pit toilets to be dried and pasteurised using infrared radiation

are high in protein and nutritious fatty acids which can be boiled down to make animal feed stock. Also in the Western Cape, mobile toilet units are currently being piloted in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Not to be outdone, the City of Johannesburg plans to incentivise and regulate the installation of lowflush toilets and water-saving urinals as a standard feature in homes, offices, and commercial sites. Part of this plan includes the harnessing of energy from the water flowing through the city’s pipe system and using in-pipe turbines. It is also diverting organic waste to bio-digesters to harvest gas for fuel and energy. The Eastern Cape, too, has had its share of success stories. For example, the successful roll-out of the schools sanitation programme by Amatola Water and consultant UWC in 2006, where 70 schools received proper ablution facilities for the first time. Amatole District Municipality has celebrated more recent successes, delivering facilities servicing 66 000 rural households in Mbhashe, Mnquma, Amahlathi, Great Kei, Nkonkobe, Nxuba, and Ngqushwa local municipalities.

Funding mechanisms

All across South Africa, noand low-water sanitation projects are taking off,

SEPT/OCT 2015

particularly since the introduction of SIP 18, which prioritises sanitation throughout the country’s rural communities. Administered by the Department of Human Settlements, in conjunction with the DWS and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the joint efforts have resulted in 24 million sanitation upgrades being carried out in both rural and urban areas since 2011, with a further R50 billion spend estimated for ongoing backlog-eradication efforts. International funding organisations have also been throwing their weight behind alternative sanitation solutions. After all, it is quite possibly the sector with the single biggest development potential in terms of poverty eradication and economic upliftment. For this reason, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation made a strategic decision, in 2011, to dedicate one if its portfolios exclusively to sanitation, including investments in sanitation science and technology, delivery models, policy, and advocacy. A similar initiative is being driven by the Ford Foundation, which supplies grants and support to applicants who can demonstrate how their sanitation funding proposals advance the cause of human rights or strengthen rural community responses to climate change. Worth noting is that improved sanitation facilities are also integral to creating more equal communities and societies, which is another grant criteria considered for funding. This is because girls living in rural communities miss more school days, on average, than boys, if their school’s sanitation system is dysfunctional. Scholars who attend school less frequently are more likely to drop out early and lower education rates for girl children result in fewer later-life opportunities for women and more unequal societies. Recognition of the immense value of no- and low-water sanitation solutions and the far reaching benefits they create across entire societies has seen a marked uptick in their acceptance globally. Locally, a greater array of technological solutions is infiltrating the markets, improving supplier competition, driving down costs, and improving toilet functionality while conserving precious water.

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

PIPES IX T

HIS SEPTEMBER, 15 local and international experts in the fields of plastic pipe manufacture and infrastructure will take the stage as they present their papers at the PIPES IX Conference. Hosted by SAPPMA, at the Bytes Conference Centre in Midrand, the conference is made possible by the support of the four main sponsors – Protea Chemicals, DPI Plastics, Marley Pipe Systems, and PipeFlo. “We are anticipating that the PIPES XI Conference will play a significant role in reigniting the passion and the focus of our delegates as we highlight the important role and responsibility that the pipes and related industries have in our country’s future,” says SAPPMA chairman Jan Venter.

The best in the business

Well-known economist and keynote speaker Mike Schüssler will kick off the

SAPPMA chairman Jan Venter

day’s discussion, followed by Prof Kobus van der Walt of the North West University, who will be discussing the country’s water crisis. Other confirmed speakers on the day include: • Willem Wegelin (WRP) – ‘Pressure Management in Water Reticulation Systems’ • Ulrich Schulte (Germany) – ‘PE100 A ‘Must’... What is next? Polyethylene for pressure pipes with further increased resistance to crack’ • Dieter Mueller (Battenfeld, Cincinnati) – ‘New technology in HDPE pipe extrusion’ • Ian Venter (Marley Pipe Systems) – ‘The importance of HDPE and PVC SANS permit conditions to the specifier and end user’ • Marcus Hawerkamp (Bauku) – ‘Highstrength spirally wound pipe and fibre-reinforced spirally wound pressure pipe and pipe fittings for large diameters’ SEPT/OCT 2015

• Dr Mark Webb (SSIS) – ‘Pipe Behaviour, Soil Behaviour & Soil-Pipe Interaction’ • Mike Smart (Genesis Consulting Engineers) – ‘Trenchless Technologies: a specifically engineered pipe’ • Rachid Zahidi (Unicor) – ‘High-speed corrugated pipe manufacture: properties and installation’ • Pranesh Maniraj (Marley Pipe Systems) – ’Electrofusion: A suitable alternative to buttwelding‘. “Attending the PIPES IX Conference will expose delegates to the latest research and findings, and provide a rare opportunity for the sharing of relevant ideas and best practices that have been tried and tested by the leaders in the field. While we need to learn from yesterday, live for today, and hope for tomorrow, the most important thing is to never stop questioning and learning,” Venter concludes.

plastics

TRUSTED PIPELINE PRODUCTS

• Rare Plastics is a manufacturer of HDPE Pipe. Pipes are manufactured to SANS ISO 4427 standards and sizes range from 110mm to 1000mm diameter.

• RPM is a three layer co-extruded pipe with outer and inner layers of advance PE100-RC polymer and a PE100 core • PE100-RC has approximately 5 times the resistance to the effects of notches, scores, scratches, grooves and point loads than standard PE100.

RARE PLASTICS: 016 362 2868 I info@rare.co.za www.rare.co.za

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

Plastic pipes for Tony Dean is the managing director of Rare Plastics and director of the Rare Group

the future

The majority of old pipelines were installed in South Africa in the early 1960s. The time has now come to find suitable replacements. With plastic piping gaining momentum, FRANCES RINGWOOD catches up with Tony Dean, managing director of Rare Plastics, to find out what options the company offers. trenchless installation technique used or installation without selected or imported bedding and embedding material. Pipes manufactured using PE100-RC material must also pass demanding tests, such as notch, full notch creep, cone, point load, and PAS 1075 tests.

What professional oversight bodies support Rare Plastics and how do these enhance your services?

The company recently purchased a coiler capable of coiling HDPE pipe sizes between 110 m and 180 mm, from (pressure nominal) PN8 to PN20. Various lengths will be available with standard coil lengths of 50 m and 100 m preferred by most customers. Exciting times are ahead with Rare expanding its capacity and having a new product offering around the corner. Rare Plastics, in conjunction with its technology partner Borealis, will produce a water pipe specifically for alternative installation techniques (AIT), under the name Rare Plastics Multilayer (RPM). Trenchless technology and unselected embedment construction methods demand a pipe capable of being installed where any damage, caused by aggressive conditions, will not result in failure of the pipe.

Given the growing awareness that many old municipal pipelines are past their useful lifespans, how do you plan to keep up with the inevitable rising demand from municipal clients?

What new technology or innovation has the company recently invested in to serve the needs of the local market?

What is it about the RPM’s design that makes it so hardy, especially when it comes to alternative installation? RPM is a three-layer co-extruded pipe with outer and inner layers of advance PE100-RC polymer and a PE100 core. The outer and inner layers are blue PE100-RC polymer and the remaining core is black PE100. The three layers are fused together during manufacture and inseparably extruded. PE100RC is a specifically developed advanced polymer that resists the effects of notches, scores, scratches, grooves, and point loads that may result from the

ABOVE Rare Plastics recently purchased a coiler capable of coiling HDPE pipe sizes between 110 mm and 180 mm, from PN8 to PN20

What products and services do you provide and how do these comply with the highest industry standards?

TD Rare Plastics manufactures and distributes high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe and fittings from its factory in Meyerton, Gauteng. The company’s pipes are manufactured to SANS ISO 4427 standards and sizes range from 110 mm to 1 000 mm. The PE100 raw material is sourced from reputable manufacturers who comply to SANS ISO 4427 Part 1. Rare Plastics is a division of the JSE Alt-X listed and ISO 9001:8001 accredited Rare Group. In-house welding, such as stub and flanging of pipe, is also offered as an additional service to customers.

Rare Plastics is a proud member of the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) and the Installation and Fabrication Plastics Pipe Association (IFPA). IFPA was formed to expand the regulation of the plastic pipe industry to include the fabrication and installation of pipe. Being part of IFPA differentiates members as responsible players in the field, concerned with quality and ethics.

SEPT/OCT 2015

What joining methods can be used for RPM pipelines?

Two methods of joining the RPM pipes may be used as follows: • Butt welding – the machinery, procedures, and techniques are the same as those for standard PE100 polymer pipes. • Electrofusion – the machinery, procedures, and techniques are the same as those for standard PE100 polymer pipes and can be welded to both PE80 and PE100 fittings.

Manufacturing capacity will be enhanced with the addition of new HDPE pipe extruders purchased for RPM, from KraussMaffei of Germany, a leading equipment manufacturer for plastic piping. Our new RPM pipes will be available in sizes from 110 mm to 315 mm, in standard dimension ratios 17, 13.6, and 11, from October this year.

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

Choosing the right

isolating valve O N CLOSER INSPECTION, it becomes evident that some isolation valve types are more suited to a given application than others. What follows is a short discussion of different valves and how they’re suited to isolating various pipeline operations.

Pump suction isolation valves

The majority of pump problems are often the result of substandard suction design. For this reason, smooth inflow to the pump impeller is fundamentally important. Structurally, the best way to improve suction is to allow for a straight pipe length of six or seven times the pipeline diameter, with minimal bends or valves that might lead to vortex action. Gate valves are best suited for pump suction isolation because the full flow area of this design offers no resistance to flow, which prevents turbulence in the suction pipe. A wedge-gate valve (or any other valve using a rising spindle) is the best choice among the gate valves because the operators can detect, by sight, whether a valve is open or shut before starting up the pump. Often, the system’s designer will try to cut down on costs by specifying butterfly valves for the purpose of suction isolation, but the quarter-turning disk in the butterfly valve can create swirls and eddies that can negatively affect the pump’s performance, possibly causing cavitation. Additionally, there is a danger of starting

The head engineer onsite is confronted with a wide array of choices when it comes to picking the right equipment. With each manufacturer claiming to offer the best solution, you sometimes need a little help selecting the correct isolation valve. BY FRANCES RINGWOOD

up a pump when the valve is closed and causing more damage to the pump because there are no visible external indicators of whether a butterfly valve is open or closed once inside a pipeline.

Isolating pump discharge

The isolating valve is typically closed when pumps are started up. Gate valves are usually used for this application, since this type of valve is resilient and can be used for small diameter, low-head applications. However, they are not suited for large-diameter, high-pressure scenarios. In applications where pressures are higher than 10 bar, with a nominal diameter (DN) wider than 300 mm, metal seated wedge-gate valves should be used. Sometimes, a butterfly valve will be specified for large-bore applications. The decision of whether to choose a butterfly or gate valve will ultimately rest on factors including cost, pressure, flow, and the designing engineer’s experience.

Pipeline isolating valves

The decision concerning what isolation valves to specify along the entire length of a pipeline is big one, carrying with it the responsibility of various cost and lifespan implications. Ultimately, what the specifying engineer chooses will depend on his or her budget, experience, the pipeline diameter

LEFT Stainless steel gate valve

SEPT/OCT 2015

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES and pressure, and whether the pipes themselves are manufactured using steel, plastic, fibreglass, or concrete. What follows are a few brief suggestions.

Small diameter, low pressure

For pipelines with a DN of up to 300 mm, or which exhibit nominal pressures up to 16 bar, seated gate valves have long proved to be the most hardy, cost-effective choice. It is best to choose more robust brands for this type of application.

Large diameter

As mentioned earlier, the choice between butterfly or gate valves for pipelines with a large diameter depends on a number of factors, including cost and pressure. A further consideration is whether or not the pipeline will be repaired using pigging. If pipelines are installed in areas where frequent nodular growths are likely to occur, pigging will be frequent and, so, gate valves are preferable, as butterfly valves would prevent the easy pull-through of pigs. Due to its wide selection of seats and

valves are designed to handle the demanding conditions of scouring.

positive guidance through its stroke and wedging action on closure, a wedge-gate valve will tend to provide a more positive seal to triple- or double-offset butterfly valves in high-pressure applications. There is also a cost-saving potential in favour of wedge-gate valves for these types of pipeline.

Make the right choice

When choosing the correct isolating valve to specify, design engineers are often faced with a choice between RSVs, butterfly, and gate valves. It is easy to be swayed into using RSVs or butterfly valves, due to the cost benefits. However, there are some applications where nothing but a wedge-gate valve will do. In making the right decision, pipeline designers need to look at the total cost of ownership of valves, as well as the ease of maintenance and total lifespan, to avoid making costly mistakes.

Scour valves

Scour valves play a vital role in draining pipelines so that maintenance and repair can be performed. Sometimes, designing engineers will specify resilient seated gate valves (RSVs) for this purpose, although this is not recommended because of the RSVs rubber coating; in warm or dry conditions, this rubber coating is likely to perish. Also, underground rodents will very often eat the rubber off the seals, causing leaks. Scour conditions require high differential pressures and velocities, ruling out the use of butterfly valves. Ultimately, wedge-gate valves are preferable for these applications, as they have metal seals, promising a longer lifespan. Additionally, wedge-gate

*Information used for writing this article was provided by valve company Aveng DFC. ABOVE Electric part-turn actuator on a butterfly valve (gate valve)

SEPT/OCT 2015

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ME TERING

Measure for measure S MART METERS are the way of the future for leading South African municipalities. The benefits include the cultivation of better relationships between municipalities and their customers, with more accurate meter reading and billing leading to more reliable revenue from payments. Beyond those clear benefits, however, smart meters provide a level of real-time data that can significantly improve demand and system management, from pressure management and leak to detection, to vandalism and water theft. EMM has an excellent reputation and a well-respected track record as a, if not the, leading metropolitan centre when it comes to the provision of water and sanitation services. In 2012, EMM was awarded the highest Blue Drop status in the country and, in the 2013/14 financial year, the municipality and five of its entities were awarded clean audit results. These are some of the highest achievements attainable in South Africa’s municipal landscape. Now, it looks as if EMM is planning to continue its winning streak, based on projections for reducing overall water demand over the next 10 years by implementing carefully researched demand-side-management strategies. Dorothy Mabuza, divisional head: Water Quality and Revenue Management for EMM, discusses the utility’s 10-year forecasts and smart metering’s place in the WDM picture. Her research correlates strongly with other Africa-based experiences on the subject.

Smart water meters have the potential to radically improve public sector water delivery. To realise these potentials, a clear and informed strategy needs to be developed before the first meter is installed. Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) has included a strategy for smart metering in their water demand management programme, and FRANCES RINGWOOD

explores the metro’s approach to smart water metering.

Measuring for success

The Vaal River system is the primary supply source for EMM; however, this source is fast becoming over-tapped and action is needed to maintain supply. Mabuza explains, “Current water demand exceeds supply. This is evident from the fact that Rand Water has exceeded its licence quotas and can’t be extended further (for now). Therefore, a reduction of demand by municipalities has been

SEPT/OCT 2015

recommended.” The recommendation for better WDM programmes has been made in a context where there is a lot that can be done. South African municipalities are subject to high water losses as a result of technical and non-technical issues, ageing meters continuously losing efficiency, and revenue projections that are consistently higher than what is actually collected. “Non-payment of services in low-income human habitations also remains a challenge. These factors have contributed to the fact that, as of February this year, the municipality’s non-revenue water losses (NRW) equalled 36.8%,” says Mabuza. These figures put Ekurhuleni exactly in line with the national NRW average, a surprising fact, given EMM’s overall strengths as a local authority. In the municipality’s favour, revenue collection is reasonably good, as is its billing regularity and working knowledge of assets in the field. “The cost of procuring water from Rand Water (including the water research levy) is R6.00 per kilolitre, and EMM’s water demand is 357 640 839 kilolitres per annum (2013/2014). Therefore, the cost to EMM of procuring water is R1.981 billion per year. Income from water tariffs for the last financial year was R2.669 billion,” says Mabuza. This indicates a reasonable profit, which can then be reinvested in operational expenditure or capital expenditure projects, as the municipality deems necessary. Good revenue collection, thus, translates to a continuing and increasing standard of service delivery. Mabuza continues, “EMM’s bylaws state that water meters are to be read at least four times a year. A provision is made on the bill regarding interim consumption, calculated at a fixed tariff rate, and later on in the cycle; the same is reconciled using actual readings and billed accordingly. In the last financial year, a total of 470 714 meters were accounted for in the municipality’s asset register.”

ME TERING FIGURE 1 Ekurhuleni anticipated future demand (with and without WDM) (Source: www.clean-power-africa.com)

The following figures reveal the municipality’s relatively high success rates with billing: • The percentage of meters billed on a monthly basis: 93.94% • Interim readings made on a monthly basis: 6% (average) • The percentage of no-readings: 5% • The payment level of accounts sent out: 92% (average) EMM is extremely effective by current standards. However, it remains possible to become still more efficient, improving billing rates and payments to 99% and reducing operational shortfalls to almost nothing.

2023 scenario

EMM’s future water demand projections from 2014 to 2023 include three scenarios. The first looks at a future where

Advantages for utilities

Challenges for utilities

Upfront collection

High initial cost for prepaid meters

Less admin around billing

Additional cost of repairs/maintenance/spare parts Need adequate pressure in network to supply

No reconnection charges TABLE 1 (Right) Prepaid household meters TABLE 2 (Below) Post-paid mobile innovation

Technology has shown unreliable performance Large investment to adopt new technology (hardware, organisational change, training, etc.)

Advantages for utilities

Challenges for utilities

Capital costs much lower (opex too, when full costs are taken into account)

In-person disconnection still necessary

More easily integrated with current practices

Culture change of meter readers may be required

No need to maintain two billing systems and create a separate vending system

Does not address institutional customers to same degree

Manageable training and organisational change

Does not offer some of the (often missing) advantages of prepaid water kiosks (e.g. longer hours, no vendor mark-up)

Room for future evolution (with prepaid you are stuck with the tech you bought, ICT allows for evolution according to feedback) Meter readers can perform other functions (customer engagement, fault reporting)

SEPT/OCT 2015

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WAT E R S

ME TERING

No limits

Integrated solution for leakage detection in drinking water networks? No problem with WATERFLUX. WATERFLUX electromagnetic water meter is now available with integrated pressure and temperature sensor as option. Thus it can be used for leak detection and quality monitoring in drinking water networks. The integrated solution eliminates the need for installation and wiring of external sensors, and presents pressure and temperature readings for each metering point. The integrated pressure sensor provides an alarm via a status output when the programmed upper or lower limit is reached. The integrated temperature sensor helps to monitor water quality. Adding the advantage of no straight inlet or outlet sections needed, the battery-powered meter can be installed even at remote monitoring points. GSM antenna (also battery powered) for remote transmission of readings is available as option as well as a protection class IP68 version. KROHNE – Water is our world. KROHNE South Africa 8 Bushbuck Close Corporate Park South Randtjiespark, Midrand Tel.: +27 113141391 Fax: +27 113141681 Cell: +27 825563934 John Alexander j.alexander@krohne.com www.za.krohne.com

demand increases at current rates, without WDM. In that future, about 425 million kilolitres will be required annually, by 2023. In the second scenario, if WDM is successfully implemented, it is estimated that demand will actually decrease from current levels to 349 million kilolitres. A third scenario is proposed, which calculates an average between the two based on the pragmatism regarding funding mechanisms for WDM. Since Gauteng utilities are already struggling to meet demand, the successful roll-out of smart meters is ultimately a desirable goal. Here are some of the ways smart metering contributes towards WDM, according to Mabuza: “Smart meters can be installed above ground, providing easy access. They also provide more accurate data over longer periods. In addition, they allow for automated meter reading (through a network communication smart grid) to enable localised demand-side management efforts. Proactive leak detection is another factor that contributes to lowering NRW. “Another important advantage is that these systems allow for water use monitoring and management of consumption by consumers. This ultimately restores trust and credibility to our customers, improving EMM’s brand equity,” she adds. There are a host of other benefits, too numerous to be listed here. In spite of these many advantages, there are some very important points to consider before jumping right in to smart metering roll-outs, particularly in the environs of developing countries.

Smart approaches to smart metering

Mabuza points out that smart metering technology is still in its infancy in South Africa, adding, “The delay with either adoption or implementation is a result of a host of factors; these include technology maturity, stakeholder and end user buy-in, institution readiness, and the sustainability of the technology. “Worth bearing in mind is that it is always recommended that a technology is piloted prior to adoption and commitment. Such a pilot must include financial analysis, impact and viability, and environmental factors,” says Mabuza.

Smart meters compared to prepaid

David Schaub-Jones is the director of SeeSaw South Africa, a private consulting firm that has been involved in the implementation of both prepaid and smart meter rollouts in numerous African countries for many years. He does not advocate one technology type over the other outright, but rather looks at the needs of a specific water and sanitation stakeholder and makes suggestions concerning which strategy is better for NRW reduction based on the relative merits and drawbacks of each approach. Tables 1 and 2 illustrate the comparative pros and cons of the two different technologies.

Smart metering in Africa

Andy Slater, director of marketing: EMEA & Asia Pacific of global metering company Sensus, explains the motivations driving Sensus’ efforts in Africa and South Africa in particular, “300 million people don’t have access to clean and safe water in sub-Saharan Africa, yet a global survey in 2013 showed data from smart water networks can save utilities up

SEPT/OCT 2015

ME TERING FIGURE 2 Vaal River System: EMM status quo (Source: www.african-utility-week.com)

to US$12.5 billion a year and help ensure a balance between supply and demand.” More people in Africa have smart phones than access to potable water and this, more than anything else, is a reason to believe Africa will be an even more successful market for smart metering than other existing sites. The reason for this is connectivity. “Smart water networks need highly reliable connectivity, security, and read accuracy. So, while one caveat is that smart water networks can’t work on yesterday’s data, there is an advantage in that, once these networks are up and running, they can reach difficult locations with minimal infrastructure and work for 15 years, or more, without external power,” says Slater. With properly developed advanced metering infrastructure, smart metering can ultimately be a more affordable, and

certainly more desirable, option for remote locations. Case studies in London and California have proved that smart metering can drastically reduce municipal energy consumption by between 12% and 30%. This is because functional reticulation systems, where every drop of water is accounted for, can be repaired more strategically, lowering pumping costs – this is not only good for the bottom line but also useful in that most sub-Saharan countries also face energy constraints. Internationally, smart meters are already becoming the norm. EMM is already rolling out the technology, with smart meters already

SEPT/OCT 2015

being installed in some areas. It will be interesting to revisit these early test sites in several years' time and calculate how extensive savings – of both water and money – have been for EMM and its smart meter recipients. With water supply already under severe pressure, with the supplying utility already exceeding its quotas, smart metering could play a significant role in managing demand and reducing the risk of water outages. While supply is scheduled to increase with the commissioning of the Lesotho Highlands bulk transfer project, EMM’s actions show it is being proactive in managing this precious resource.

EVENTS

IFAT to hit SA shores The world’s biggest water, wastewater, and environmental trade fair, IFAT, is coming to African shores this year for the first time ever, since the fair began in 1970. Here’s a sneak peak of what exhibitors and visitors can expect.

oft pretzels, wheat beer, and If nothing is done, AMD can severely polhighbrow conversations belute both surface water and groundwater. tween engineers and scientist The failings of the past, such as a lack of about the latest developments legislation to enforce sound environmenin pumps, flocculants, and honey suckers tal mine management practices, have led – that’s been the tradition of IFAT for 45 to mine wastewater becoming an ever years, since the first event was held in more urgent problem. Munich, Germany. A range of treatment solutions for Originally called the Internationale tackling these challenges exists. The Fachmesse für Abwassertechnik, IFAT options include ventilation, precipitation has grown from its early focus on wasteand ion-exchange processes, compowater technology to become a global nents for membrane and nanofiltration, event, bringing not only wastewater and reverse-osmosis, and solutions for biowater treatment innovations to markets logical sulfate removal. Accompanying all around the world (in China, Eurasia, equipment includes pumps, pipes, and India, and Turkey), but also incorporating measuring devices. environmental technologies for the past Just which solution is the most approseveral years. priate depends on the composition of the IFAT is the world´s biggest trade event for The IFAT Environmental Technology wastewater in question, and this varies environmental technology – a total of 13 288 visitors from 168 countries took part in the Forum Africa 2015 will be collocated widely between the different mining last IFAT in Munich, Germany, in 2014 with the biennial Bauma Conexpo Africa regions. Experts and industry leaders International Trade Fair for construction at the IFAT Environmental Technology machinery. Two years ago, Bauma welForum Africa 2015 will be on hand to asvisitors with the salient features of comed more than 14 700 visitors, and this sist all public and private sector clients to water management in local contexts. year, numbers are expected to increase, determine the right solution, at the right As mining is a primary focus, there as a combined Bauma and IFAT opens cost, while enhancing environmental will be a number of presentations and its doors from 15 to 18 September 2015 protection and water conservation. panel discussions on the at the Johannesburg Expo Experts and industry leaders at the IFAT following topics: Centre in Johannesburg. Environmental Technology Forum will be • the mining sector – imMine water focus on hand to assist public and private sector pacts and solutions for Gerhard Gerritzen, deputy the environment clients to determine the right solution managing director of • water, sewage refuse, Messe München, explains what opporand recycling – solutions Event highlights tunities in the local market inspired his for the mining and conThe organisers expect 90 exhibitors from company to invest in the event: “Mining struction industries 13 countries, including Endress+Hauser, in South Africa is one of the key contrib• best practice for water management in Festo, Grundfos, Hammel utors to waste issues. According to the the mining industry – use, treatment, Recylingtechnik, Huber Technology, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and disposal Netzsch Southern Africa, Pumptron, Ritz and Development, about 315 million • challenges and solutions for the mining Pumps South Africa, Wilo Pumps SA, and tonnes of waste – mainly contamiand construction industries. Xylem Water Solutions. nated sewage – must be disposed of The country special will be paired with One of the familiar features of IFAT every year.” a presentation on German solutions is its commitment to being a nexus of One of the country’s other water to African challenges. Other talks will international best practices in a number challenges relating to mine water is acid highlight the core concern of water of water, wastewater, and solid waste mine drainage (AMD). Acidic wastewater treatment, including surface water and areas. This includes lectures, panel containing high levels of heavy metals groundwater, catchment management discussions, and country specials – talks is produced when water floods into for mines, and energy-efficiency opporthat assist in familiarising international disused shafts, particularly in gold mines. tunities for municipalities. SEPT/OCT 2015

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PRODUC T NEWS

Analytics in red and blue

PERATORS OF process control systems want information on not only process conditions, but also on material characteristics – without time lag and without impacting production. It may be a pipe dream, but it’s one that could soon become reality in many applications, thanks to advanced analysis. “Advanced analysis satisfies the needs of our customers who want to control product quality during operation,” says Matthias Altendorf, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group. Advances in the field of spectroscopy are playing an especially important role in creating diverse opportunities for fast, non-destructive material inspections.

From lab to production

Advanced analysis technologies are fast, reliable, and precise. They require no expendable materials and no special environmental conditions, making them cost-effective and low-maintenance, driving down operational expenditure. One of the thrusts of Endress+Hauser’s analytics strategy is, therefore, aimed at the laboratory analysis market. “We encounter the same customers in both the process control and lab analysis sectors,” explains Altendorf. “Our aim is to support these

customers in all phases of their operation – from research and development to product and process development, right through to manufacturing.” A stake in Analytik Jena, a specialist in analytical instrumentation and bioanalytic systems, is opening the door for Endress+Hauser to become more fully involved in the world of laboratory analysis.

Red and blue structures

Klaus Berka, co-founder and CEO of Analytik Jena, believes this relationship will secure the success of his life’s work. He expects Endress+Hauser will be the catalyst for further growth. “We benefit from a structural framework that provides us with a wide range of new business opportunities. I’m convinced that Analytik Jena, as a member of the Endress+Hauser Group, will be in a new league,” he says. The new group companies are bolstering the established analytic business. Even Endress+Hauser Conducta, the centre of competence for liquids analysis, long ago made inroads into advanced analysis with sensors and devices that extend beyond conventional pH or conductivity measurements. “The red world of laboratory analysis and the blue world of process analysis are

SEPT/OCT 2015

A stake in Analytik Jena, a specialist in analytical instrumentation and bioanalytic systems, is opening the door for Endress+Hauser to become more fully involved in the world of laboratory analysis

very different,” says Altendorf, referring to the red in the Analytik Jena trademark and the blue in the Endress+Hauser logo. Because the laboratory business has special requirements, sales will be driven independently under the well-established Analytik Jena brand. According to Altendorf, the plan is to expand the worldwide presence of this laboratory sales organisation, which will also introduce Kaiser Optical Systems products to markets not yet served. The blue side of the analysis will be strengthened, at the same time, through increased knowledge sharing.

PRODUC T NEWS

Pumping market excellence

LAIMING TO BE low maintenance and highly efficient, a newly available pump's power absorption properties contribute to its highly competitive life-cycle costs, as do its cost-effective and readily available spare parts.

Application range

The LEO XST Series centrifugal pump is used in a range of applications, including water supply, water circulation in air-conditioning systems, irrigation, landscaping, fire pumps, as well as cooling for heavy industrial equipment. Because of its compact size, it can even be used in small HVAC systems. The pump boasts a flow of up to 220 m3 per hour with a head of up to 95 m and a power range of between 0.75 kW and 55 kW. Standard temperatures sustained are from -10˚C to 85˚C with an optional range between -20˚C and 120˚C.

A new centrifugal pump that meets and exceeds industry standards is set to play a significant role in water supply in the industrial, mining, construction, and agricultural sectors.

Efficiencies

The high efficiency of the pump makes for energy, as well as cost savings; the pump is compact, reliable,

resistant to corrosion, and easy to maintain. When compared with a conventional end-suction centrifugal pump, the LEO XST Series standard centrifugal pump occupies one-third less space, and employs a monoblock design for the pump and motor, improving heavily on pump performance and noise reduction, as well as making for an impressive 70% reduction on maintenance costs. “We have many clients, from a number of different industries, using the product; the common denominator is that they need a quality centrifugal pump that is up to the task, like the XST Series,” comments Carl Mulock Houwer, marketing manager at RAP Technologies, the company that has brought the range to the South African market. He emphasises the role that excellent and reliable after-sales service from a reputable company plays in getting the most out of the pumps, and ensuring optimal life-cycle performance.

The efficient and low-maintenance LEO XST Series of centrifugal pumps was recently launched in South Africa

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Abeco

ImproChem

Aecom

Kaytech

APE Pumps

Krohne South Africa

Anatech

Mather+Platt

Raptech

Re-Energise

Rocla

SA Leak Detection

SEW-Eurodrive

IBC

Umgeni Water

Nalco Africa

IFC

OFC

NuWater

Endress+Hauser

PCI Africa

Exhibition Management Services

Pumptron

WEC Projects

Quality Filters

WorleyParsons Water RSA

Aquadam Danfoss

Gibb

Veolia Water Solutions Water & Sanitation Services

40 OBC

Hansen Industries

Rainbow Reservoirs

Water Purification Chemical & Plant

I-Cat Environmental Solutions

Rare Group

Xylem

SEPT/OCT 2015

1THREAD_7028_BDR

SEW-EURODRIVE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Driving the world

We drive the water industry

SEW-EURODRIVE, a BEE company, leaders in the field of geared motors are now able to supply an Industrial Gear Unit that offers more efficiency for mixing and agitating applications with their MC range of Extended Bearing Distance (EBD) Industrial Gear Units. In process plants, large axial and radial forces occur at the agitator shaft during agitating processes. Traditional designs solve this problem with separate, external bearings that take on the function of the agitator shaft bearings, a solution that very often proves cost intensive. Our new EBD concept extends the bearing span across the low speed shaft and offers stronger bearings within the gear unit itself, which means that in many cases separate bearings are no longer required in the agitator or an over sizing of the gear unit can be avoided. These high torque MC Industrial Gear Units can be used for the reliable operation of mixers, mounting flanges, agitators and surface aerators.

SEW-EURODRIVE - Driving the world.

Tel: +27 11 248-7000 Web: www.sew.co.za

Water and Sanitation Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (WSSA) is a specialised provider of sustainable water services in Southern Africa