Closing the gap: access to water

In the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, approximately 30% of households have limited access to water, where mostly women and children are required to walk long distances to access water for their basic needs.

SBS Tanks is geared to assist these regions in making water more accessible.

The provision of safe and readily available water is important for public health and poverty reduction. A recent study by Statistics SA revealed that tap water inside dwellings, off- or on-site, was least common among households in Limpopo (69.4%) and the Eastern Cape (71%).

Alfred Nzo Municipality appointed SBS Tanks to assist with the delivery of bulk water storage solutions. The company installed two 110 000 ℓ steel water storage tanks in the rural area of Luncedweni and a further 120 000 ℓ bulk water storage tank in the Ntabankulu area. The tanks were erected quickly with very little site preparation required and will provide the surrounding communities with water storage for at least the next 65 years.

“SBS Tanks recognises the challenges faced by rural municipalities to deliver equitable access to water across widespread and often inaccessible terrain and within budgetary constraints,” says Mava Gwagwa, director: New Business at SBS Tanks.

Proven, effective solutions

“Our solution has been proven to be effective over the past 25 years and we are geared to assist the Eastern Cape and Limpopo regions, as well as the rest of the country, to bring access to water up to the 100% mark. With our modular, bolted steel panel water tanks and reservoirs, we provide quick access to bulk water storage, at a fraction of the cost, time and infrastructure requirements of a concrete alternative and with the design including a potable water storage liner, it is safer than other steel alternatives.”

According to Gwagwa, the benefit of using a potable-water-safe liner is that water is stored away from direct contact with the tank structure and kept free of contaminants, making it safe for drinking. “SBS Tanks water storage liners are manufactured in our ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 facility and comply with international potable water storage standards, keeping water clean and safe. This is in direct contrast to other bulk water storage solutions, some of which have stored water in direct contact with the welded steel structure, resulting in structural corrosion and contamination of the water. Other storage solutions require water to pass through a treatment plant post storage due to open storage and contact with various other construction materials.”

ABOVE and BELOW Two 110 000 ℓ steel water storage tanks in the rural area of Luncedweni, Eastern Cape

He adds, “The in-house SBS Tanks engineers work with municipal engineers to design the best solution for bulk water or effluent processing. This can include one or multiple SBS Tanks of up to 4.2 Mℓ each to get the necessary configuration and ensure continuous water supply, even during maintenance. Once completed and fitted with liner, the tank can be commissioned immediately and connected to pipework to deliver water to the community.”

For remote sites, SBS Tanks components can be transported in smaller vehicles, or if necessary and in areas with no road access, carried to site. Site preparation requirements include a level platform with safe bearing capacity equal to or exceeding 100 kPa and basic concrete ring beam for larger-capacity tanks, which, along with tank installation, does not require heavy-duty equipment. Visit the website for more information or email info@sbstanks.co.za for a quote for your next water storage project.