ETHEKWINI
Supporting water and food security
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lobally, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services and 4.2 billion people – more than half of the global population – do not have access to safely managed sanitation services. In South Africa, these figures sit at over 3 million and 14 million, respectively. Added to this, municipalities are losing around 1 660 million m3 per year through non-revenue water and the country is projected to face a 17% water deficit by 2030. With water at the core of sustainable socioeconomic development, food production and healthy ecosystems, AECI WATER has refocused its business and offerings to uplift the lives and standards of communities and the economy.
Water capabilities AECI WATER aims to support all local governments and utilities in achieving their objectives of becoming resilient smart cities, through the support and provision of new and existing in-house technologies for
the monitoring and control of critical water systems. The company has vast experience and expertise in the treatment and management of potable and sewage water. This includes highlevel capabilities in implementing alternative water source treatment technologies, including groundwater treatment, water reclamation and reuse, and desalination. For potable water treatment, AECI WATER manufactures and supplies a comprehensive range of coagulants and flocculants for liquidsolid separation, as well as supplies small-tomedium-sized free-standing, containerised and engineered treatment plants. The company also has the unique capability and expertise to offer containerised plug-andplay sewage treatment systems. Additional wastewater treatment offerings include a wide range of products to condition sludge prior to thickening or dewatering, as well as for final effluent disinfection. Sludge handling is often the single largest cost in wastewater plants. AECI WATER’s products allow for cost-effective treatment, paired with the expertise to address all the sludge management challenges faced by utilities. Experts can also advise on the use of advanced anaerobic digestion for combined heat and power production. Added to this, the company has mobile laboratory testing capabilities and offers a range of smart monitoring and control technologies.
Proven track record AECI WATER has been involved in numerous projects to supply safe drinking water, making a difference to customers and communities.
The Southern African region, and South Africa in particular, is facing a looming water crisis. AECI WATER is working collaboratively to resolve the water challenges by delivering packaged water solutions based on its diverse experience and world-class solutions. One such project saw AECI WATER provide safe drinking water to several clinics and schools in Hammanskraal by setting up a filling station that the City of Tshwane can use to supply safe drinking water to the community. AECI WATER also collaborated with the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Department to supply potable water to the community through an upgrade of the Mkhizwana treatment plant – an imperative for the community, the province and the country. Other notable projects include, among others, the construction of a water treatment plant at Sea Harvest’s Saldanha fresh fish processing factories to treat effluent or seawater, and the deployment of desalination plants at Lucky Star’s fishmeal operations at St Helena Bay and Laaiplek, which have produced more than 50 million litres of water since April 2018. “At AECI WATER, we work with our customers to build long-term relationships, solve complex challenges, and develop innovative solutions that add value to our customers’ operations,” says Bernette Sekati, Executive Director: Public Water Division, AECI WATER. Dean Mulqueeny, Chairman, AECI WATER, concludes, “Through understanding our customer processes, we are able to offer customised solutions, proven technologies and world-class chemistries, with the ultimate goal of uplifting communities, improving health and hygiene, and achieving greater water and food security. Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”
IMIESA October 2020
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