WATER REUSE
ABUNDANT WATER REUSE OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
There is no single, specific technology for water reuse
While there is extensive scope to expand water reuse in South Africa, it is by no means a new concept for the country. In 2001, a water recycling project was commissioned in KwaZulu-Natal where Veolia was awarded a 20-year operations and maintenance contract.
W
e have recently submitted a tender for another 20year concession. Presently, the plant treats domestic and industrial wastewater to near potable standards for sale to industrial customers for direct use in their processes. The new tender includes the additional supply of potable water for the local community,” says Miles Murray, director: Business Development, Veolia Services Southern Africa. Currently, the plant features Veolia technologies such as the Multiflo clarifier and Hydrex water treatment
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MAR /APR 2022
Miles Murray, director: Business Development, Veolia Services Southern Africa
chemicals. Multiflo offers an efficient process for removing total suspended solids (TSS), colour, algae and heavy metal co-precipitates. It can also be used in the softening process, as well as the polishing process to remove pesticides, organic matter and new emerging pollutants. Hydrex water treatment chemicals protect water treatment systems against scale deposition, corrosion, fouling and biological problems. Over the past 20 years, Veolia has been responsible for the plant’s wastewater catchment, conveyance, trade effluent control, preliminary and primary treatment, secondary and
Martin Kotze, project development manager, Veolia Services Southern Africa
tertiary treatment, reclaimed water reticulation and utilisation. It is South Africa’s first water reuse plant, one of the first water-related public-private partnerships (PPPs) of its kind, and the first to adopt a new contractual model for financing new infrastructure. The project is managed under a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model. The total cost of the project (construction for the new tertiary plant, purchase and upgrade of the municipal utility assets used for the project, and piping system) was around R72 million. Veolia, together with other partners, provided all
