4 minute read
Water
Macadamia shells are filtering water for rural communities.
Mobile solar-powered water filtration system . Image: Kusini Water
ALimpopo entrepreneur has found a way to safely filter water using macadamia shells. The brainchild of Murendeni Mafumo, the idea was first put into action in 2018 and has been used in schools and rural communities by Kusini Water.
Powered by solar power, the purification system uses a carbon filter that is made from macadamia nut shells. With support from the National Research Foundation and six reputable partners, including the Innovation Hub and the Shuttleworth Foundation, the system seems destined for widespread use.
The National Department of Science and Technology is piloting a Point-of-Use (POU) project in Malatane village in the Capricorn District. The project is part of the department’s Innovation Partnership for Rural Development Programme (IPRDP), which is supported by the European Union. Limpopo has markedly different rainfall patterns in its three main geographical regions: the escarpment (sub-humid with annual rainfall of more than 700mm); semi-arid middle veld and Highveld; and the arid and semi-arid Lowveld.
The province’s rivers are under threat from the damaging effects of the mining industry, power stations, chemicals used in agriculture and from sewage treatment in catchment areas. Opportunities exist in this sector for innovative solutions. Concern about drought conditions and water quality under pressure from mines and industry has led to the calling of a Provincial Water and Sanitation Summit.
Online Resources
Innovation Hub: www.theinnovationhub.com National Department of Science and Technology: www.dst.gov.za National Department of Water and Sanitation: www.dwa.gov.za National Research Foundation: www.nrf.ac.za Sector Insight Several large water schemes are close to completion.
The Water and Sanitation Services branch of the Polokwane Municipality operates five waterpurification plants and three sewage-purification plants. As part of its Regional Water Scheme programme, Polokwane provides water to the residents of the rural areas of Mothapo, Mothiba and Makotopong.
The Capricorn District Municipality funds a watertesting laboratory on the campus of the University of Limpopo.
Providing water to the citizens of Limpopo has been a fraught process for many years. Schemes have come and gone and many local councils have not been up to the task. So it was significant that Premier Chupu Mathabatha announced the following markers of progress in his State of the Province Address in February 2020: Polokwane Bulk Water Scheme 100% complete; Polokwane Regional Wastewater Treatment Works 74%; MametjaSekororo Bulk Water Supply 97%; Nebo Bulk Water Supply 90%; Moutse Water Treatment Works 90%; Malekana Water Treatment Works 90%.
The completion of the De Hoop Dam has provided goodquality water for the first time to many communities in the eastern part of Limpopo. ■
Venetia Mine eases water shortage in Simson Village
Pumps, pipes, valves and reservoirs are boosting services.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, good has come for the community of Simson Village, which had previously struggled with access to clean water. As an emergency interim measure, Venetia Mine has installed a 10 000-litre water tank with four additional taps and then cleaned, repaired and recommissioned the existing 100 000-litre reservoir, restoring access to sustainable water supply for the community.
The initiative was in response to a plea from the community as the damaged communal reservoir full of debris had resulted in clogging the water supply. Residents were also left with no option but to retrieve and siphon water from the top of the reservoir.
Ward 17 councillor in the Blouberg Local Municipality, Dan Mojodo welcomed the intervention and expressed great delight at finally having access to a clean supply of water. “As a community, we are very relieved and grateful to Venetia Mine for stepping in to assist our community in this very needy period and making a difference in our lives. We appeal to the mine to extend this great work to other vulnerable communities in the Blouberg region in need of support during this crucial period of the lockdown.”
Other water projects currently underway in Blouberg include the following:
The Taaibosch Groet Water Project
The Taaibosch community is one of many villages in the Blouberg Municipal District that have massive shortages of water. Venetia Mine has, as a result, extended the current bulk water line to supply water to the Taaibosch Clinic, Sebeelwa crèche, the Taaibosch Community Hall and Taaibosch Disability Centre. An estimated 1.7km pipeline has been installed to ensure a sustainable supply of water to these surrounding facilities.
The Kromhoek Village Water Project
The current infrastructure in the Kromhoek Village is not sustainable to provide water to the community; the current infrastructure is aged and worn out, resulting in leakages and communities not being able to access water. As a result, Venetia Mine has repaired and restored one borehole, and has equipped the other borehole with new infrastructure to restore sustainable access and supply of water.
The Donker Hoek community has a water source but only 30% of the village has running water within a radius of 200m from their home. The other 70% of the community must fetch water from a communal water standpipe – about 6km away from their homes. As an intervention, Venetia Mine upgraded the current borehole and installed an additional 90 000-litre reservoir. The mine has also extended the current water reticulation (pipeline) to bring water closer to communities – within a 200m radius of their homes. ■
