Water&Sanitation Africa January/February 2024

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Managing Editor: Kirsten Kelly kirsten@infrastructurenews.co.za

Digital Manager: Ziyanda Majodina

Designer: Beren Bauermeister

Sub-editor: Tristan Snijders

Contributors: Quinton Coetzee, Heiner Freese, Lester Goldman, Kerry Grimmer, Boitumelo Pako Matshediso, Chetan Mistry, Dan Naidoo, Hennie Pretorius

Advertising Sales: Hanlie Fintelman

c +27 (0)67 756 3132 hanlie@infrastructurenews.co.za

Marita De Vos

c +27 (0)82 924 4183 sales@infrastructurenews.co.za

Publisher

www.infrastructurenews.co.za

ISSN: 1990 - 8857

Annual subscription: R330

WISA Contacts:

HEAD OFFICE

Tel: 086 111 9472(WISA)

Fax: +27 (0)11 315 1258

Physical address: 1st Floor, Building 5, Constantia Park, 546 16th Road, Randjiespark Ext 7, Midrand

Website: www.wisa.org.za

BRANCHES

Eastern Cape:

Branch Contact: Dan Abrahams

Company: Aurecon

Tel: +27 (0)41 503 3929

Cell: +27 (0) 81 289 1624

Email: Dan.Abraham@aurecongroup.com

Gauteng

Branch Lead: Zoe Gebhardt

Cell: +27 (0)82 3580876

Email: zoe.gebhardt@gmail.com

KwaZulu-Natal

Chairperson: Lindelani Sibiya

Company: Umgeni Water

Cell: +27 (0)82 928 1081

Email: lindelani.sibiya@umgeni.co.za

Limpopo

Chairperson: Mpho Chokolo

Company: Lepelle Northern Water

Cell: +27 (0)72 310 7576

Email: mphoc@lepelle.co.za

Western Cape

Chairperson: Natasia van Binsbergen

Company: AL Abbott & Associates

Tel: +27 (0)21 448 6340

Cell: +27 (0)83 326 3887

Email: natasia@alabbott.co.za DIVISIONS

“The real danger is not that computers will begin to think like men, but that men will begin to think like computers.” – Sydney J Harris

As a basic human right, it is nearly impossible to mention water without mentioning people. However, water is also steeped in science and engineering, and nearly every story in this magazine mentions some type of technology. It is always interesting to see the impact that technology has on people’s lives and the reaction to new technology by humans.

Probably one of the most well-known instances of resistance to technology was recorded was in the early 1800s. The Luddites were members of a 19th-century movement of English textile workers that opposed the use of certain types of cost-saving machinery, and often destroyed the machines in clandestine raids. There was even an opposition to railways, as well as electricity, with a fear over safety and potential health problems.

Last year, there was a huge fuss around ChatGPT. Before attempting to use it, I began to wonder if my job was under threat, and if my magazine would be written by a robot. No robot is writing any WASA stories (in case you were wondering). But ChatGPT certainly picks out key words for SEO purposes with great ease, can suggest how to make shorter paragraphs, and sometimes even gives me an idea for a headline. It is a tool.

Ultimately, every product and service we create should be built to serve people. As Dan Naidoo, chairman of WISA, states: “If technology does not make a positive impact on the quality of life of people, then it is technology that we do not need.”

Technology can empower us in many ways, and it can be an incredibly useful, multifaceted tool – but it is just a tool; it needs a person to wield it effectively. Deep insights, creative sparks, and relevant perspectives come from people. We need to take a moment to step back and remember that everything we do is not technology-related but peoplerelated, because people should be at the heart of everything, especially water.

The idea that technology can solve all our problems is seductive. But there is no silver bullet for problems within the water sector; there is no quick fix.

Humans

I profiled two entities who achieved brilliant Blue Drop results. When I asked Shyam Misra from the South African Water Works (page 40) and Chandre Barnard from Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (page 38) why they achieved such great results, they both, without hesitation, mentioned the skills and expertise of the people who work within their organisations. There was no mention of technology.

This invites the question: are we placing enough importance on skills development and training? According to Mpho Mookapele, CEO of EWSETA, skills development is seldom prioritised. While technology can certainly assist in tackling some of the sector’s challenges, there needs to be suitably trained people to use that technology.

WISA’s Vision Inspiring passion for water

You said it in WASA

The opinions and statements shared by thought leaders in the water industry to Water&Sanitation Africa.

“At APE, 3D scanning is used over and above the traditional quality control methods. It is an additional aid to prevent the misalignment of pumps by verifying pump geometries (concentricity, parallelism, perpendicularity, and shaft runouts) during manufacturing, assembly, and even commissioning. All pump parts are scanned to confirm that they meet the specifications of the manufacturing drawings. The 3D scans also generate digital reports indicating that the pump and pump parts meet (or fail to meet) certain specifications and tolerances. These reports are often supplied to customers.” John Montgomery, Group MD, APE Pumps and Mather+Platt

06 PAGE

“Today, radar sensors can be found in all areas of everyday life – from simple motion detectors for door openers to complex distance sensors in vehicles. However, the requirements for industrial level measurement differ considerably. The radar microchip newly developed by VEGA has been specially optimised for the requirements of level measurement. Thanks to its small design, very compact sensors are now possible. These are significantly less expensive and can replace the previous ultrasonic sensors in almost all applications.”

Miguel Petersen, marketing manager, VEGA South Africa

“Water treatment used to be referred to as ‘water care’. You look after and care for that water and then reticulate that water to members of the public. We need to go back to that philosophy. If we care for people, we can solve the water crisis. We need to remember that behind all the equipment and technology are people who we are morally obliged to serve. If technology does not make a positive impact on the quality of life of people, then it is technology that we do not need.” Dan Naidoo, chairman, WISA

10 PAGE

“According to research, for every 5-50 prompts, ChatGPT consumes approximately 500 m ℓ of water. In its recent environmental report, Microsoft disclosed that its global water consumption spiked 34% from 2021 to 2022 (to nearly 6.5 million litres or more than 2 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools). This is a sharp increase, compared to previous years, that outside researchers tie to its AI research. Meanwhile, Google reported a 20% growth in water use during the same period.” Boitumelo Pako Matshediso, business unit manager, Talbot Analytics

“The cloud radically increases returns while reducing upfront investment costs. Through the inventive use of modern software, cloud systems combine and scale multiple servers to deliver cutting-edge digital, data, and artificial intelligence services across the internet at very competitive costs. Traditional IT cannot do this without incurring enormous expenses and upfront investment.”

Chetan

Mistry, strategy and marketing manager,

Xylem Africa

13 PAGE

“Digitalisation in water and wastewater treatment contributes towards improved efficiency, resource optimisation, compliance, and overall resilience, ultimately ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality water to communities. Schneider Electric forms partnerships with WTPs and WWTPs, assisting them in the installation, monitoring, maintenance, and upgrading of their plants. In a nutshell, Schneider Electric can help the water sector shift its operations, maintenance, and emergency responses from reactive to predictive, helping them to use assets more effectively and avoid unscheduled downtime.”

Peter Marumong, segment leader: Water and

PAGE

“Although climate change has been studied for decades, it is difficult to input accurate information into the models, as modelling techniques and scenarios are continually being updated and refined according to the most recent climate data. A certain amount of flexibility in operating rules is fundamental in addressing fluctuating and unpredictable hydrological conditions and reducing the associated negative implications. For this reason, different scenarios are usually analysed, often derived from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These may often represent ‘best case’ and ‘worst case’ scenarios. Rainfall data cannot yet fully incorporate the changes in climate when carrying out long-term analyses, which causes a greater uncertainty in predicting future hydrology.”

Kerry Grimmer, principal hydrologist,

PAGE

“Depending on the type of aeration in the bioreactors, the power consumption of the aerators/blowers can be up to 50% of the plants power consumption. Typical causes for inefficiencies of blowers relate to pressure loss through leaks in piping, blockages in air piping, or blocked aeration elements. Through monitoring pressure, air flow, and power consumption measurements, this will indicate the optimum operational point of the blowers and when maintenance is required on the aeration elements.”

Hennie Pretorius, industry manager: Water & Wastewater, Endress+Hauser

24 PAGE

“It is also important to note that the Blue Drop programme is not solely based on water quality. It is possible to produce good water quality and receive a below-average Blue Drop score. This is because there is a huge focus on the entire water quality management system, asset management, risk management, and water safety planning. It is all about continuous improvement.” Chandre Barnard, deputy director: Bulk Supply & Reservoirs, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality

“A product is only a tiny part of an innovation; there are many types of innovation, from quoting and invoicing methods to the ability for customers to log in to their own account via the customer portal. Some of our other innovations include electric vehicles, the Khusela Dry Sanitation Unit, and an automated scrubber drier. Our vision is to use innovation to improve compliance, convenience, and peace of mind for our customers. Our innovative offering is one of our key differentiators.”

Robert Erasmus, MD, Sanitech

“There is often a general lack of understanding around the different types of water uses. While general authorisations and Schedule 1 water-use activities do not require a water-use licence, there are other water use activities that are regulated under Section 21 of the National Water Act and require a licence. To add to complications, there are also general existing water uses that had general authorisations before the National Water Act was promulgated in 1998. These do not require a water-use licence. Often, there is confusion around the difference between a registration certificate and a water-use authorisation, which can result in water being used illegally.” Nonhlanhla Mnengi, associate, Webber Wentzel

PAGE

38 PAGE

“While Siza Water was rated as the third best water provider in the country, and the only service provider within iLembe District Municipality that has achieved Blue Drop status, the concession is looking to claim back the status as “South Africa’s best water provider” that it had in 2014.” Shyam Misra, Group MD, South African Water Works

40 PAGE

“Water skills are often imported, which is a missed opportunity in a country with a high unemployment rate. There is nothing wrong with importing skills to learn, but we cannot fully rely on imported skills to run the local water sector. We need to train and capacitate South Africans to ensure that it is South African companies that run their own water industry.” Mpho Mookapele, CEO of EWSETA 42 PAGE

MOVING TECHNOLOGY WITH

A proudly South African original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the APE Pumps and Mather+Platt Group uses technology and its expertise to extend every pump’s life, repairing components where practical. WASA catches up with a few Group team members about some of their recent equipment acquisitions and their commitment to quality control.

Retrofitting pumps for water systems can lead to significant energy savings, improved performance, extended lifespans, and enhanced functionality through advanced monitoring and control features. But what happens if there are no technical drawings of a pump, or a pump model has been discontinued? What if the pump manufacturer no longer exists or has exited the country?

First off, if it’s an APE Pump, it is reassuring to know that technical drawings for every single pump ever produced since 1952 are kept in a vault system. These technical drawings can be used to execute assessments, repairs, refurbishments, or a complete rebuild. The drawings contain details like metallurgical

materials, type of liquid handled, casing, and impeller trims.

“Our recordkeeping is a vital service for our public and private sector endusers, some of whom may no longer have any institutional knowledge of our pumps due to organisational and/ or ownership changes. We also keep records of legacy products we inherited as a Group prior to our formation in 1952,” explains John Montgomery, GM for APE Pumps and Mather+Platt. This contrasts with large parts of Asia, Europe, and the USA, where many pumps are considered obsolete after five years of service. “This is not at all common in South Africa, or the rest of Africa for that matter. There are countless pumps that have been in operation on this continent for decades and decades. All they need

is a new part or a retrofit in order to operate for another couple of decades,” says Neil Richards, sales engineer at APE Pumps.

3D scanning

In these circumstances, for all other non-APE pumps, a 3D scanner is used to produce a complete model of pump parts in minutes, taking geometric accuracy and on-site lidar surveys to an unprecedented level.

“With this data, we then reengineer and manufacture the pump parts in our pattern shop. The 3D scanner has drastically increased our turnaround time for pump repairs and retrofits,” says Richards.

It is important to remember that a pump works within a system, he adds. Often, if a new pump is installed, the

APE Pumps keeps stock of key parts for its clients

Ultrasonic examination

Magnetic particle inspection

piping around the pump, as well as the plinths and motors, usually need to be replaced too, which is costly, timeconsuming and can cause a prolonged shutdown of operations. In these instances, 3D scanning can be used to take dimensions of the pump that must be replaced, and then manufacture a new pump to fit into the manifolds.

If it is a complete rebuild, the manufacturing team can scan the original, make a pattern, manufacture it, scan the new one, and then compare the two in a digital overlay for verification.

Last year, the company scanned an entire pump station, where the model of the pump that was to be installed was attached to the 3D scanner. This put the pump in a virtual world and enabled APE to make sure the flanges were matching and fit perfectly into the casing. The scanner also helped to plan how the pump would be installed. This is valued by clients who do not have up-to-date plans of their pump stations.

According to Thorne Zurfluh, mechanical engineer at APE Pumps, one of the biggest benefits of 3D scanning is quality control. “At APE, 3D scanning is used over and above the traditional quality control methods. It is an additional aid to prevent the misalignment of pumps by verifying pump geometries (concentricity, parallelism, perpendicularity, and shaft runouts) during manufacturing, assembly, and even commissioning. All pump parts are scanned to confirm that they meet the specifications of the manufacturing drawings. The 3D scans also generate digital reports indicating that the pump and pump parts meet (or fail to meet) certain specifications and tolerances. These reports are often supplied to customers.”

Patternmaking

Dovetailing tried and tested techniques with modern technologies is a hallmark

of the success of APE Pumps and Mather+Platt. Today, for example, the Group is one of the few OEMs that still has a patternmaking shop, headed by a master artisan.

Traditionally, 2D drawings were used – with the measurements painstakingly replicated by hand by the G roup’s patternmakers – to create the casting mould. Now, the 3D scanning method has produced more rapid results.

“A patternmaker cannot be replaced by technology. For a pattern to be milled out of a block of wood, one needs a person that is a patternmaker, draughtsman, and machinist. That patternmaker must understand a bunch of other complexities such as shrinkage rates of different materials. Only then can that person operate a computer numerical control (CNC) machine correctly,” states Montgomery.

Non-destructive testing

Another technology adopted by APE Pumps is non-destructive testing (NDT), which detects the presence of defects

damaging or destroying the material being examined.

“NDT gives our clients total quality assurance. Examples of NDT processes include ultrasonic examination, magnetic particle inspection, and dye penetrant (DP) testing. An ultrasonic examination uses soundwaves to identify cracks and a material’s thickness based on the rate of response. Magnetic particle inspections are used to check for surface or subsurface cracks in pumps made with ferrous metals. Another common NDT technique employed by the Group is DP inspection – used to detect any hairline cracks in the surfaces of pump parts. All three tests must be done by qualified, trained professionals,” explains Zurfluh.

According to Richards, NDT has been used on many old pump shafts, as flaws are difficult to detect with the naked eye. “This is another preventative measure that we offer clients, as a broken shaft can cause a catastrophic pump failure.”

Remote monitoring

Some APE customers such as water

L-R: Thorne Zurfluh, John Montgomery, Neil Richards

monitoring. Systems can be set up for either APE or the client to monitor pump performance. “The need for remote monitoring is driven by the demand for improved energy efficiency, as well as enhanced maintainability and serviceability of pumps. Variable-speed drives (VSDs) provide a much higher level of monitoring and protection,” says Zurfluh.

He adds that remote monitoring assists with predictive maintenance and further improves service levels.

“Bearing temperatures, output, vibrations, and energy consumption are a few of the parameters that can be monitored. This enables APE to identify any pump issues in advance, make sure the pump is operating on the right curve, and conduct more proactive maintenance – to prevent clients from running pumps to failure. We are also seeing an increasing shift towards outsourced operations and maintenance, which is a key growth area for the Group, working with clients to optimise their systems.”

Recently, the Group has made significant technological investments, including:

• a centre lathe equipped to handle jobs ranging in lengths of up to 8 m and in varying diameters

for components such as columns, shafts, and impellers (specifically for circulating water pumps)

• a key slotter for keyway cutting (a drive system feature on one of the Group’s impeller lines to enable rotation around the shaft)

• a 12 tonne CNC horizontal boring machine for the final machining of larger impellers, which typically measure around 3 m in diameter

• a vertical boring machine for the machining of larger components with a Ø3 500 capacity.

The nexus of technology and talent

“All of this technology must be used and operated by people. Clearly, no pump engineer, specialist technician, or artisan is born overnight. The baseline skills are essential, but the experiential, applied learning is what defines master craftsmen, engineers, and project managers in all our interrelated disciplines. That is why our business is dedicated to attracting and mentoring the best talent available. We like a two-way mentorship approach, where the old teach the young and vice versa, in modern versus tried and tested techniques. Every member of the group

is a highly valued team player who contributes to our collective success. We have exceptionally high employee commitment levels, which is why so many of our staff stay with us through to retirement,” explains Montgomery.

It is evident that technology plays a big role in APE’s business and is leveraged to improve APE’s service offering. “APE Pumps offers far more than the traditional services of an OEM. We can even stock brand-new units for a client so that we can implement a service exchange. The client will provide APE with an old pump to bring to OEM specifications and APE will give the client the new pump. Many companies are no longer keeping critical spares in stock, so we do this for them. If well maintained, APE and Mather+Platt’s pumps will last a lifetime – across Africa, there are hundreds of working examples. APE Pumps has never discontinued a pump model since inception in 1952, so parts are always available,” concludes Richards.

www.apepumps.co.za

www.matherandplatt.com

The Group is one of the few OEMs that still has a patternmaking shop, headed by a master artisan

EMPOWERING THE WATER SECTOR THROUGH QUALIFIED PROCESS CONTROLLERS

The latest Blue Drop and Green Drop reports highlight the urgent need for trained process controllers.

By Dr Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA

This has been reinforced by Regulation 3630 that came into effect on 30 June 2023, announcing that all water and wastewater works must be overseen by someone who has the relevant qualifications and experience to ensure compliance and best practice principles. This is a major step in recognising class 5 and class 6 process controllers as professionals, similar to engineers and scientists.

Process controllers will need to register with WISA – the custodian of the Professional Process Controller designation – by the end of June 2025. WISA will not only ensure compliance with the relevant qualifications and experience needed in order to be registered as a class 5 and class 6 professional but will look after the professional reputation of its members. If one of our members’ actions lack integrity and tarnish the reputation of our industry and profession, we are obliged to act and remove the process controller’s professional registration.

Regulation 3630 empowers both process controllers and members of the public. It presents process controllers with an opportunity to forge a career, as well as constantly upskill themselves, and will play an important role in improving water and wastewater services for the public. It also adds a layer of accountability to the dayto-day operations of South Africa’s water and wastewater treatment works.

The public can at least anticipate the standard of the service provided. Professionalising key positions within the water sector will ensure that the right person is in the right job and, once they are in that job, they are professional. It will narrow down nepotism and political appointments.

Support

Employers within the water sector need to commit to the training of process controllers.

WISA will assist process controllers in maintaining their professional status by

honing their skills. In addition, we will provide guidance and support to new entrants into the field. WISA, LGSETA, and EWSETA will work together with experts to ensure that all process controllers receive the required training to gain and maintain professional status. We are currently working with EWSETA around upskilling 100 process controllers. We are also speaking to a number of water service institutions and stakeholders regarding Regulation 3630 and we will be doing a number of road shows during the course of this year.

Professional Engineers, Professional Natural Scientists, and Professional Process Controllers will build this water sector. They bring the desired competency, accountability, and skills that the sector so desperately needs. We call on all municipalities to employ more professionals. WISA has, for many years, advocated for the professionalisation of key positions within the water sector, and we are excited and encouraged by Regulation 3630.

Putting people first in solving the water crisis

Unfortunately, technology alone will never solve the water crisis. We desperately need to go back to basics and adopt a more peoplecentric approach.

By Dan Naidoo, chairman, WISA

Our absolute disconnect with people was highlighted in a recent report by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) around water outages in KwaZulu-Natal. The SAHRC noted the “pervasive sense of neglect, disregard and, in some instances, contempt, for people’s suffering and their attempts to engage with their municipality through officials and elected representatives.” People are being denied their basic human rights. People are exposed to serious health risks from poor-quality water, and a lack of a consistent supply of water is threatening their businesses and jobs.

This disconnect with people was again mirrored in the Blue Drop, No Drop and Green Drop reports, which underscored how most people working at water and wastewater plants have a general lack of technical and management capacity.

There is a no basic maintenance, and there is little understanding of what needs to be done for every South African to have consistent access to clean drinking water. Technology is often flouted as the ‘holy grail’ that can solve everything. But in these circumstances, it has the potential to create more problems, as technology must be maintained and needs skilled people to operate it. At

the moment, very little maintenance is done on water infrastructure and only a few skilled people are operating that infrastructure.

Rethinking our way out of a disaster

Anyone living for days on end without consistent access to potable water would use the term ‘disaster’. We need to understand that every time a water system fails, we are taking away a human right.

Collectively, as professionals within the water sector, we are all accountable for these failures. We need to all acknowledge this and then look at rebuilding our way out of a water crisis. This is where

institutions like WISA play a pivotal role in creating think tanks for water services authorities that are fighting disasters. A human-rights-based approach around clarity, transparency, and accountability should be adopted.

We are all humans first; we are all South Africans first. We should not be competing against one another, but rather look at how we can support one another and solve problems together by exchanging information and sharing resources equitably. There is always an emphasis on tenders, contracts, and regulations – but there is no social compact with the people we serve. Behind all the hard engineering and science are human beings that we are serving.

Water treatment used to be referred to as ‘water care’. You look after and care for that water and then reticulate that water to members of the public. We need to go back to that philosophy. If we care for people, we can solve the water crisis. We need to remember that behind all the equipment and technology are people who we are morally obliged to serve.

If technology does not make a positive impact on the quality of life of people, then it is technology that we do not need.

Consulting engineering and infrastructure advisory firm Zutari played a significant role in organising the 7th WISA Young Water Professionals Conference in Stellenbosch, which hosted over 130 delegates.

Zutari staff members play key role in conference

Many countries are grappling with problems that are highly complex and interdependent, such as water crises and youth unemployment. As our world becomes increasingly global, our decisions create ripple effects that span space, time, and disciplines.

Never has the need for interdisciplinary collaboration been stronger. This need inspired the theme of ‘Breaking Silos’,” says Anya Eilers of Zutari and national chair of the South African Young Water Professionals (YWP) forum. YWP is the youth empowerment platform of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA).

“As young water professionals in Southern Africa, we have a pivotal role to play in supporting our continent to address these global challenges.

The women and men of WISA-YWP come from a range of institutions and academic backgrounds in the sector, and every day I am inspired by the diversity of thought and passion for what we do. They do not just represent the traditional engineers and natural scientists, but also include social scientists, economists, entrepreneurs, political leaders, writers, and many other disciplines. By combining our skills and breaking

down the silos that have perpetuated in our industry, I believe we are one step closer to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” she continues.

Commenting on the theme ‘Breaking Silos’, Eilers highlights: “There is often limited cross-collaboration between social scientists, natural scientists, engineers, and other disciplines, but there was ample engagement at the conference, which was exciting. We addressed the importance of breaking silos and challenging the status quo, such as through multidisciplinary sessions on stakeholder community engagement. The latter is key, as water and wastewater engineering represents a complex intersection of social, political, and economic factors. Breaking silos is significant, as water and wastewater engineering represents a complex intersection of social, political, and economic factors.”

“By actively supporting and mentoring the youth, who represent the future leaders in the water space, we aim to instil a sense of collaboration from the outset. Our goal is to ensure that the youth comprehend the significance of breaking down silos and actively participating in a cohesive movement. Through initiatives like the YWP Conference, we strive to

make them understand the intricacies of fostering collaboration and the impact it can have in the years to come,” says Zutari’s Eugene Fotso Simo, who served as conference chair.

Zutari was further represented by the following staff members at the 7th WISA Young Water Professionals Conference:

• Frankie A' Bear: Winner of Best Oral Presentation

• Jaco Luus: Winner of Best Poster Presentation

• Jana Du Rant: Poster Presentation

• Christian Le Prince Polorigni: Oral Presentation

• Danielle Simpathee Goho: Poster Presentation

• Anya Eilers: Opening Plenary Oral Presentation

• Eugene Fotso Simo: Opening Plenary

• Timothy Carolus: Oral Presentation

• Dan Petrie: Workshop Facilitation

Zutari staff members at the 7th WISA Young Water Professionals Conference

VEGA South Africa’s 6 000 m2 head office and warehouse in Lanseria is equipped with a water storage solution comprising two 10 000 ℓ JoJo Tanks as a backup system during water shortages. The VEGAPULS 31 radar level sensor and VEGA MET series level controller are used to manage them.

The water tanks act as a municipal water backup system in times of water outages.

Water from these tanks is used to cater for essentials like the flushing of toilets, cooking of staff meals in the kitchen, and cleaning of offices,” explains Miguel Petersen, marketing manager, VEGA South Africa.

The VEGAPULS 31 radar sensor is responsible for gauging the water level within the tanks, while the VEGA MET controller interprets these measurements from the sensor. It then uses this data to regulate the pump’s operation, primarily based on the tank levels.

In this setup, the first tank is directly connected to the primary water supply line, receiving water from the municipality. It acts as a reservoir and is linked to the second tank. When the water level in the second tank drops to a certain point, indicating a low level, the pump is activated to transfer water from the first tank into the second one. Once the tanks are full, the controller will stop the pump.

A STORAGE TANK’S best friend

This ensures a consistent water supply within the system without overspilling.

“A particular advantage of the VEGAPULS 31 radar sensor for this application is that the sensor can measure levels in the plastic tanks from the outside through the tank wall. Another plus is that it can be calibrated remotely, which is necessary due to the height of the tanks,” adds Petersen.

The VEGAPULS radar sensor range is compact, and specifically designed for the water and wastewater industry. Certain sensors within the range have an IP68K rating and can be fully submersed in liquid.

Ultrasonic versus radar technology

The VEGAPULS sensor range uses radar technology instead of ultrasonic. Compared to ultrasonic measuring instruments, radar sensors are unaffected by temperature fluctuations, vacuum or high pressures, and are insensitive to contamination. The 80 GHz radar sensors

also have good signal focusing. This makes it easier to separate measurement and interference signals – the measurement is much easier and more accurate.

“Today, radar sensors can be found in all areas of everyday life, from simple motion detectors for door openers to complex distance sensors in vehicles. However, the requirements for industrial level measurement differ considerably. The radar microchip newly developed by VEGA has been specially optimised for the requirements of level measurement. Thanks to its small design, very compact sensors are now possible. These are significantly less expensive and can replace the previous ultrasonic sensors in almost all applications,” Petersen concludes.

Miguel Petersen, marketing manager, VEGA South Africa

AI' s thirst for

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WATER PROFESSIONALS

Reducing water consumption

In today's digital landscape, big data and artificial intelligence (AI), including ChatGPT, have transformed the way we work and interact. However, what often goes unnoticed is the enormous amount of water AI consumes. By

Boitumelo Pako Matshediso, business unit manager, Talbot Analytics

Data centres play a crucial role in supporting the infrastructure necessary for AI applications, and these data centres rely on exorbitant amounts of water for their power and cooling needs.

According to research, for every 5-50 prompts, ChatGPT consumes approximately 500 m ℓ of water. In its recent environmental report, Microsoft disclosed that its global water consumption spiked 34% from 2021 to 2022 (to nearly 6.5 million litres or more than 2 500 Olympic-sized swimming pools). This is a sharp increase, compared to previous years, that outside researchers tie to its AI research. Meanwhile, Google reported a 20% growth in water use during the same period.

Leading tech developers – including Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google – have acknowledged that growing demand for their AI tools leads to hefty water consumption. As AI becomes woven into more apps and devices, this usage and consequent water consumption is set to rise dramatically. Soon, AI-powered banking interactions, website interfaces, e-commerce, and even mundane household tasks will be commonplace. As a result, water consumption will rise in tandem, putting more strain on our already limited freshwater resources.

The South African data centre energy requirement was estimated at 434.86 MW in 2024 and is expected to reach 828.93 MW by 2029.

This presents a unique opportunity for water professionals to lead the way towards a more sustainable future.

Critical to this is pioneering innovative technologies that optimise cooling systems in data centres and the development of closed-loop systems to minimise water usage. We have opportunities to design advanced recycling and water reuse systems that reduce the dependency on freshwater sources, ensuring the efficient operation of data centres while conserving already scarce resources. Strategies such as rainwater collection and adiabatic cooling, which uses air instead of water as a cooling strategy, go a long way to curb water consumption.

The irony

While AI consumes water, it can also be used to save water. The old adage that “you cannot manage what you cannot measure” rings true here and in order to save water you need to improve its management.

Data, digital twins, and machine learning algorithms are now being leveraged to optimise water distribution systems by improving water distribution management, detecting leaks, and identifying faulty equipment and process inefficiencies, as well as ensuring proactive maintenance.

Talbot has developed a digital tool called Talbot Analytics that gives water users an instant, at-a-glance picture of how they are doing across the water spectrum. Cost-effective and customisable, Talbot Analytics serves as a single repository that enables users to visualise and interpret their data so that they can make smarter, more insightful, and strategic business decisions. Data obtained could relate to anything from water quality to environmental compliance, water consumption, cost or product savings and recycling rates – leading to improved plant chemical costs and monitored operator performance.

WATER MANAGEMENT WITH CLOUD TECHNOLOGIES

The cloud is water management's future – how can water managers ensure they get the best outcomes? By

Chetan Mistry, strategy and

marketing manager, Xylem Africa

Water infrastructure managers want efficient and sustainable operations. They need to see what is happening across their sites. Yet this is challenging because old software and obsolete data analytics deliver underwhelming operational visibility.

Cloud technologies can help managers reach those goals, optimising operations and ensuring potable water. When managers want predictive maintenance, real-time alerts, or remote management, the best results are almost exclusively through the cloud.

are also numerous myths and misconceptions about the cloud, which is a pity because cloud systems enhance and modernise water operations. People should try to understand the cloud and challenge these misconceptions, but we can’t blame them for being reluctant because they are the ones sticking their necks out to bring the cloud in.

What are the fundamentals of the cloud, and why are cloud solutions well suited for water infrastructure management?

Data and security

Foremost, it takes time, money and skills to maintain the hardware. Second are costs incurred for software maintenance, updates, and patches. Third, the software is isolated to a specific location – people must be on-site to use it. And lastly, the software has no natural ability to scale cost-effectively. Water sites are stuck with what they bought and have to ‘sweat’ the software, even if it’s outdated and lacking new features.

Nonetheless, they have many questions. Using the cloud can create new risks. There are concerns about security, data control, and other potential problems. Many water managers are not sure if they should use cloud technologies. There

Chetan Mistry, strategy and marketing manager, Xylem Africa

The cloud radically increases returns while reducing upfront investment costs. Through the inventive use of modern software, cloud systems combine and scale multiple servers to deliver cuttingedge digital, data, and artificial intelligence services across the internet at very competitive costs. Traditional IT cannot do this without incurring enormous expenses and upfront investment. Typically, a site would purchase software and long-term user licences, and purchase and maintain the hardware and human skills that run that software. However, this traditional approach has considerable drawbacks.

Cloud computing turns this approach on its head. Sites don’t need to purchase software or licences – they access on a pay-per-month or pay-per-use subscription model. The cloud service provider owns and runs the servers hosting the software. Patches and updates are applied proactively and at no extra cost to customers.

As the cloud is a native internet technology, cloud software is remotely accessible. Cloud business models use platforms that scale, so the cloud service can shrink or expand as needs and budgets change. Cloud software also increases security. While customers must continue to create healthy security practices, cloud providers invest extensively in security features, industrystandard frameworks, and data

protection standards such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II.

The cloud de-risks software usage, lowers associated costs, and provides more flexibility.

Yet site managers don’t lose any control. They still manage their data, compliance, and security.

But they let go of cost and management elements holding them back, passing those to cloud partners with serious resources, skills, and innovation capacity.

Choosing the right partner

The cloud can relieve water management from outdated systems and technology stagnation. Trust is the cloud’s currency; water sites should focus on selecting partners that will stick with them.

If a cloud company is primarily trying to sell a product, walk away. You are not buying a product; you are buying into a relationship. They need to demonstrate that they listen and can assess your needs for proactive solutions. They must also demonstrate that they know your sector and they continually invest in their systems for your benefit.

Take cybersecurity as an example: serious partners offer security assessments and back solutions with real-world use cases and customer stories. They follow

best-practice security frameworks, earn and maintain standards such as ISO 27001 data protection, and align with the top cloud vendors, such as Amazon and Microsoft.

Xylem knows that cloud computing is a game changer for water management. But we also appreciate that there are concerns about risks such as control, security, maintenance, and cost management. To answer these needs for our customers, we develop and maintain policies, skills and partnerships to counter risks and boost value. Whether the concern is about data breaches, data sovereignty, cloud skills, or aligning cloud technologies with water strategies, we do the heavy lifting so that water sites can focus on their core priorities.

The best partners listen and respond. Cloud computing is about flexibility and focused solutions without capital expenditure burdens. Technology makes it possible, but partnership and trust make it happen.

Focus on the partners and what they can deliver over the long term. The technology is academic – it’s the partner’s job to listen to your needs and respond with the right solutions. It doesn’t make sense to stay in the past with outdated systems.

FROM REACTIVE TO PREDICTIVE: Digitalisation of the water sector

A large portion of the critical infrastructure on water treatment plants (WTPs) and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is electrical. What can be done to optimise and prolong the performance of this equipment?

Electrical equipment like pumps, motors, control panels, blowers, compressors, transformers, telemetry systems, variablespeed drives, distribution boards, circuit breakers, and process instrumentation must work efficiently and reliably. This is where Schneider Electric comes in – we can monitor this equipment, optimise parameters, and adjust operations in real time,” explains Peter Marumong, segment leader: Water and Wastewater, Schneider Electric South Africa.

Monitoring can take place at all points where power is consumed, measuring the quality of power and implementing power factor correction where necessary. Schneider Electric’s power factor correction units can prolong the operating life of electrical equipment and improve system power capacity, eliminating lagging or leading power factor values and errors, as well as reducing voltage fluctuations.

Energy efficiency

WTPs and WWTPs are recognised as one of the biggest energy consumers within municipalities, making energy-efficiency improvements critical to these operations. The indications are that, on average, water and wastewater accounts for some 17% of energy consumption in a South African metro.

“Through monitoring, WTPs and WWTPs can implement various measures to become energy efficient. For example, by monitoring the performance of aerators and the volume of water that passes through that treatment process, a plant can alter the speed of the pump, making sure that the optimum amount of air is in the system,” adds Marumong.

Schneider Electric’s Scada systems make remote and asset monitoring possible, where experienced professionals can provide support and guidance to less experienced workers from afar.

Loadshedding

Peter Marumong, segment leader: Water and Wastewater, Schneider Electric South Africa

The company also supplies uninterruptible power supply (UPS) protection and management solutions for WTPs and WWTPs, and also has the capability to monitor UPS performance. Electronic and electrical equipment is not designed to withstand an onslaught of surges, continued interruptions, and on/off switching multiple times a day.

Loadshedding can have a negative impact on the Blue Drop and Green Drop certifications of WTPs and WWTPs respectively. It has an adverse effect on bulk water abstraction, purification, and distribution activities. Interrupted electricity supply also increases the risk of sewage spillages and can result in water below the recommended quality levels for wastewater treatment plants being discharged and water not being treated properly in water treatment plants.

“Digitalisation in water and wastewater treatment contributes towards improved efficiency, resource optimisation, compliance, and overall resilience, ultimately ensuring the delivery of safe and high-quality water to communities. Schneider Electric forms partnerships with WTPs and WWTPs, assisting them in the installation, monitoring, maintenance, and upgrades of their plants. In a nutshell, Schneider Electric can help the water sector shift its operations, maintenance, and emergency responses from reactive to predictive, helping them to use assets more effectively and avoid unscheduled downtime,” concludes Marumong.

Modelling in the water sector contributes to efficient resource management, improved infrastructure design, and better decision-making –ultimately leading to sustainable water use and environmental conservation.

By Kerry Grimmer, principal hydrologist, SRK Consulting

MODELLING THE FUTURE:

PREDICTING WATER AVAILABILITY IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

Water resource hydrological and yield modelling involves the use of mathematical and computational models to simulate the movement, distribution, and availability of water in a specific area.

For example, the yield of a dam is defined as the maximum amount of water that it can supply without failing (emptying). Yield analyses are essential in the construction of dams and the development of operating rules for water supply systems, including independent dams or inter-connected water systems.

Modelling is also vital to the sizing and designing of a potential dam as it factors in the growth in water requirements due to growing population or developing industry. A large focus area for SRK is mining; and therefore, the planning of water availability and supply is crucial, as these operations can have lifespans of decades.

Data

When carrying out water resources modelling, the results can be skewed

by any of the input data. Rainfall and streamflow data are the most crucial aspects; however, all data needs to accurately represent the catchment in order to obtain accurate results. There are complexities with this requirement.

For example, when determining the rainfall over a catchment, it needs to be representative of a larger area than just point rainfall at a rainfall station. Therefore, the rainfall data needs to be both spatially and temporally representative, and without missing and/or suspect values. This is often difficult to achieve due to sparse historical records.

Having accurate and in-depth hydrological data – most notably streamflow and rainfall data – is key to accurate modelling. This data must mimic the situation on the ground over a given historic period to ensure that the model is mimicking the correct rainfallresponse of the catchment. Rainfall and streamflow data can be obtained from meteorological/water governmental departments of the country of interest. There are also several worldwide freely available sources of satellite and/or

observed rainfall data. These resources are commonly used when site-specific data is sparse, missing, or suspect. Other data required includes reservoir information, land use (such as irrigation areas and crop types), afforestation, alien vegetation, as well as any water requirements in the

system, including urban, rural, mining, industrial, and inter-catchment transfers.

Historic data is used to model historic conditions of the catchment over a specific period of time. The results can then be used to assess, for example, alternative scenarios to predict changes in streamflow, or feed into other models to predict future water availability. The input data determines the accuracy of the results obtained and is therefore imperative to a project.

Climate change

However, climate change alters precipitation patterns, leading to shifts in the timing, intensity, and distribution of rainfall. The potential impacts of climate change place a larger amount of uncertainty on projections of rainfall, runoff, and subsequent yield analyses, therefore affecting the design, planning, and operation of dams.

Stochastic models are used to analyse rainfall and streamflow, but they are somewhat limited to the base historic data. Changes in the hydrological regime (both

natural and anthropogenic) include variations in annual rainfall (quantity), rainfall patterns (seasonal shifts), intensity (flood/drought events), and spatial distribution. The cumulative impacts of these changes could significantly impact streamflow, and subsequently the yield of a dam or system.

Although climate change has been studied for decades, it is difficult to input accurate information into the models as modelling techniques and scenarios are continually being updated and refined according to the most recent climate data. A certain amount of flexibility in operating rules is fundamental in addressing fluctuating and unpredictable hydrological conditions and reducing the associated negative implications. For this reason, different scenarios are usually analysed, often derived from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These may

PREDICTED CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

often represent ‘best case’ and ‘worst case’ scenarios. Rainfall data cannot yet fully incorporate the changes in climate when carrying out long-term analyses, which causes a greater uncertainty in predicting future hydrology.

For water supply projects, SRK considers the impacts of potential climate change in its system modelling in order to determine changes and possible consequences. For a current study conducted by SRK, the climate change specialists have determined that the local rainfall is projected to decrease by approximately 4% in the medium-term and up to 22% in the long term, while one-day flood events will actually increase. In addition, the relationship between rainfall and streamflow is not linear, so a certain change in rainfall will be amplified when converted to run-off. It is crucial to incorporate upto-date projected climate data into our models, which will more accurately reflect future climate conditions.

It is imperative that changes in climate be incorporated into water resources modelling by assessing various projected climate scenarios and determining the effect and consequences of these changes. Studies need to be updated to ensure that the changes in climate are being incorporated into system analyses. From this, we can then project more accurate assessments of river flows and dam yields, while also developing strategic responses and adaptation measures to the potential negative impacts of climate change, essentially with the goal to ‘climate proof’ our water resources.

Trends

While complex hydrological systems have been modelled for many years, it has become increasingly important to incorporate the protection of natural water

into models. South Africa is a water scarce country, and the growing demands of people, agriculture and industry can risk changing the ecology of river systems.

If the flow of a river system is significantly altered or depleted, it could have catastrophic effects on the natural biodiversity of its environment. The natural ecosystem of a river requires flows which are as close to natural conditions as possible, including flow volumes, streamflow patterns (such as seasonal variation), and quality in order to maintain its ecological integrity. Dams fundamentally change the natural flow of a river by impounding water which would have otherwise flowed downstream. For this reason, ecological water requirements are necessary, which are flows required to remain in the river in order to maintain the natural ecosystem as much as possible, including vegetation, insects, amphibians, fish, and other living organisms.

Ecological water requirements are very specific to each system and must be determined individually for each river reach or site for a project. As a consequence of ecological requirements, the yield of a dam will decrease, as not all water is available for use/storage. Therefore, the implementation of the ecological requirements can drastically decrease the yield to a point of making the system impractical, as water demands may no longer be fully supplied. This is where a balance needs to be established, between

river and abstracting sufficient water to meet the demands.

SRK believes that the delicate balance between development/economic growth and the protection of our natural resources needs to be maintained. Ecological requirements are unique to a site, and depending on the situation, they are not always required. For example, if a system (catchment) is very small, the resource may not be considered significant in terms of ecology or water quantity. SRK includes ecological water requirements in applicable water supply projects, to ensure that we are also addressing and protecting the environmental integrity of the river system under analysis. For example, SRK is currently doing a study for a very small stream with a weir that has nominal storage. The benefits of using the water for urban supply may outweigh the benefits of releasing water for the ecology of the river. In this example, the stream does not contribute sufficient flow to the downstream river system to have a significant effect. Therefore, implementing ecological flows may cause a scenario which is impractical or even unrealistic.

Available software

In South Africa there are various models available for water resources modelling, including hydrological, yield, and planning models. They are freely available models which have been developed by South African consultants, universities,

and governmental institutions, as well as models which have been developed overseas. For water supply projects, SRK focuses on the most widely used models, which are sometimes even stipulated in tenders.

The Pitman Model (also known as WRSM2000), focuses on the modelling of historic periods in order to calibrate the model against observed streamflow through a number of catchment-specific characteristics. The model is primarily used for streamflow analysis, using a deterministic approach based upon historic data. The objective is to obtain a model which accurately reflects the rainfall-runoff response of the catchment, and the system can then be used and manipulated for additional scenarios. As these are the most commonly used models, the output from the Pitman Model also feeds into other models.

The Water Resources Yield Model, however, is used for determining long- or short-term dam/system yields with more a complex reservoir analysis. The primary difference between the two models is that the yield model is a stochastic model and is therefore able to generate many different hydrological streamflow scenarios and is not based solely on historic data.

Different user groups, such as urban, agriculture, industrial, etc., require water at different levels of assurance, meaning some have a higher priority than others. The yield model is able to determine different yields at different assurances of supply, which makes long-term planning more accurate. For example, agricultural supply can fail (i.e. not obtain their full water requirement) more often than urban supply; therefore, urban demands are supplied at a higher level of assurance. The yield model can also be used for short-term analyses, which enables dam operators to effectively manage their resources based upon the current level of the dam. This is particularly important during low rainfall or drought periods when restrictions need to be implemented.

ELIMINATING PIT TOILETS IN SCHOOLS

South Africa’s pit latrine crisis currently impacts an estimated 500 000 schoolchildren. In response to this, public benefit organisation Breadline Africa has set out to impact 120 000 children across 240 schools by installing 4 000 toilets in the next 18 to 24 months.

The pit toilet replacement campaign is aimed at achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (Target 6.2) of “providing access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and to end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women, girls, and those in vulnerable situations”.

Disturbing reality

Research conducted by Stellenbosch University Hospital reveals that approximately 30% of young girls face period poverty, caused primarily by a lack of access to essential menstrual products and sanitation facilities. This results in young girls missing school approximately four to six days each month, which is an annual loss of roughly 60 learning days. This poses a significant threat to their educational prospects and limits their future opportunities in an already unequal society.

“The pit latrine crisis is an ongoing, pressing issue in our country; it has claimed many lives, especially those of children. At Breadline Africa, our goal is to raise R156 million towards this cause over the next two years as part of our

‘Flush Challenge’. While we experience a nationwide outcry when a child dies in a pit toilet, real steps towards addressing the issue remain a challenge. It is for this reason, among many, that we decided to do something about it. And the change is already in motion,” says Marion Wagner, CEO of Breadline Africa.

“Impact and change cannot happen in isolation. It is going to take the combined efforts of government, the private sector, and non-profits to eliminate pit toilets in South Africa. Together with our corporate partner – Mark Barnes, former

CEO of the South African Post Office – we have raised more than R3 million to provide hygienic toilets in five KZN (KwaZulu-Natal) primary schools in the last five months, but much more remains to be done,” she continues.

Since June, Breadline has installed 66 eco-friendly, Envirosan low-flush toilet systems, 18 urinals, and handwashing facilities at these primary schools, thereby entrenching their ‘Flush Challenge’ campaign in the hearts and minds of corporate and public South Africa. Current beneficiaries’ feedback of the new facilities ranges from improved privacy and dignity, being able to drink when thirsty without the dread of using the pit toilets, to not having to wait in long queues during break times to access bathroom facilities. Breadline Africa also ensures that no unsafe pit remains open after it leaves a site.

The toilets have the potential to increase the overall well-being and educational experience of children. Participants were asked how having flushing toilets made them feel and responses ranged from a renewed sense of protection and safety to relief at being safe from snakes and other hazards. Girls from grade 4 onwards received a pack of reusable sanitary towels donated by both the Department of Basic Education and Breadline Africa.

“We now have practical, installed evidence that we can build a durable, flushing toilet solution to replace the scourge of pit latrines. Our next immediate goal is to raise R30 million from corporate South Africa to fund further momentum beyond that already achieved, to go national, to get this done, once and for all,” concludes Barnes.

ABOUT BREADLINE AFRICA

Breadline Africa is one of the biggest providers of educational infrastructure for poverty relief in Southern Africa. The South Africa-based non-profit organisation believes that every child has the capacity to do something amazing with their life. To support this life-saving campaign and make a donation, contact Breadline at operations@breadlineafrica.org.

USING INNOVATION TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER PEACE OF MIND AND COMPLIANCE

Part of the Waco International Group, Sanitech – a sanitation and hygiene services specialist – has access to the latest innovative technologies and designs from around the world.

Many of these innovative products and services have been developed through the Waco International Programme, which is facilitated by GIBS Business School. This comprises an Executive Development Programme (exco level) and Business Leadership Development Management Programme (middle management) attended by key personnel from all of Waco’s subsidiaries.

Each innovation is presented to a board and if approved, the innovation is driven by a cross-functional team from around the country with its own sponsor.

Smart solution to prevent environmental pollution

One of these developed products is called Sanisure. Overflowing septic tanks pose serious environmental and health risks. Often, Sanitech is only notified of

full septic tanks once they begin to overflow or are uncomfortably close to overflowing.

Ordinarily, organisations have to implement regular septic system inspections and perform routine maintenance while promptly addressing any signs of septic tank issues, to ensure compliance with local regulations. However, such management approaches are heavily reliant on manual inspections, leaving room for oversight and delayed responses to critical issues, such as overflows or the illegal discharge of waste.

“This results in panic. As it’s not a company’s core business, septic tanks are seldom regularly inspected, leading to water contamination, health hazards, as well as unscheduled, costly call-outs and maintenance. Some tanks are underground, making it difficult to even predict levels or view leaks,” explains Robert Erasmus, MD of Sanitech Solutions.

Sanisure deploys wireless monitoring systems within the septic tanks; the use of microwave communication technology makes it a more robust solution for tanks placed in basements, underground, and remote areas.

When the liquid level in a septic tank reaches a specified threshold, typically 80%, the system triggers an alert. Sanitech (with a service-level agreement) then attends to the

Robert Erasmus, MD of Sanitech Solutions

With Sanitech’s interactive customer portal, people can log into the portal and access various types of information, including contractual details, site surveys, visit reports, and service reports

He adds that the load cells also confirm that the truck’s gross vehicle mass (GVM) is within legal limits when travelling on the road, as the truck will cut out should the readings be over. “Typically, our trucks leave with a full water tank and empty waste tank in the morning, and come back with an empty water tank and full waste tank in the afternoon. With these load cells, Sanitech can balance the weight of the water and waste tank efficiently, while still staying within legal limits and assisting with better fuel and maintenance management.”

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emptying and maintenance of that tank, thus preventing overflows.

According to Erasmus, with Sanisure, clients are a lot less reactive. “It is all about peace of mind. This product takes the stress of monitoring septic tank levels away from our clients. And we then effectively manage waste on behalf of our customers. It is a game changer for mining and industrial sites, residential estates, office parks, and hospitality establishments in proactively managing septic tanks while maintaining strict compliance with statutory waste disposal requirements. This product provides a transparent understanding of septic tank usage over time.”

Load cell configuration of trucks

Another innovative product to come out of the Waco International Programme is the load cell configuration of trucks. Here, Sanitech worked with its truck manufacturers to develop load cells that can be used to measure and monitor the weight of the load being carried by the trucks.

“This was developed to give our customers peace of mind and is a method to confirm the volumes of liquid taken off the site. A mini printer in every truck prints out the volumes of liquid taken off-site and a printout is given to a customer then and there. This assists both the client and Sanitech from an auditing and ESG reporting perspective,” says Erasmus.

With the interactive customer experience portal, customers can log into the portal and access various types of information, including contractual details, site surveys, visit reports, service reports, company documentation, and company accreditations. Additionally, customers will be able to request quotations, specify requirements, log service requests, and provide ratings for the company’s services.

There is also a Sanitech online store that allows for the purchase of hygiene equipment, consumables, cleaning equipment, chemicals, and product packages. In addition, the website features helpful tools like the cleaning service estimator and toilet hire estimator, which save you valuable time.

“A product is only a tiny part of an innovation; there many types of innovation, from quoting and invoicing methods to the ability for customers

to log in to their own account via the customer portal. Some of our other innovations include electric vehicles, the Khusela Dry Sanitation Unit, and an automated scrubber drier. Our vision is to use innovation to improve compliance, convenience, and peace of mind for our customers. Our innovative offering is one of our key differentiators,” concludes Erasmus.

Load cells measure and monitor the weight of the load being carried by the trucks

Sanisure enables seamless tracking and monitoring of septic tank levels on customer sites

The Khusela Dry Sanitation Unit is an innovation that replaces traditional open pit latrines

OPTIMISING POWER CONSUMPTION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS

The wastewater industry can respond to climate change by improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gases, and generating additional energy through biogas, writes Hennie Pretorius, industry manager: Water & Wastewater, Endress+Hauser

In the 2022 Green Drop Report, proof of energy-efficiency management must be provided by specific power consumption (SPC), energy unit cost (R/kWh), and express energy treatment cost in (R/m3).

The 2022 Green Drop Report noted that that very few water services authorities (WSAs) conducted a baseline energy audit or could account for their wastewater treatment plants’ CO2 footprint. The few WSAs that did provide a baseline energy audit released concerning results.

The SPC values range from 0.002 kWh/m3 to 1418 kWh/m3 – outliers were removed to keep approximately 80% of the original data set. The data indicates:

• There is a marginal difference between the basic and advanced systems –0.90 kWh/m3 and 0.94 kWh/m3

• The median values differ slightly –0.76 kWh/m3 for advanced systems and 0.53 kWh/m3 for basic systems.

• This is notably higher than the international standard of 0.177 for trickling filter and 0.412 for advanced activated sludge technologies.

• The average SPC for advanced systems varies from 0.289 kWh/m3 to 2.37 kWh/m3 and is between 0.07 kWh/m3 and 2.94 kWh/m3 for basic systems.

Route to improved energy efficiency

The first step to improve a wastewater treatment plant’s efficiency, including energy efficiency, is to capacitate operations and maintenance staff and managers with adequate training relevant

Hennie Pretorius, industry manager: Water & Wastewater, Endress+Hauser

to plant and process efficiency. The second step is to measure, capture, and monitor data in real time. Utilising this data will present the WSA with opportunities to reduce costs through process optimisation and improved energy efficiency, and beneficial use of sludge and other energy resources.

One of the important topics is to make the use of energy more transparent by calculating key performance indicators (KPIs), highlighting overall energy consumption, and assisting operators to identify energy-saving potential.

Analysing the performance and energy consumption of a wastewater treatment plant helps to:

• detect saving potential through constant monitoring of energy relevant areas of the treatment plant

• benchmark efficiency of treatment plants with similar plants to create transparency and define further activities

• track energy usage and determine the cost of wastewater treatment

• evaluate equipment, system, and control performance to find the ideal point of operation, avoid downtimes, and ensure plant safety

• quantify benefits of system modifications and improvements

• verify predicted performance

• improve KPAs in Green Drop audits. In an advanced level wastewater treatment plant, the energy cost hovers around 25% to 40% of the operations and maintenance budget.

Measurement values required for the plant’s overall power consumption are:

• the inlet flow

• COD (chemical oxygen demand) at inflow (lab result input)

• total plant power consumption from the electricity meter.

This provides the plant operators with the amount of power required to treat a certain volume of wastewater at a certain biological loading.

Aeration performance

Depending on the type of aeration in the bioreactors, the power consumption of the aerators/blowers can be up to 50% of the plant’s power consumption. Typical causes for inefficiencies of blowers relate to pressure loss through leaks in piping, blockages in air piping, or blocked aeration elements. Through monitoring pressure, air flow, and power consumption measurements, this will indicate the optimum operational point of the blowers and when maintenance is required on the aeration elements.

single processes but to monitor the complete system to discover related effects of interactions between processes. For a CHP plant to optimally produce heat and electricity, the CHP efficiency and sludge gas production efficiency must be analysed and optimised.

To calculate this KPI, it is necessary to measure and monitor the blower air flow, air pressure, COD value, inflow into aeration basin, and blower power consumption. By using in-line dissolved oxygen and ammonia measurements, we can determine the optimum air required for nitrification to take place, which supports energy-efficiency gains within the process.

Electricity generation

Increased electricity production is often easier to achieve and less expensive than undertaking electricity savings measures. Key process parameters such as gas to COD ratio or electrical and thermal efficiency of combined heat and power (CHP) plants are essential parameters for the optimisation and verification of electricity production or quantifying the effects of co-fermentation.

In this context, it must be pointed out that it is necessary to focus not only on

The following measurements would be required to optimise CHP and sludge gas production efficiency:

• sludge flow into digesters

• COD value

• biogas volume flow

• biogas pressure

• biogas temperature

• power production

• total power consumption.

Pump performance monitoring

Benchmarking based on power consumption, flow and pressure are useful to discover weak performance and maintain pumps in-time. For example, centrifugal pumps require regular impeller adjustments to avoid significant efficiency loss.

In some of the more advanced wastewater treatment plants, most of these process measurement points might exist, which decreases the capital cost for this investment. Endress+Hauser can assess existing instrumentation and analyse what additional measurement points are required to achieve efficiency goals and gains to improve the plant’s Green Drop rating. A simple solution could be to centralise these KPA calculations on an RSG45 data manager or create a dedicated SPC monitoring system solution hosted in our Netilion ecosystem. Endress+Hauser understands the importance that efficiency and sustainability plays in the Sub-Equatorial Africa wastewater industry and remains committed to supporting you in achieving these goals.

CASE STUDY Location: Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa

INNOVATIVE LEAK DETECTION AND WATER-SAVINGS SYSTEMS TRIALLED BY GROWTHPOINT PROPERTIES

All kinds of properties require water for a variety of purposes. The plumbing system that supplies water to the property is designed to be efficient and durable, with the expectation of providing many years of trouble-free service. However, the installation may be faulty and problems left undiscovered. Furthermore, a failure of the plumbing system can cause a water leak and potentially damage property and harm the people and surroundings.

Most of the damage caused by water leaks and flooding occurs hours after a business closes. No one may discover a loss of water from a water dispenser at night or notice the rupture of the pipe; it could cause losses, physical damage, and harm the reputation of the management company, causing unnecessary, high losses.

Challenge

The management of Growthpoint Properties decided to trial the Wasens system as part of its water savings strategy in one of its office buildings in KZN – the Mayfair on the Lake. This four-star green-rated building offers its users full access to modern amenities and services; it has two basement levels and five floors, spacious balcony areas,

and convenient parking. The client was looking for an innovative technology to:

• detect leaks and stop hidden and visible leaks in real time to avoid severe damage

• monitor water consumption in real-time and discover uncontrolled irregularities

• protect their assets

• minimise maintenance costs

• conserve water and enjoy significant savings of water and unnecessary expenses.

ABOUT MEB

Solution overview – Wasens

Wasens systems offer 24/7 protection from major water damage and enable full monitoring, detection, and control of water consumption. The systems can be configured to meet the needs of any property such as:

• private homes

• office buildings

• residential properties

• commercial properties

• industrial properties

• municipal properties

MEB is a global company operating in South Africa since 2010, with over 20 years of experience worldwide and a proven track record in the water, energy, oil and gas, and telecommunication sectors for municipal, industrial, and business customers.

The company head office is in Umhlanga, KZN, and it has another office in Maputo, Mozambique.

The company has provided engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), as well as management, operation and maintenance (O&M), and support services to several water and wastewater projects in Africa, including:

• 10 000 m3/day seawater desalination plant, Richards Bay, South Africa

• 30 000 m3/day freshwater treatment plant, Maputo, Mozambique

• 120 m3/day solar farm and brackish water treatment plant, Chigubo, Mozambique

• 50 m3/day direct potable municipal wastewater reuse plant, Durban, South Africa

• clinics and hospitals

• school institutions.

The system identifies irregular water consumption anomalies that may result from small and/or large leaks in the water supply system. Real-time notifications will be sent to your smartphone through an application about irregular water consumption that results from a leak, burst in the water lines, temperature changes, and low battery percentage.

The flood sensors detect flooding as soon as water hits the sensors and immediately send the alert. Flood detectors are located at the sensitive points in the property: sinks, bathrooms, water bar, coffee machine, laundry room, elevators, electrical cabinets, server rooms, and more.

The system is cloud-based and is controlled remotely by mobile application or management software. According to the user’s settings, the water can be shut off manually or automatically. Also, there is an option to set a schedule for opening and closing the water according to the user’s needs.

The system connects to the internet via wired, wireless, or cellular communication. It can also be integrated into a building management system via API.

ABOUT WASENS

Results

MEB supplied and installed the smart water leak detection and monitoring system at Mayfair on the Lake to monitor and control water consumption at main points, which include the main municipal water connection to the building, HVCA plants, ablution facilities, and consumption per floor for both greywater and domestic supply, respectively.

The implementation of the system is achieving the following for the client:

• significant reduction in water usage and monthly utility bill

• water usage monitoring using the system’s mobile app and receiving alerts via text, phone, or email in case of any leaks, burst pipes, and abnormal water flow or usage

• pinpointing the location of problematic areas ensuring immediate response by plumbing contractor

• automatic shut-off of water supply using the mobile app once leaks were detected, saving water, and preventing damage to the property

• various schedules set to automatically turn off water supply during periods when the building is not occupied

• remote management and control of the building’s water valves, including the separation of each floor using the mobile app.

The implementation of this Wasens solution has significantly reduced water consumption for the client, at up to 75% within the first month of installation.

Wasens is a global leader founded in 2014. The company has a keen awareness and understanding of the economic, environmental, and existential value of water.

One of the five elements in nature, water is a precious resource. Wasens is strongly committed to preserving and conserving water, and with the appropriate management, protects its customers’ assets from water damage. Wasens focuses on innovative technologies in the water sector, where its skilled R&D team aggregates and analyses data generated from IoT and smart home devices, to develop and produce viable water-saving systems for leading US-based companies.

Wasens provides a comprehensive service and technical support system for its customers, ranging from plumbing consultants, contractors, and property managers to private customers.

WATER STORAGE

Backup water storage tanks are often only considered when there is already a crisis, such as warnings of impending water restrictions, infrastructure damage caused by a flood, or notice of extended periods of water interruptions due to planned maintenance.

By Heiner Freese, director, SBS Tanks

Unfortunately, this can increase the likelihood of a disappointing outcome. When a quick fix is a priority, customers can be misled by unscrupulous fly-by-night salespeople, hungry contractors, and price pressure. An unclear understanding of the water tank storage capacity requirements, long-term business needs, and the importance of a reputable manufacturer and supplier can make for installation headaches, water leaks, and long-term regrets.

Ideally, the type of water storage tank, the water tank storage capacity, and scope of work should be determined prior to an adverse event, when time allows for better assessment and planning. However, in reality, this is not always possible.

In order to determine the correct type and size of tank and what other equipment requirements, the following questions should be asked:

• What type of crisis do you want to safeguard against?

• How long can you operate without water?

• Is water a raw ingredient in manufacturing your product? Does that water need to undergo filtration, must it be processed, or can it be stored as rainwater?

• What amount of water do your staff need? Drinking water and water for ablution facilities are essential to remain

PITFALLS IN WATER STORAGE TANK SELECTION

compliant with health and safety requirements. Will you need to send everyone home if the water is interrupted for more than a few hours?

• What space is available for tank installation?

• Will you need pumps? In order to supply pressure and move water from the water storage tank across the building to where it is required in production, bathrooms or kitchens, a pump – or pumps – will be required. The size of the pump will depend on the size of your operation and the water needs.

• Are you covered in the event of fire? A backup water tank to supply sprinklers inside your warehouse or production facility could save your business, especially if there is no municipal water supply for fire fighters to access in the event of a fire on your property. Depending on the size of your operation, this may be a legislative requirement, but did you know that you can maximise your storage capacity and turn your SBS Tanks fire water storage tank into a dual-purpose storage solution for backup water too?

Determining the water storage solution

How will the absence of water affect

your business? Will production stop if the water is off for one hour? What about a day or a week?

When selecting a water storage tank, there will obviously be a huge difference in the tank size and the system configuration if the crisis you anticipate is an outage for an hour or a week. Past experience may also impact your decision making. Was your business impacted by recent floods or drought conditions that resulted in no water for extended periods of over a month?

Consider the following:

• How much water does your business use in a day, week, or month?

• What are the essential water needs in your factory, office, or business? Does your business have heavy-duty cleaning, lubrication, heating, or cooling processes that require water? Can rainwater or borehole water be used for this process and, if yes, where could that be stored?

• Could a water stoppage cause damage to equipment and have a long-term effect on productivity even after the water is restored? This equipment needs to be prioritised when considering the backup water capacity of your water storage tanks and the solution installed.

Vertical tanks

• Are there any water-intensive processes that can be shut off during the time of crisis? Identify operational elements that could be shut down short term with low-level impact or low risk to business continuity. This could include washing processes such as for packing crates or vehicles.

• Do you have any alternative water sources? What length of time would this backup supply offer your business to continue operations? Water from a swimming pool on the property could be used to supply emergency water requirements but not as a long-term solution. A borehole, with water pumped into a water storage tank, could be a viable option to supply your business in the event of a water crisis.

Space

A level, compacted platform will be required for the installation of a water tank. The space needed will be dependent on the capacity of water to be stored. With limited space, a vertical solution can be implemented. SBS Tanks can be configure a water storage tank to fit limited site footprints of as little as 3 m in diameter and maximise space availability by building up to almost 12 m high. If the reverse is true, and vertical space is a challenge, for example in a parking garage or where a tank is required within a building structure, SBS is able to maximise the horizontal space available with current tank diameters of up to almost 24 m in width and to the height restrictions.

Multipurpose water storage

When considering the cost of installation of a backup water storage tank for emergency usage, consider other potential uses that could result in cost savings for your business.

If your business has vast roof space, a long-term plan could include harvesting rainwater for use as a backup water supply

solution. With water scarcity becoming a global concern, the cost of water is set to continue to rise. Rainwater harvesting can reduce the cost of water to your business, and can be used for irrigation or for a process such as washing vehicles to ensure a return on your investment. With the addition of a filtration plant, this water could also be used for drinking or potable water uses.

Look at water storage tank suppliers that offer the option for dual-purpose storage – for example, a water storage solution that can be used for fire suppression water storage and backup water storage.

Product longevity, supplier reputation, and guarantees A sustainable backup water storage solution that has an excellent lifespan will ensure a better return on investment. At a minimum, the supplier should be compliant and certified for quality, health and safety standards, and should offer some form of warranty or after-sales service support. Does the supplier have a good track record, long-term experience, and a reputation for backup service? Water storage tanks from SBS Tanks – no matter the size or storage capacity – have an expected lifespan of 65 or more years and carry a 10-year No-Leak Warranty.

Maintenance of the water storage tank should also be considered. Will the water storage tank require replacement after a few years? Will it deteriorate in the sun? Is there

a risk of the water being contaminated by plastic degradation or by rust from making contact with the tank surface? What about the risks of leaks? Water is costly and, even if it is harvested off your roof, you do not want it going to waste.

Look for a water storage tank that includes an internal liner and has been manufactured from quality steel with a protective alloy coating such as Zincalume® in an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility.

Partnerships and skills

Your tank supplier should have a large network of suppliers and skills. There is a lot more to consider than merely erecting a tank:

• Engineering: SBS Tanks are engineered to the highest standards and we can design your system with our partners.

• Pumps: We have a variety of reliable suppliers that will make excellent choices easy.

• Electricity: Solar or at least a power point; consider SBS Solar and get off the electricity grid at the same time.

• Plumbing: To be able to switch over when needed, SBS has many reliable partners in the plumbing business.

• Telemetry and monitoring equipment: The last thing you want is for the backup tank to be empty when you are in a crisis.

• Security: If your premises are not secured already.

Much of the research that goes into the bespoke solution for your business or residence requires a great deal of time, so you do not want to leave this to the last moment or once the crisis is in full swing – as you will most likely make the wrong decision.

At SBS Tanks, we recognise that business owners, SHEQ teams, and facilities managers need good advice from the get-go to make the best decision to secure operational continuity. While no one knows your business better than you, we have earned our reputation as the leading manufacturer of modular water storage tank with internal liners.

Fairview Estates

V&A Waterfront

WHY ARE ROUND TANKS BETTER THAN BOX-SHAPED TANKS?

Most water reservoirs have curved surfaces with a spherical, paraboloid or cylindrical shape. Such round tanks enjoy structural advantages over tanks with square or rectangular surfaces, writes

Quinton

Coetzee, director, Rainbow Reservoirs

Round water storage tanks are often preferred for their structural integrity, material efficiency and easier cleaning.

Structural strength

A round structure is the strongest geometrical structure and stronger than straight-sided, box-like alternatives. Round

tanks distribute the pressure of the stored water more evenly across their surface, leading to greater structural integrity. This is particularly important for large tanks that need to withstand significant weight loads. A round structure can therefore more successfully withstand the outward-directed force of the water stored within, as well as the force of wind and rain exerted from the outside.

Material efficiency

They also take up less surface area than a box-shaped tank yet hold the same volume of water. A cylindrical water tank has the least possible ratio of circumference to area; it has less surface area than a box-shaped water tank that holds the same amount of water. For this reason, a spherical water tank requires less building material than its box-shaped equivalent and is consequently more economical to build. Furthermore, due to their structural strength, they need less additional reinforcement than box-shaped tanks.

Constant heat level

In a round tank, the surface area is primarily concentrated on the cylindrical portion, with minimal area on the top and bottom. This reduction in surface area helps to minimise heat loss, evaporation, and material exposure to external elements. This means that round tanks keep the enclosed water at a more constant temperature than box-like structures. They therefore lose less heat in winter and gain less heat during the summer.

Cleaning and hygiene

Round tanks have smooth, continuous surfaces without corners or edges, which makes cleaning easier. In contrast, boxshaped tanks have corners and crevices where dirt, debris, and microbial growth can accumulate, making cleaning more challenging. Corners in tanks are known to harbour microbes.

Efficient water circulation

The circular motion of water within a round tank promotes more efficient circulation, which can help prevent stagnation and improve water quality.

FLOOD-HIT MUNICIPALITIES UPGRADE SEWER AND STORMWATER MAINTENANCE

Severe flooding events in South Africa’s coastal regions over th e past few years have highlighted the importance of maintaining infrastructure to deal with excess rainfall.

Amunicipality in KwaZuluNatal has recently proactively commissioned the building of over 50 truck-mounted jetting units in order to boost its capacity to clear stormwater drains and sewer systems in its area.

Werner Pumps, a leading South African manufacturer of high-pressure jetting and vacuum equipment, is building the custom units for the municipality and is handing over five vehicles each month.

Sebastian Werner, MD of Werner Pumps, explains that these units are an important tool for both clearing stormwater drains and sewers after a flooding event, and for ongoing maintenance.

“If stormwater drains are not cleared effectively and regularly, the build-up of debris can lead to underground seepage of water, which in turn can cause other major infrastructure issues like sinkholes. If sewers become blocked, it can also lead to seepage and have serious health implications if sewage overflows onto roads and into other public spaces,” says Werner.

Local production

Werner Pumps manufactures all of its jetting and vacuum equipment locally, and works with a variety of chassis manufacturers, depending on which chassis each customer prefers to have their units mounted on.

“As a local company, we are also able to identify and meet the particular needs of this market,” explains Werner. “Our units are designed to function well in the South African environment and are extremely tough.”

As a local manufacturing partner, Werner Pumps has also been able to accommodate the municipality’s request that the units include crew cabs so that full teams can travel on them along their maintenance routes. “This helps with saving on costs, time and labour,” says Werner.

The order came about after Werner Pumps had initially delivered a smaller quantity of units, and when the municipality’s teams experienced the quality and effectiveness of the equipment first-hand, it increased the total order quantity.

Customisation

The truck-mounted jetting units can be used for drain blasting and pipeline cleaning, as well as stormwater and sewer cleaning.

“In terms of customisation, they can be either PTO-driven or donkeyengine-driven and we can make our tanks out of a variety of materials. They come in 6 000 ℓ , 10 000 ℓ and 15 000 ℓ sizes and we have many different options in terms of sidemounted accessories and hose reel options. This means that customers can get units that are designed specifically around their particular context,” says Werner.

Werner Pumps supplies a wide range of accessories for all of its units, including low-water inlet switches, high-pressure jetting hoses (20 m, 30 m, or 50 m), high-pressure guns with lances, nozzle holders, and fan nozzles. “We do our best to meet all our customers’ high-pressure jetting and vacuuming needs and can advise on how best to service a particular application,” Werner says.

The truck-mounted jetting units can be used for drain blasting and pipeline cleaning, as well as stormwater and sewer cleaning

For over a decade, the City of Cape Town’s Water Pollution Control Unit has been using smoke tests to combat pollution and sewage overflows, as well as high volumes of excess water that can stre tch the capacity of wastewater conveyance systems.

SMOKING OUT ILLEGAL STORMWATER AND SEWER CONNECTIONS

These overfalls typically occur in winter, when the increased rainfall puts added pressure on the City's sewer system due to stormwater ingress. Some individuals or companies illegally connect their stormwater to the sewer system. This can potentially overload the wastewater treatment works and dilute incoming sewage, which paradoxically makes its treatment difficult owing to lower concentrations of organic matter in the water.

The smoke-detection technology is used to trace pathways, making it easy to identify sections where water by-laws have been contravened. The process involves a machine known as a smoke blower, which is placed over a manhole leading into a sewer pipe. Once the machine is turned on and

Councillor Zahid Badroodien, MMC for Water and Sanitation, with the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s Water Pollution Control branch conducting smoke detection testing in Gordon’s Bay

heats up, it pumps smoke through the pipeline. The smoke travels the path of least resistance and quickly shows up at sites that allow surface water inflow. Surveillance teams then note where the smoke leaks out and identify any broken manholes, illegal connections, or weaknesses in the sewer infrastructure like cracked mains and laterals.

Smoke detection also enables the City to identify gutter downpipes that direct rainwater into the sewer system, and detect connections where backwash incorrectly deposits straight into the stormwater system. Furthermore, it

becomes easy to locate unkerbed sewer gullies, which are those without a barrier wall to stop stormwater from draining into the sewer system.

If violations are discovered, the owners of the property receive a notice detailing the City’s findings and providing instructions for required repairs.

So far, the City of Cape Town has exceeded targets by testing 272 km of sewer pipeline in the 2022/23 financial year. The team is now well on the way to reaching its target of testing 170 km in the current 2023/24 financial year.

Areas are selected based on reports of:

• increased inflow into the nearest wastewater treatment works

• increased sewer blockages

• problems related to stormwater ingress

• sewer surcharges.

More recently, testing has been concentrated in Gordon’s Bay. A total of 6 370 properties have undergone a combination of smoke testing and door-to-door inspections. In the coming months, work will continue in Strand. The aim is to complete testing of 74 km of pipeline that passes through approximately 5 000 households.

Mangaliso Qolo, from the Water Pollution Control branch, conducting smoke detection testing in Gordon’s Bay for ingress into the stormwater system

INSIGHTS INTO THE WULA PROCESS

The water-use licence application (WULA) process balances economic growth and environmental preservation. Nonhlanhla Mnengi, an associate at Webber Wentzel, provides some legal views and updates on regulatory shifts in water-use licensing.

Water-use licencing is a regulatory mechanism implemented by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to manage water resources and ensure that water use is undertaken in a responsible and sustainable manner. This involves an application process that is uploaded onto the DWS’s electronic water-use licence application and authorisation system (e-WULAAS).

The WULA process consists of strong BBBEE motivation, a public participation process, as well as specialist studies (e.g. geohydrological, flooding, hydrological, offset studies, and watercourse delineation) to define the sustainability of the suggested water use. Subject to the availability of free water in the catchment, a thorough report must be submitted to the DWS for approval. The

applicant is liable for all costs incurred throughout the WULA process.

Legal representation

Mnengi believes that legal experts can assist in navigating the complex regulations and legal requirements around WULA. “There is often a general lack of understanding around the different types of water uses. While general authorisations and Schedule 1 water-use activities do not require a water-use licence, there are other water-use activities that are regulated under Section 21 of the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) and require a licence. To add to complications, there are also general existing water uses that had general authorisations before the National Water Act was promulgated in 1998. They do not have to apply for a water-use licence. Often, there is confusion around the difference

between a registration certificate and a water-use authorisation, which can result in water being used illegally,” she explains.

Application process

To process any WULA, there are generally six steps to follow:

Step 1 – Pre-application process (Phase 1):

This phase begins as soon as one receives a licence application. Step 1

Nonhlanhla Mnengi, associate at Webber Wentzel

is used to determine information requirements to compile an application. Missing information must be filled in and initial feedback may be received before the application fee is paid. This assists with the decision to either continue or withdraw from the process.

The DW758 (company registration) form must be completed with business information as well as the water uses applied for, details of the property owner and where the water uses will take place (property details).

The DWS can reject an application on the basis that not all of the documents have not been provided. It is advisable to meet with the DWS in phase 1 for guidance to determine the exact requirements for an application, ensure that all possible aspects are addressed and avoid the application being deemed inadequate at a later stage.

Step 2 – Application initiation (Phase 2):

The DWS establishes the necessary information required to compile a technical report that supports the application. This is based either on

the site inspection or the information in the form.

Here, it is advisable to appoint technical specialists to provide input into the report. A legal team can then evaluate the legislation that is triggered by a particular legislation and provide counsel accordingly.

Step 3 – Screening (Phase 3):

This is the screening of the technical report and the acceptance or rejection thereof.

Step 4 – Processing and finalising: The current step consists of the evaluation of the technical report where the information is assessed by specialist groups, together with the recommendation to the delegated authority at DWS for a decision.

Step 5 – Decision by the delegated authority: The DWS (and/or a delegated authority like a municipality) will either refuse or approve the application after the consideration of all relevant information.

Step 6 – Implementation: The regional office will begin

implementing the licence together with issuing and highlighting the conditions attached to the water use licence. Depending on the difficulty of the application, the potential consequences and its benefits to the general public, it may take up to 300 days to process an application for a water-use licence. Applicants may be requested at any time to provide more information, to invite comments from interested parties and affected parties, or to advertise the proposed water use.

Public participation is requested by Sections 40 and 42 of the National Water Act, which provides for the responsible authority as well as assessing the likely effect of the proposed licence on the protection, preservation, use, management, development, and control of the water source.

“While the DWS has made great efforts in shortening the WULA process, it can still take hundreds of days, and it is important for an applicant to factor this into their planning process. It is also essential to have funds set aside for technical specialists. Once a water-use licence is granted, we also advise our clients

to never let it expire, as they can incur fines and a substantial cost when applying for a new license and there may be new compliance conditions,” explains Mnengi.

Latest developments

Last year, the Constitutional Court ruled that water rights holders are entitled to temporary transfer of such rights in accordance with the provisions of the National Water Act. It confirmed that receiving financial compensation for transferred water-use entitlements is neither prohibited nor unlawful in South Africa. A part or full water-use entitlement can be transferred, provided the water comes from the same source, it is within the same vicinity, and it is for a same or similar purpose. Once the temporary transfer is complete, the new licence holder will be liable for all fees related to the maintenance of that licence. Owners of water-use entitlements have the potential to earn an income.

Another development was the draft revision of the regulations regarding the procedural requirements for WULA.

“The transformation requirements of the National Water Act have been interpreted to require certain sectors to, when applying for water-use licences to take or store water, allocate shares of up to 75% to black South Africans for such water-use licences to be granted. According to statistics drawn from WULs issued since 1998, 75.93% of water has been allocated to historically advantaged individuals, leaving only 24.07% allocated to historically disadvantaged individuals,” adds Mnengi.

“This would only be applicable to applications for new water-use licences and are not applicable to renewal of existing water-use licences, nor to the water-use applications which will arise out of compulsory licensing. Compulsory licensing refers to the process of relicensing water-use allocations which were made prior to the National Water Act coming into effect,” she clarifies.

The DWS confirmed that 98.5% of the available water resources in South Africa are currently allocated and that the transformation requirements would only apply in the context of new water use licence applications relating to the remaining 1.5% of water resources.

Another more contentious development in terms of the National Water Act is that it appears that company directors and municipal managers will be personally liable, in fine or imprisonment, for water law violations caused by their companies or municipalities.

In terms of Water Services Amendment Bill 2023, water service providers will be compelled to be licensed within 12 months of the

regulations being published, with the Minister being given increased powers to enforce any failures by water service providers.

“There are a host of other amendments to the National Water Amendment Bill 2023 and Water Services Amendment Bill and I would encourage comments to be submitted to the DWS, as the submission date was due 16 January 2024 and has now been informally extended to 1 March 2024,” adds Mnengi.

“South Africa is a water-stressed country, with climate change exacerbating water supply and quality. As a custodian of South Africa’s water resources, the DWS has the difficult task of protecting water resources while still encouraging the growth of our economy by allowing businesses to use water responsibly. This is where the WULA process comes in – to assist in reducing negative impacts to finite water resources,” she concludes.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municiplaity (NMBM) not only improved upon i ts 2014 Blue Drop score but achieved the highest scoring results within the Eastern Cape province. Kirsten Kelly talks to Chandre Barnard, deputy director: Bulk Supply & Reservoirs from NMBM, about their success.

HIGHEST SCORING RESULTS IN EASTERN CAPE

While there was a general decline in Blue Drop results between 2014 and 2023, NMBM bucked this trend and actually improved on its score from 72.43% to 85.03%. How did you manage this?

CB Institutional knowledge is important to NMBM. We did not use consultants for any of our audit preparations. We have a scientist – Mzuvukile Thomas – that drives the audit process, making sure that various role players within each department gives the appropriate data and works towards

achieving the needed scores. He did a lot of groundwork to better prepare us for the actual Blue Drop audit. It is important to us to ‘own’ the whole audit process and retain the knowledge gained during that audit process.

We scored highly on the ratio of technical people to water supply systems. We have also done a significant amount of work on asset management over the past few years where, for example, we have documented, georeferenced condition assessments of every single chamber on our bulk water pipelines. This feeds into our management system, which can be used to generate various automated reports and job cards. While access to the latest technology in the water sector can elevate performances, it is important to have capacity in terms of qualified and experienced people to operate this technology.

NMBM has experienced an eight-year drought. Did this have an impact on your Blue Drop audit?

Many of the current staff members within NMBM’s Water and Sanitation Division have only ever worked under disaster conditions. This has meant that everybody has had to take on extra work to combat the drought and prepare for the Blue Drop audit. Everybody pulled together and did all they could to achieve these results.

The high level of participation from senior managers of the Water and Sanitation team impressed the auditors, as well as the detailed knowledge that various team members had on individual plant infrastructure and challenges within the distribution system. This support and involvement from senior team members helped our division perform well during the drought and audit process. The drought added some complexities. For

Chandre Barnard, deputy director: Bulk Supply & Reservoirs, NMBM

Raw water pump station

Polished brass and the Churchill Treatment Works

instance, many of our reservoirs operated at very low levels and some would at times of emergencies go empty. This created the unlikely risk of sediment at the bottom being drawn into the system. We therefore had teams that would conduct daily chlorine residual testing at all the reservoirs to mitigate this risk.

What is NMBM’s approach when preparing for the audit?

We try to grow and learn from each audit process. We carefully go through the auditor’s notes from the previous audit process and turn them into something that can be actioned going forward. It is also always a good idea to tackle the low-hanging fruit first and move on from there. I would also recommend asking for clarification wherever possible.

It is also important to note that the Blue Drop programme is not solely based on water quality. It is possible to produce good water quality and receive a below-average Blue Drop score. This is because there is a huge focus on the entire water quality management system, asset management, risk management, and water safety planning. It is all about continuous improvement.

What is the audit process like?

It was a very supportive process; the auditors gave us a lot of their time and advice. While the audit itself is a strict

AGRUCHEM

process, I generally felt that the auditors care deeply about the general public and the ability of entities like NMBM to consistently deliver safe, quality water.

Everybody knows that the next Blue Drop audit process is around the corner, and so it is in our best interest to keep working at improving our score and delivering on our mandate in providing quality water to our citizens.

At NMBM, we have people who recognise that we are supplying a basic human right to over 1.5 million people daily. That is both an honour and a responsibility.

• PROCESS PIPING IN PE, PP, PVDF, ECTFE

• OUTSTANDING LIFESPAN

• UP TO OD 3500 MM (138“)

• ENERGY AND MAINTENANCE SAVING

• PRODUCT RELATED APPROVALS FOR POTABLE WATER

The Linton Water Treatment Works, with filter controls that were commissioned in 1936. These filter controls were dismantled, reverse engineered (based on hand written notes from the 1940s) and are now operating again

BLUE DROP SUCCESS:

private sector shines

South African Water Works (SAWW) received 5 out of 26 Blue Drop Awards through its two subsidiaries – Siza Water and Silulumanzi. Siza Water is rated as the third best water service provider in South Africa, while Silulumanzi is the only water service provider to achieve Blue Drop accreditation in Mpumalanga.

The Blue Drop Certification Programme was introduced in 2008 whereby the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) measures all aspects contributing towards the provision of safe water. The programme aligns to the best practices of the World Health Organization’s Water Safety Planning concept as the basis for a proactive, risk-based approach to drinking water quality management – from catchment to consumer. Hence, besides drinking water quality, the audit for Blue Drop also focuses on the

operations and maintenance, capital investment, asset registers, as well as staff competency and training.

“The reinstatement of the Blue Drop Report is a positive movement towards cultivating a trustworthy and efficient water sector in South Africa, it will go a long way towards improving and giving the public assurance regarding potable water quality. The Blue Drop Certification Programme has previously received international accolades due its incentive-based regulation and thorough certification process. Sadly, there has been a significant deterioration in scores since its last official release date in 2014. This indicates that a lot of remedial work has to be done within the sector,” states Shyam Misra, Group MD of SAWW.

SAWW success

Fortunately, SAWW has maintained the integrity of the water systems it operates via subsidiaries: Siza Water and Silulumanzi. The current Blue Drop Report evaluated all 958 water supply systems across 144 water services authorities. A total of 44 supply systems received Blue Drop status in 2014, and only 26 supply systems received Blue Drop status in 2023. While there was an overall decline in Blue Drop scores (more than 50% of water supply systems were found unsuitable), SAWW has maintained high standards, where it achieved 5 of the 26 Blue Drop Awards.

SAWW received Blue Drop Awards (scoring over 95%) for:

• Siza Water – The Dolphin Coast System – Ilembe District of KwaZulu Natal

Siza Water and Silulumanzi receiving a Blue Drop award

• Karino Water Treatment Works – City of Mbombela

• Matsulu Water Treatment Works – City of Mbombela

• Primkop Water Treatment Works – City of Mbombela

• Nelspruit Water Supply – City of Mbombela.

According to Misra, one of the key reasons SAWW has scored so highly in the Blue Drop Report is the continued training and development of its staff. “From a plumber to an engineer, we ensure that our staff members have the qualifications, experience, and skills to perform their tasks as accurately and efficiently as possible. We are constantly evaluating available skill sets and gaps in our organisation to ensure we deliver quality services to our consumers. We also focus on keeping our employees engaged and motivated. I must express my gratitude towards SAWW’s dedicated staff and their commitment to providing world-class water services.”

He adds that SAWW places a strong emphasis on governance and risk management to ensure strict adherence to all national laws, local bylaws, and our internal policies. “Both of our subsidiaries are ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 18001 (Occupational Health & Safety), and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) accredited. We strive to ensure compliance to the contract agreements that we have with municipalities as well as our customers. As a proudly South African company, we want to deliver professional and quality service to the country.”

The road ahead

While Siza Water was rated as the third best water provider in the country, and the only service provider within the iLembe District Municipality that has achieved Blue Drop status, the concession is looking to claim back the status as “South Africa’s best water provider” that it had in 2014.

“While we have celebrated the success of achieving Blue Drop accreditations, we have already analysed the audit scores on how to further improve and have identifed the areas for improvement,” explains Misra.

SAWW also has to contend with climate change, and the impact of the resultant floods and droughts. It is making plans to ensure water security and resilience in the face of climate change.

“As a proudly South African company, with our trackrecord and quality of services for over two decades, SAWW [is] ready to assist other municipalities to deliver safe, clean, and reliable water services to their communities. Through our services, we can create an enabling environment for economic development, as well as assist in restoring faith in government services in South Africa,” says Misra.

COLLECTIVELY BUILDING SKILLS FOR THE WATER SECTOR

The Energy and Water Sector Education Training Authority (EWSETA) is a skills development authority that builds capabilities within the industry. Kirsten Kelly talks to Mpho Mookapele, CEO of EWSETA, about skills development planning and implementation.

Over the past three years, EWSETA has evolved from being predominantly transactional, focusing on distributing grant funding to eligible businesses and institutions, to embracing a more strategic operational model. “We were designed to be an authority on skills development within the energy and water sector, and not merely project-manage skills development programmes. This entails understanding the skills needed within the energy and water sector, because if irrelevant skills are identified, funding will be directed towards the wrong programmes – developing skills that the energy and water sector does not need,” states Mookapele.

Determining skills demand Organisations and companies within

Mpho Mookapele, CEO of EWSETA

the energy and water sector who pay their skills levies to SARS are required to submit an annual workplace skills plan (WSP) to EWSETA, where they identify critical, future, and hard-to-find skills that are aligned to their strategies. This is meant to inform critical sector skills that are needed for the country.

“However, many companies treat the WSP as a compliance process. I have sat with some CEOs where the top skills listed in their submitted WSP are not aligned to the top skills actually needed by that company. Skills development and training is often seen as a corporate social investment initiative. It is seldom used as a strategic tool to build capabilities for the country, let alone an organisation’s future needs,” explains Mookapele.

EWSETA uses WSPs to develop an annual sector skills plan but has also formed important partnerships with other entities to ensure that the correct skills needed for the water industry are identified. “Entities like USAID, United Nations Development Plan, the British Council, as well as a few banks are now providing funding as well as training programmes for the sector. While we have largely created close partnerships with key stakeholders in the energy sector, EWSETA is now focused on bringing

together people who are involved in skills planning and development in the water sector. All stakeholders need to work towards one goal in order to create a more rapid and bigger impact,” says Mookapele.

Education and training

The development of skills requires a relevant and flexible qualification offering that is agile to adapt to the rapidly changing world of work.

Partnerships are vital to the success of any SETA. Qualifications need to be developed with input between industry players, universities and TVET colleges. If companies are not involved in determining the content of various curriculums, graduates become unemployable due to an irrelevant skill set.

“Generally, post-school education and training (PSET) institutions are not adequately advocating for water-andsanitation-related qualifications. School students are not aware of water-related career paths and therefore careers in these industries are not seen as attractive or are not even known,” states Mookapele.

A number of factors contribute to careers in the water sector not being sought after by school leavers. In addition to the above-mentioned reason, most of the jobs in the water and sanitation reside in government

institutions and there is a strong perception within the general public that many of these institutions are dysfunctional. The water sector needs to collectively work together in order to attract high performers in building a capable cohort to serve these critical industries.

A key element of skills development is exposing students to practical learnings in the world of work. This requires industry to open its doors for young people to be placed in companies to learn from training officers who have relevant knowledge and experience. The availability of fully functional institutions in the water sector is limited. Many students are placed in a municipality to complete their practical training. This has proven to be a big challenge, as students cannot be placed in municipalities where there is inadequate infrastructure and limited qualified and experienced personnel, as highlighted by the recently released No Drop Report. Students placed in the workplace are often viewed as a burden to a company, as they require a certain

level of guidance by a supervisor. This can be demanding for supervisors, as it is an added responsibility to normal day-to-day work. This approach again reflects how skills development is not seen as a strategy for human capital development. Skills development is not a charitable act but an investment for water and sanitation sector. Companies that offer practical learning can identify the best students and employ them while building a talent pool for the country,” states Mookapele.

Currently, EWSETA is engaging with municipal managers, and looking at ways to assist them in listing the requisite skills needed to implement their plans to improve their Blue Drop and No Drop status.

EWSETA is also working with a number of SETAs, as there are sometimes overlapping priorities and programmes. The Local Government SETA (LGSETA) focuses on the municipalities. Its partnership with EWSETA is critical and will ensure the elimination of duplication, as water boards (falling

under EWSETA) and municipalities (falling under LGSETA) often require the same skills.

Leadership skills

“Justifiably, there is a great focus on building technical and artisanal capabilities. However, skills in water planning, financing, problem-solving, critical thinking, risk management, partnership development, legislation, climate change, and ESG are often lacking. This is usually the cause for the slow implementation of existing water plans, policy, and regulations. Consultants are then used instead of making efforts to build in-house skills,” says Mookapele.

EWSETA has launched a number of executive management programmes for energy and water professionals together with Wits Business School and Duke Corporate Education. The organisation has also flagged continuous professional development as a focus, where professionals are updated with changes in their professions. The aim is to develop learning and career pathways that assist water professionals in acquiring the skills and experiences necessary to advance within a chosen career field.

She adds that water skills are often imported, which is a missed opportunity in a country with a high unemployment rate. “There is nothing wrong with importing skills to learn, but we cannot fully rely on imported skills to run the local water sector. We need to train and capacitate South Africans to ensure that it is South African companies that run their own water industry.”

Mookapele highlights that water and sanitation has been relegated to a social enterprise rather than a business, and that is the reason why skills development is seldom prioritised Despite funding availability from both the skills development levy and donor funding, the sector struggles to allocate these resources effectively and see an impact due to the fragmentation of skills development. “While we have a National Water and Sanitation Master Plan, I do not believe that every sphere of government is working towards one plan; there is a lot of fragmentation where there needs to be more strategic direction. I have seen a fundamental shift in the energy sector from viewing skills development as only encompassing bursaries and internships that need SETA funding to something that strategically builds capabilities that can grow and nurture that sector. I am hoping to partner with the water sector so we can see a similar shift.”

CESA’S SCHOOL of Consulting Engineering

Founded by Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) in the year 2000, the School of Consulting Engineering (SCE) aims to provide an opportunity for consulting engineers, their clients, and other interested parties in the built environment to enhance their business, professional, and entrepreneurial skills.

The SCE started over two decades ago in a classroom training environment and has transitioned into online training. The school does, however, continue to provide in-house courses to its clients, in person, virtually, and in a hybrid model, where some employees work from a central location and some work remotely.

“This has been a huge success, as professionals within the built environment are often on-site, in another country, or working from home as well as in the office. Our online learning platform allows people to study from anywhere. Furthermore, we have been able to increase the number of courses we offer to over 100, as we do not have to wait for a certain number of people to register for a course,” says Brenda Lacey-Smith, manager: Education & Training, CESA SCE.

While the school offers a multitude of CPD technical courses within the built environment, there are plenty of soft skills CPD courses too. “There is a focus on creating a well-rounded engineer. We offer courses like ‘Excel for Engineers’, ‘Technical and Business Report Writing’, and many other courses on the contractual aspects of project delivery, tendering, as well as conflict management. This is a more holistic approach to building an engineer’s career,” she adds.

Meanwhile, individuals from municipalities, state-owned enterprises, private companies, as well as professional and non-professional engineers also attend the school. “It is great to have various industry stakeholders in one room, as they bring different perspectives to a training course and that further enriches the experience for everyone,” explains Lacey-Smith.

One of the key reasons for the school’s success is CESA’s vast network of industry leaders. “We source qualified subject matter expert as trainers for each course. The school is another vehicle through which CESA can serve the built environment,” states Lacey-Smith.

THE TOYOTA HILUX OF WATER MANAGEMENT SERVICES

A subsidiary of the uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) Group, Umgeni Water Services (UWS) was established in 1997 to hold UUW’s shareholding in the Durban Water Recycling company. It has also won the concession to manage and operate the reuse plant at the eThekwini Southern Works plant in Durban.

UWS is now being used as the company that will drive UUW business growth strategy. Similar to the adapted Toyota Hilux for African customers, UUW has evolved over the years, integrating technological advancements and improvements over time.

The Toyota Hilux was developed in Africa, for Africa. It passes the African

test and can therefore perform anywhere in the world. UUW, like the Toyota Hilux, has a rich history in South Africa with a reputation for its quality and expertise.

“Our skills in the water sector are home grown; we have an in-depth knowledge of what it takes to provide water on the African continent. UWS is a vehicle for UUW’s growth and will focus on driving the expansion of the Group through the

secondary activities that are permitted through the Water Services Act,” says Peter Thompson, MD, UWS.

Section 29 and Section 30

Section 29 of the Water Services Act defines a water board’s primary

The decline of engineers in municipalities over time

activities, which are to collect and store bulk water, transmit that water to purification plants, and then sell that water to municipalities.

Water boards, such as UUW, are also authorised to engage in secondary activities (Section 30). These may include:

• management services, training and other support services to water services institutions, in order to promote cooperation in the provision of water services

• supplying untreated or non-potable water to end-users who do not use the water for household purposes

• catchment management services to or on behalf of the responsible authorities

• supplying water directly for industrial use, accepting industrial effluent, and acting as a water service provider to consumers

• providing water services in a joint venture with water services authorities

• performing water conservation functions

• commercial laboratory services. UWS will be playing a key role in assisting municipalities in addressing the findings from the recent Blue, Green, and No Drop reports. The recent Blue and No Drop reports revealed a decline in drinking water quality and an increase in non-revenue water (NRW) since the last reports were issued in 2014. The Green Drop progress assessment report indicated an increased risk in the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems.

“Furthermore, UWS will collaborate with municipalities to find innovative

solutions to some of the problems and to implement systems that will assist municipalities in delivering on their mandate. It is critical that municipalities are empowered and assisted, as failures on their side will lead to non-payment of water boards and threaten their sustainability. UWS will also assist in addressing water losses and will be forming partnerships with municipalities and stakeholders to address this major drain on our economy,” adds Thompson.

However, these undertakings must not impede a water board’s ability to fulfil its primary function. Additionally, these secondary activities must not result in financial harm to the water board itself, any other water services institution, or the current consumers and other users served by the board.

There are proposed changes to the current Water Services Act.

Amendments

The Water Services Act makes a clear distinction between water services authorities (WSAs) and water service providers (WSPs). WSAs are responsible for ensuring access to water services and as such have a governance function. They are accountable for deciding on appropriate water services development approaches, delivery strategies, and resource allocations. On the other hand, WSPs have a delivery function. They are entities that provide water services to consumers or to other water services institutions. As part of their governance function, WSAs decide which WSP arrangement is most appropriate for their circumstances and, currently, WSAs have the full mandate to provide bulk services

themselves. This means that the municipality monitors itself, as it does not have an overseer.

The proposed amendments to the Water Services Act are seeking to ensure that WSAs provide water services to an acceptable standard. To strengthen the provisions of the Water Services Act and to assess whether WSPs are providing water to standard, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) wants to introduce an operating licence.

“A licence will only be issued to entities with relevant technical and financial competencies. The proposed amendment will still allow municipalities to be both a WSA and WSP, but they must have a licence to carry out the WSP function. It is envisaged that many municipalities will not qualify for the licence and existing water boards with a reputation for quality and competence – like UUW – will then be called upon to provide such services. The amendments to this Act will be a massive driver for future growth and will expand our footprint beyond Kwa-Zulu Natal,” explains Thompson.

Training and skills development

This growth will generate a greater need for skills.

Currently, there is a decline in the number of engineers working in municipalities. This is due to budget constraints in municipalities that are not collecting revenue, reluctance to work in rural areas, poor salaries, immigration, and frustrations with working within the public sector. Failing municipal infrastructure can be largely attributed to the dwindling

numbers of engineers working in municipalities.

“UWS is currently training 40 engineering graduates to professional registration status. This is a four-to-five-year programme. Surprisingly, we are experiencing difficulty in placing these engineers in municipalities, as there are very few openings. There needs to be professionalisation within the water sector. While South Africa is in dire need of new water infrastructure, that infrastructure needs to have qualified, competent, and technical people that are involved in its planning, building, maintenance, and operation,” adds Thompson.

Through the Umgeni Water Learning Academy, UWS is using its institutional and financial capacity to provide technical training and mentorship to address the dire

skills shortage in the water sector in Southern Africa and improve service delivery. The academy is essentially a ‘university of practice’, which emphasises hands-on learning and practical skills development. Once a technical skill is learnt, the student will go into the field, put that technical skill into practice, and receive mentorship.

UWS will also be playing a key role in PPPs or state-to-state partnerships. UUW holds an 18.5% investment in one of the most successful PPPs to date – the Durban Water Recycling Project that supplies treated wastewater to industrial companies. Furthermore, many stakeholders in the local water sector are also interested in developing partnerships with UWS to explore local and international opportunities.

Another one of UWS’s objectives is to identify and solicit international grants to assist in funding nonbankable projects that have not been developed as they are deemed unsustainable through traditional project funding.

“UUW has over 300 engineers, scientists, technologists, and technicians, world-class laboratory services, expertise in infrastructure capital investment and planning management, and catchment management skills. UWS is well positioned to drive the growth of the Group. This will be done through fostering customer relationships, the Umgeni Water Learning Academy, as well as the growth of uMngeni-uThukela Water’s Section 30 commercial activities and partnerships,” concludes Thompson.

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