A DECADE’S OF ADVOCATING FOR WATER REUSE

WISA’s Water Reuse Division recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Its objective is to provide a communication forum for engineers, scientists, and practitioners to share information and knowledge on water reclamation, recycling, and reuse to facilitate the implementation of safe water reuse practices in Southern Africa.

By

Dr Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA

During this past decade, the Water Reuse Division has influenced policy and practice, and has been involved in Regulation 2834, Regulation 3630, the ‘Day Zero’ crisis in Cape Town and Eastern Cape, as well as the floods in KwaZulu-Natal.

Water reuse plays a significant role in the South African water sector, addressing various challenges and contributing to sustainable water management. This practice involves treating wastewater to a high standard, making it safe for various non-potable uses such as irrigation, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge. Here, we will explore the significance of water reuse in the South African context.

By reusing treated wastewater, water that would otherwise be lost or discharged into the environment can be harnessed, increasing the available water supply. This reduces pressure on freshwater resources, ensuring a more reliable water source for various sectors. This reduced demand for freshwater extraction minimises the impact on rivers, wetlands, and other natural habitats.

Economic advantage

By reusing treated wastewater, industries can reduce their reliance on freshwater sources for their processes. This not only helps lower operational costs but also enhances the overall efficiency of industrial operations. Moreover, water reuse can provide economic opportunities, such as the creation of new industries focused on wastewater treatment technologies, job creation in the water sector, and the potential for export of water reuse expertise.

Water reuse also contributes towards improved water quality. By treating wastewater to high standards, contaminants are removed, ensuring that the reused water meets appropriate quality criteria. This is particularly important for irrigation, as using poor-quality water can negatively impact soil health and crop productivity. With water reuse, South Africa can enhance agricultural productivity, support food security, and reduce the stress on freshwater resources in agricultural regions.

Social impacts

Access to clean water and sanitation is still a significant issue in many parts of South Africa, particularly in low-income areas. By implementing water reuse projects, treated wastewater can be utilised for non-potable purposes, allowing communities to have access to water for various needs such as sanitation, hygiene, and urban greening. This can improve the overall quality of life and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

To fully realise the significance of water reuse in the South African water sector, it is essential to address some challenges and considerations. These include ensuring proper treatment and monitoring of reused water to meet health and safety standards, implementing appropriate regulations and policies, promoting public awareness and acceptance of water reuse, and investing in adequate infrastructure and technologies for wastewater treatment.

The recent reconfiguration of water service providers (WSPs) aims to increase water access to unserviced areas, enhance market capitalisation for infrastructure projects, and reduce skewed supply of water. However, is there an enabling environment for these WSPs to operate?

By Dan Naidoo, chairman, WISA