Weatherproof glazing A cube at a time

We need MORE than

promises and rhetoric

South Africa’s National Water Week campaign takes place between 15 and 22 March, with the aim of educating the public about their responsibility in water conservation initiatives and raising awareness around the need to protect and conserve the country’s water resources.

By Jan Venter

Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA

While SAPPMA (Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association) applauds and supports the idea behind the campaign, its focus and impact should stretch far beyond mere educational purposes. More than ever before, it needs to stimulate authorities into action.

South Africa is facing a water catastrophe that has been years in the making. Here are some frightening facts and figures: • The mean average rainfall for our country is only 495 mm per year – compared to the equivalent world figure of 860 mm. Roughly 21% of our country receives less than 200 mm precipitation per annum. • South Africa has less than 2 000 m3 of water per person per year, compared to 15 000 m3 in the USA. This is exacerbated by a massive and unplanned influx of people from all over Africa, which places severe stress on our resources. Dr Anthony Turton, professor in the

Centre for Environmental Management at the University of the Free State, predicts that South Africa will need 1.6 times the amount of water than will naturally be available by 2030. • More than 50% of South Africa’s wetlands, known as nature’s water filters, have been lost. Of those that remain, 33% are in poor ecological condition. • According to the National Water and

Sanitation Master Plan that was released in 2018, 56% of wastewater plants and 44% of water treatment works are in a poor or critical condition; 11% are completely dysfunctional. Three quarters of the water pumped back into rivers by municipal treatment plants has not been properly treated and contains harmful pathogens. • Due to pollution, only 47% of our water bodies have good quality water, compared to Zimbabwe, which currently sits at 76%. • More than a third (about 35%) of the properly treated water that is finding its way back into distribution systems is lost due to theft or leakage due to poor infrastructure. This amounts to approximately 1 660 million m3 per year. In 2013, Trevor Balzer, in his position as acting director general of the Department of Water Affairs, stated that South Africa would need about R700 billion over the next 10 to 15 years to refurbish the nation’s water infrastructure and improve the supply situation. A year earlier, Edna Molewa, then the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, raised the possibility of attracting funds from foreign investors for the maintenance of the ageing water infrastructure, hinting at the possibility of partial privatisation of some treatment plants.

Today, almost a decade later, the government’s National and Sanitation Master Plan states that R33 billion per year for the next 10 years will be required to

achieve water security. Although we have heard many statements and promises made over the past few years, we have unfortunately seen very little action.

Plastic pipes

Electricity and water crises linked

be catastrophic and clearly a totally a non-profit organisation, we work not different ball game to interrupted only for the well-being of the plastic pipe electricity supply. industry, but also for the welfare of the people of the country. SAPPMA is responsible for ensuring Plastic pipes are dominant in secondary that the piping systems used in our Our current electricity crisis is characterised water distribution and SAPPMA represents country’s water distribution are designed, by power cuts or load-shedding, which has more than 80% of all certified pipes produced and installed in the best possible become a regular occurrence. manner and in accordance with As a nation, we have adapted international and national to this situation by way standards. We make sure of standby generators, “The message from SAPPMA that plastic pipes have a investing in solar panels or simply better planning our during this year's Water Week long-term and leak-free life. The message from activities. Not many people is therefore an urgent appeal to SAPPMA during this year's realise, however, that there is a definite interdependence government to give water and Water Week is therefore an urgent appeal to between water and energy. sewage infrastructure the high government to give water

Water is required to and sewage infrastructure generate electricity, while a priority it deserves… so that we the high priority it deserves. large portion of electricity can secure our water supply for We urge the department is used to pump and to only appoint people with distribute water. The cost future generations.” the necessary engineering and availability of electricity skills and experience into at present is therefore a big Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA positions of authority and stumbling block to desalinate allow private industry to sea water, which would form partnerships with anyway only be economically our public enterprises, so available in coastal areas (estimated at produced in South Africa. We are therefore that we can secure our water supply for 2 kWh/m3). Interrupted water supply will a key role player in water. Since we are future generations.

KEEPING UP A GOOD FLOW

The smooth, inner bore of plastic pipes minimises friction loss, requires less pumping energy and helps maintain a steady flow – contributing to significant cost savings and environmental benefits. In the case of gravity pipelines, self-cleaning velocities will be achieved at gradients not possible for traditional materials.

BENEFITS OF PLASTIC PIPES:

• requires less pumping energy

• excellent hydraulic properties regardless of age • very cost-effective • environmentally friendly Invest in good quality plastic pipes bearing the SAPPMA mark of quality for peace of mind. These pipes have been locally produced and manufacturers undergo regular, independent auditing to confirm they meet stringent local and international standards. When the pipes reach their end-of-life as water and sewer systems after 100+ years, it can be recycled and thereby play an important role in contributing to the circular economy. Visit www.sappma.co.za for more information.