Water & Sanitation March April 2018

Promoting professional excellence in the water sector The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

Water& Sanitation Complete water resource and wastewater management

Industry

Insight

Africa

Clean water. Clean technology Rowan Blomquist CEO, Macsteel Fluid Control

AquaPlan Modular treatment solutions

Wastewater The reuse conundrum in the

hot seat

National Water Week Nature’s solutions

Non-revenue water Managing pressure

“A partnership with Grundfos will offer an individual approach to each customer and a solution to any application.” Katrina Zlobich Business Development Manager, Grundfos

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March/April 2018 • ISSN 1990-8857 • R50.00 (incl. VAT) • Vol. 13 No. 2

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Vol. 13 No. 2

MARCH/APRIL 2018

CONTENTS Promoting professional excellence in the water sector The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

Water& Sanitation Complete water resource and wastewater management

INDUSTRY

INSIGHT

Africa

Clean water. Clean technology Rowan Blomquist CEO, Macsteel Fluid Control

AquaPlan Modular treatment solutions

WASTEWATER The reuse conundrum IN THE

HOT SEAT

NATIONAL WATER WEEK Nature’s solutions

NON-REVENUE WATER Managing pressure

“A partnership with Grundfos will offer an individual approach to each customer and a solution to any application.” Katrina Zlobich Business Development Manager, Grundfos

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ON THE COVER Three of South Africa’s provinces have been declared national disaster areas due to the ongoing drought, and the country as a whole faces a long-term water security challenge. AquaPlan’s modular water treatment plants may provide the answer. P4

March/April 2018 • ISSN 1990-8857 • R50.00 (incl. VAT) • Vol. 13 No. 2

Regulars

Editor’s Comment 3 Africa Round-up 14 Product & Industry News 51 Events 55

Cover Story

Modular treatment solutions

WISA

CEO’s Letter President’s Letter WISA YWP

Hot Seat

Gold-standard pumping solutions

Industry Insight

Clean water, clean technology

National Water Week

Nature for water Investing in SA’s water future Saving our water A solution for endangered wetlands Supporting the Breede River Catchment

Water Loss Management NRW – the double-edged sword

Pipes, Pumps & Valves

The original screw centrifugal pump Crafting stainless masterpieces

19 NATIONAL WATER WEEK

4

29

7 8 10

water loss management

12

16

19 21 22 24 25

29

40

DESALINATION

33 34

Sanitation

Ending the madness: To flush or not to flush Bridging the gap in sanitation

Desalination

V&A set for desalination

Wastewater

Turning waste into water Leveraging nanotechnology for reuse Reviving Stellenbosch WWTW

Technical Paper

Urban network re-engineering Part III

36 39

40

42 45 46

47

42

WASTEWATER

infrastructure news

infrastructure4

www.infrastructurene.ws

KELLER extended!

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•

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•

High data security – integrated memory, TLS encryption

•

Maximal compatibility – with all level probes and pressure transmitters

•

Status monitoring – sensors and real time clock (RTC)

•

Licence-free software – data manager and KELLER-Cloud

•

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ISM Band

Wireless manometer transmitter and remote display

LOW POWER PRESSURE SENSORS OPTIMISED FOR THE INTERNET OF THINGS

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LEO 5 manometer with LoRaWAN

RFID data loggger from the 21 DC series

K-114 BT interface converter for digital + analogue pressure gauges

LEO 5 manometer with Bluetooth Classic

RFID pressure transponder from the 21 D series

Wireless pressure transmitters with Bluetooth Smart

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Publisher Elizabeth Shorten Managing editor Alastair Currie Editor Danielle Petterson Head of design Beren Bauermeister Designer Janine Schacherl Chief sub-editor Tristan Snijders Sub-editor Morgan Carter Contributors Edoardo Bertone, Jay Bhagwan, Guilherme Franklin de Oliveira, Amanda Gcanga, Lester Goldman, Nora Hanke-Louw, Annabel Horn, Wilma Kloppers, Valerie Naidoo, Khoi Nguyen, Kelvin O’Halloran, Oz Sahin, Rodney Stewart, Hong Zhang Client services & production manager Antois-Leigh Botma Distribution manager Nomsa Masina Distribution coordinator Asha Pursotham Financial manager Andrew Lobban Printers United Litho Johannesburg t +27 (0)11 402 0571 Advertising sales Hanlie Fintelman / Jenny Miller t +27 (0)11 467 6223 h.fintelman@telkomsa.net / jennymiller@lantic.net Publisher

Physical address: No 9, 3rd Avenue, Rivonia, 2191 Postal address: PO Box 92026, Norwood, 2117, South Africa t +27 (0)11 233 2600 • f +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 alastair@3smedia.co.za ISSN: 1990 - 8857 Annual subscription: R330 (SA rate) subs@3smedia.co.za Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. All articles herein are copyright

protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publishers. The views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Water Institute of Southern Africa or the publishers.

www.ewisa.co.za 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 BRANCHES Eastern Cape Chairperson: Selby Thabethe Tel: +27 (0)41 506 2862 | Email: ssthabethe@vodamail.co.za Secretary: Christopher Maduma Tel: +27 (0)41 506 7527 | Email: cmaduma@mandelametro.gov.za Free State Chairperson: Sabelo Mkhize Tel: +27 (0)53 830 6681 | Email: smkhize@solplaatje.org.za Secretary: Noeline Basson Cell: +27 (0)71 362 3622 | Email: ndb@malachi3.co.za KwaZulu-Natal Chairperson: Vishnu Mabeer Tel: +27 (0)31 311 8684 | Email: vishnu.mabeer@durban.gov.za Treasurer: Renelle Pillay Email: PillayR@dws.gov.za Limpopo Chairperson: Paradise Shilowa Cell: +27 (0)79 905 9013 | Email: paradises@polokwane.gov.za Secretary: Salome Sathege Tel: +27 (0)15 290 2535 | Email: salomes@polokwane.gov.za Mpumalanga Chairperson: Susan van Heerden Cell: +27 (0)82 800 3137 | Email: susanvanhd@gmail.com Secretary: Theo Dormehl Cell: +27 (0)83 294 0745 | Email: dormehl@soft.co.za Namibia Chairperson: Dr Vaino Shivute Secretary: Kristina Afomso Tel: +264 61 712080 | Email: afomsok@namwater.com.na

editor’s COMMENT

On the brink of collapse

A

lthough it has barely begun, 2018 has been a year of big changes for South Africa. We welcomed a new president and with him a new cabinet, including a new Minister of Water and Sanitation.

Former minister Nomvula Mokonyane faced a great deal of criticism during her tenure as leader of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). Most recently, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane and Western Cape Premier Hellen Zille laid the blame of the drought crisis squarely on Mokonyane’s shoulders, pointing out that the responsibility to provide bulk water lies with the National DWS. But this may be the tip of the iceberg. While Mokonyane’s tenure was clouded by allegations of corruption and the DWS has been under suspicion of financial mismanagement for some time, new reports have emerged suggesting the situation is dire.

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts is reportedly opening a criminal case against the DWS relating to a R2.9 billion overdraft that the department may have illegally obtained from the Reserve Bank. On top of this, investigations are already under way into irregular expenditure amounting to billions, tender irregularities involving Limpopo’s Giyani Emergency Project, and the delay of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

The newly sworn-in Minister of Water and Sanitation, Gugile Nkwinti, appears to be inheriting a collapsing, potentially bankrupt department at a time when some of our cities and towns are on the brink of running out of water.

Given the situation, a change in leadership may be exactly what the DWS needs.

However, given the ongoing drought, a restructuring within the department and a minister with no experience in the water sector could potentially disrupt the process and create delays and confusion in the department’s drought response efforts.

Danielle

Budgeting for water Encouragingly, former Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba pledged governmental financial assistance to the water crisis in his 2018 Budget Speech.

This includes a provisional allocation of R6 billion set aside in 2018/19 for several purposes, including drought relief and the augmentation of public infrastructure investment. In the short term, disaster relief grants worth R473 million have been allocated for provinces and municipalities in 2018/19.

The DWS has said it is doing everything it can to assist the Western Cape, including drilling for water from the Table Mountain Group aquifer and tapping into the last 10% of water at the Theewaterskloof Dam. However, South Africa continues to have among the highest levels of per capita daily domestic water consumption levels in the world, despite also having some of the highest levels of inequality in reliable access to water.

Turning around a collapsing DWS, staving off Day Zero and changing people’s attitudes to water will not be an easy task and Nkwinti is clearly going to have his work cut out for him. Let us hope that this marks a positive turnaround for South Africa’s water sector.

Promoting professional excellence in the water sector

Western Cape Chairperson: Natasia van Binsbergen Tel: +27 (0)21 448 6340 | Email: natasia@alabbott.co.za Secretary: Wilma Grebe Tel: +27 (0)21 887 7161 | Email: wgrebe@wamsys.co.za

The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

Water& Sanitation Complete water resource and wastewater management

INDUSTRY

INSIGHT

WISA’s Vision

AquaPlan

The promotion of professional excellence in the water sector, through building expertise, sharing knowledge and improving quality of life.

Endorsed by

Africa

Clean water. Clean technology Rowan Blomquist CEO, Macsteel Fluid Control

Modular treatment solutions

Cover opportunity In each issue, Water&Sanitation Africa offers companies the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the magazine. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story and maximum exposure. For more information, contact

WASTEWATER The reuse conundrum IN THE

HOT SEAT

NATIONAL WATER WEEK Nature’s solutions

NON-REVENUE WATER Managing pressure

Hanlie Fintelman on +27 (0)11 467 6223, or email h.fintelman@telkomsa.net.

“A partnership with Grundfos will offer an individual approach to each customer and a solution to any application.” Katrina Zlobich Business Development Manager, Grundfos

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March/April 2018 • ISSN 1990-8857 • R50.00 (incl. VAT) • Vol. 13 No. 2

M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

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Modular

treatment solutions

S

outh Africa’s urban areas generally Quick, easy deployment According to Johan, AquaPlan was experience water services of a high engaged to supply the plant due to the standard. However, water supply remains a challenge in many rural ease of deployment and delivery speed of areas that are without its modular solution. The project formalised infrastructure. took only eight months – six Given South Africa’s needs, months to build the Johan Bieseman, managing package plant off-site With three of South director, AquaPlan, and a further two Africa’s provinces believes that modular months to install. treatment plants Civil works onhaving been declared offer a cost- and site took only drought disaster regions, time-effective eight weeks the country as a whole faces solution. His company and ran in a long-term water security recently installed parallel with the a 10 MLD modular manufacturing challenge. Modular water plant in Msinga in rural process. treatment plants may KwaZulu-Natal. The The 10 MLD provide an answer. skid-mounted packaged plant consists of plant will treat surface water 12 modular skids for up to 200 000 residents over over a 20 m x 30 m area. the next 20 years.

The 3.6 m x 12 m skids are all pre-manufactured and integrated on a complete 3D model before installation.

“This is a top-end package plant and the quick-and-easy deployment makes this a very cost-effective solution for municipalities,” says Johan. He compares it to a conventional 6 MLD civil structured water

treatment plant AquaPlan built in Molepo, Limpopo. The conventional plant required 50% more capital and 100% more installation time compared to the modular plant.

“This begs the question: why would you opt for a conventional plant over the modular solution?” asks Johan.

Simple operation Although modular, this is a standard water treatment plant. Unit operations include river abstraction, coagulation, flocculation, clarification, sand filtration, disinfection, and high-pressure pumping into the distribution network.

According to Johan, the plant is easy to operate and comes with semi-automated controls, integrated PLC, full electrical and instrumentation wiring and easy start-up. AquaPlan is currently entering the commissioning phase and will soon hand over the plant to be operated by the district municipality using operational staff sourced from the local community.

“We’re excited about the possibilities these modular plants offer and, given South Africa’s water situation, it is clear that the country needs many plants like these and there will be pressure on government to roll them out,” Johan concludes.

AquaPlan has built several water treatment plants over the past two years. Highlights include:

COVER STORY

8 MLD Water Treatment Plant • • • •

Total project time: 6 to 8 months Time on-site: 2 months Footprint: 20 m x 30 m Lifespan: 25+ years

4 MLD Water Treatment Plant • • • •

Total project time: 4 to 6 months Time on-site: 1½ months Footprint: 20 m x 18 m Lifespan: 25+ years

2 MLD Water Treatment Plant • • • •

Total project time: 2 months Time on-site: 1 month Footprint: 12 m x 10 m Lifespan: 25+ years

3D model of the Msinga modular treatment plant www.aquaplansa.co.za M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

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WISA • CEO’s Comment

The true

professionals

C

arrying the moniker ‘professional’ is an indicator of trust and expertise.

It implies belonging to a group of individuals who adhere to certain standards and who possess a high degree of knowledge and skills, acknowledged by their peers and the public. Professionals are willing to apply their knowledge and skills in the best interest of others.

Many mistakenly think academic qualifications or years of experience in a specific field denote professionalism.

A professional should, however, in their individual capacity, profess a commitment to competence, integrity and morality, altruism, and the promotion of the public good within their expert domain.

In our culture of anomie – evident in a lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group – integrity and morality appear to be up for sale to the highest bidder. Altruism and the public good seem to be on a private plane heading somewhere else. Yet, the Cape Town water crisis confirms

Dr Lester Goldman, CEO, WISA

that professions – and professionals – are alive and kicking. Numerous professionals serving the water sector are up in arms about the crisis, protesting in public and private confines, and expressing confusion about what led us to this situation.

The lament of the water professional They are frustrated, because they are true professionals. They are competent, have integrity and morality, and their altruistic setting makes them genuinely worried about the public. Yet sometimes, their very sense of professionalism is being questioned by the public.

Water professionals know that they have provided all manner of knowledge and skill to assist in this crisis. They have grouped together, met with, spoken to, and advised on causes, solutions and concerns since the start of this devastating drought. They have cautioned, raised alarm bells and sometimes acted out of their preferred behind-the-scenes character, to ensure that the warning bells are rung loudly. They have grouped together, gotten their professional bodies involved, and spoken out.

Those water practitioners who have spoken out and participated in solutions have been, and are, true professionals. And yet, when the blame game started, fingers were pointed at them and their profession.

Professionals are at the core of service delivery and seldom have they been more needed than during the water crisis we are currently facing, writes Dr Lester Goldman.

So much so that they began doubting themselves and questioning whether they had done enough.

Their frustration is only matched by their passion. And it is this passion that continues this cycle of warning bells, further contact and further disappointment.

Professionals reading this, I understand your intent – you are frustrated, you are shocked, you are sad, you are mad.

You cannot believe where we are, how we got here, and you so desperately want to change this. You so wish that your advice and support had been listened to and acted upon. You so wish that everyone carries the hearts of the public within. I know, because I feel that way too.

I cannot make the situation better, but I do want to commend you. I salute you, professionals of the water sector.

Hopefully, one day, politics will be practised by those that are professional in every sense of the word.

M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

7

WISA

President ’s comment

Celebrating National Water Week WISA president Dr Valerie Naidoo highlights the value of South Africa’s National Water Week and how access to water can be made possible through nature.

Dr Valerie Naidoo, president, WISA

T

here will probably be some major institutional and governance shifts in the water sector in the next few years.

I say ‘probably’ because we will have to wait and see if the Department of Water and Sanitation is able to deliver on what it sees as major weaknesses. What I do know is that legislation and policy are only enablers and that, ultimately, people are the key to making things happen on the ground.

Only time will tell if collapsing all Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) into a single CMA will be the answer to better governance, improvements on contestations, water use licensing, and the improvement of stewardship of water resources by all water users. In addition, the Water and Sanitation Masterplan is basing improvements in water sector management on the review and alignment of the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) and Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997) as the answer to several current challenges.

However, we do know that challenges lie not only at local level but also at national level in terms of the vacancies, skills and competencies of the national department.

As WISA, we hope that all our patron members as well as the members of our divisions and branches provide significant inputs into these processes and engage with the department as well as the sector at large.

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

National Water Week This month, I would like to bring to the attention of our members the National Water Week, which takes place from 18 to 24 March 2018. The theme for this year is ‘Access to safe water by 2030 – possible through nature’. I urge members to use this period of significant news coverage to raise awareness of key water issues and ensure that we are releasing the correct information and having healthy and robust conversations about the science and technologies that facilitate understanding and not panic. In other words, let us strengthen our conversations and understand other perspectives as well as we do our own.

South Africa has come a long way since 1994 when a significant percentage of our population did not have access to clean and safe water. However, 23 years later, we have not managed to provide in the truest sense of the phrase ‘equitable and safe access to all’, with only 96% of the populace having access. This figure is also debatable due to the lower reliability and assurance of supply owing to governance failings, scarcity, lack of infrastructure and financial sustainability.

Protecting surface water systems Currently, South Africa draws 86% of its water supply from surface water, with dams and catchments being our main capture and storage facilities. We, therefore, need to manage the protection

of water resources and the environment, which provides the ecosystem services to our water resources, significantly better. Research has shown disturbing trends in our catchments, namely: the eutrophication of water bodies, siltation of our dams, deterioration of our wetlands and rivers, and the inability of our catchment management agencies to function as designed.

Eutrophication and water quality issues are a result of the poor regulatory control and enforcement of point source pollution from wastewater treatment plants, potential weaknesses in our licensing process, and non-point-source pollution from agricultural-based activities and other land-based activities.

Some of our compromised water systems now require innovative technologies and approaches to deal with both the cause and symptoms. This will come at a cost and require time to rehabilitate.

Wastewater treatment systems will require full operations and maintenance budgets of at least 10% to ensure that they perform at an optimised level. To date, very few municipalities budget adequately for operations and maintenance and very few have or are able to retain the right skills. Hence, it may require a different intervention than simply waiting for the SETAs to deliver skills to the sector.

Coordination and diversification Poor investment in environmental management has led to soil erosion,

WISA

wetland deterioration and water quality challenges, which have compromised river health and dams. Siltation is a significant problem in South Africa and will require innovative interventions to ensure that the full storage capacity of our dams is retained. This is critical in a water-scarce country. Wetlands provide significant ecological services around attenuation, treatment and flood control. According to a Sanbi study in 2010, almost 45% to 60% of South African wetlands and river systems are endangered or critical.

This calls for a coordinated effort by the various departments and associations to create programmes based on well researched guidelines that will rehabilitate our water and environmental systems by 2030.

Access to safe water by 2030 will also require a diversification of the water supply mix, and the Cape Town drought has taught us that the time of continuous feasibility testing of the options that research and development is putting forward is over.

We need to learn by doing and cities need to increase their sustainability index by ensuring that their water supply is a combination of surface/groundwater – including aquifer recharge, rainwater

President ’s comment

harvesting, stormwater harvesting and reuse, and the reclamation of wastewater.

Desalination is also part of that mix but not the only option, as the mainstream media continuously puts forward.

With these technological solutions will also come a need to relook SANS241 and gear up for emerging contaminants. The most critical part of providing access to all by 2030 will be our ability as a society to roll out effective water conservation and demand management programmes across all local municipalities, in order to reduce our non-revenue water to between 10% and 15%. This will require a significant change in the behaviour of both our public sector water professionals as well as all citizens of South Africa.

WISA Y WP

YWP-ZA is growing up: 10 years in South Africa

T

he YWP-ZA was established as a programme of the International Water Association (IWA) and, to this day, YWP-ZA remains a proud part of IWA while firmly sitting under the Water Institute of Southern Africa.

From a bunch of friends ‘scheming’ in their living room, we are now made up of 12 national committee members and have active chapters in seven provinces. Personal connections, diversity and the representation of all South Africans have carried us through the last 10 years.

While some things have remained the same over the years, others have had to change with the expansion of the network and in order to remain relevant to YWPs. The water sector, like the rest of South Africa, is hit by large-scale youth unemployment and, irreconcilably, open job positions. In order to address our members’ biggest concern – access to employment and other career opportunities – YWP-ZA has undergone a subtle shift from an academic to a competency focus.

Meaningful networking YWP-ZA has always had a far reach and YWPs flock to our events. The very first conference in 2010 attracted 300 delegates and outperformed expectations when two people put in R250 of their own funds to kick-start the process.

Since we started tracking event attendance in 2014, we have reached over 4 000 young professionals across South Africa and, to some extent, beyond.

The large majority of our events are free of charge, which has been achieved by maintaining strong and long-lasting partnerships, some of which started in 2008. South Africa has also been hosting the largest gatherings of YWPs worldwide at our biennial conferences. In 2017, we hosted the fifth in the series – a Tier 1 IWA international conference attended by over 300 delegates.

The biennial conferences continue to allow YWPs – especially first-time

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

The year 2018 is a proud one for the South African Young Water Professionals (YWP-ZA): we are 10 years old. We have grown considerably since our founding in 2008 by a bunch of visionary and enthusiastic friends to where we are today, as the largest YWP Division in the world.

By Nora Hanke-Louw, YWP-ZA Chairperson presenters – to showcase their academic presentations. However, the programme is increasingly looking at practical skills that range from soft to technical. At the 2017 event, we also dedicated an entire afternoon to a career fair. These sessions are immensely popular and not only distinguish YWP-ZA events from other sector programmes, but showcase the continued gaps in young people’s enabling environment across the board.

Supporting the youth While the conferences are a focal point for us, YWP-ZA is also running two additional flagship projects: Imvelisi Enviropreneurs and the publication workshop series.

Imvelisi enables young people with a business idea in the biodiversity sector to test, expand and take off in their own business while making a difference in the sustainable development of this country. The Department of Science and Technology has funded the programme over the last three years and assisted 130 young people with the seed of an idea.

YWP-ZA National Publication Roadshows, hosted in 2014 and 2016, were organised with the financial support of the South African Water Research Commission. In order to strengthen the impact, reach and sustainability, we published the freely available Publishing for Young Water Professionals handbook.

The importance of this handbook for YWPs cannot be understated: young voices deserve to, and indeed must, be heard

in the world, whether from Africa, Asia or North America. As funding for universities worldwide becomes more and more constrained, student support services are often the first to be affected. The aim of this initiative was to address these gaps and effectively take the voice of young professionals to the world by allowing them to become published writers in both high-impact and popular journals.

With the explosion of social media over the last 10 years, we now send out job offers in the water sector, mainly in South Africa, through our email newsletter, Facebook page and Twitter. Some of our posts are read over 2 000 times on Facebook alone, within a few hours.

WISA Y WP National Committee

Immediate Past Chairperson, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Provincial Chairs, Ad hoc members (e.g.

Conference Organising Committee Chair)

The National Committee, where possible, is constituted from provincial committee members (two year term).

Provincial Committees

Provincial committees are nominated with support from the provincial committee and elected (two year term).

Provincial Committee REQUIRED POSITIONS: Provincial Chairperson, Provincial Vice Chairperson, Secretary/Treasurer

International Water Association (IWA) YWP is a programme of the IWA and interacts closely with the IWA head office. YWP-ZA represents the Southern African region on the IWA YWP Steering Committee.

Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA)

3

Partnerships: Apart from in-kind support for events, this is your network. Draw on your employers, interested parties and other young people’s networks. You would be surprised how quickly your network grows – people get to know you and the opportunities springing from these contacts.

YWP is a division of WISA and has a seat on the board and Council Structures.

OPTIONAL POSITIONS: Immediate Past Chair, Institutional champions Up to eight Committee members

The national committee has become a hub of knowledge and companies regularly contact us to send out their vacancies or other opportunities. The new communication channels pose their own challenges: tracking responses, different mediums for different messages, the time it takes to update, the pressure to remain on top of posts and messages on the various media platforms, dealing with negative or derogatory comments (which are, fortunately, very rare), etc. For volunteer networks, this adds considerable pressures and yet is key to remaining relevant to members.

For me, these activities represent the essence of what the YWP programme is all about: it supports the capacity building of the organisers and participants, and, by extension, the water sector.

Lessons learned As with any young organisation that has undergone rapid growth, we have had to adopt policies, strategies and processes while trying to remain open, innovative and flexible. Through these processes, YWP-ZA has also developed a peer-to-peer learning network – from the

national committee to the provinces. The provincial chapters in turn are establishing YWP networks with local partners. The hunger of young South Africans to be part of a network – a professional home – is immense.

Here are some of the lessons we have learned over the course of our 10-year history: Be realistic: Budget, time to put the event together, support by partners, attendance, etc. We recommend chapters run one event every quarter. If you can attract 15 people, you have done well in the provinces. Try to get in-kind support from your partners to minimise tedious financial management and often gain easier access to venues, food and drinks, etc.

1

2

Ownership: You cannot copy-paste another organisation’s policies, plans, strategies or events. Each setting has its own processes and partners, and you have to mould your network to be able to work within these conditions. This requires time and effort but will pay off in the long-run.

4

Remain fun: Whatever activities you run, make sure they remain fun for everyone, even the organisers. Organise events that you want to attend and that address your problems. Want to know more about finances? Organise a finance workshop and invite other people to join you.

The spirit of volunteerism that has carried YWP-ZA over 10 years has been remarkable. No single individual has been remunerated for their contribution and their time has been freely given. This demonstrates what a committed group of volunteers can achieve and the difference they can make. It is for this reason that I am proud to be a YWP! As my term as national committee chairperson is almost coming to an end (June 2018), it has been an honour to lead YWP-ZA over the last two years. It is not an exaggeration to say that I have gained a second family and I would like to deeply thank everyone (funders and patient family members) who have been part of this journey and supported us.

National and provincial chairs’ contact details: National Chair

Nora Hanke-Louw

norahankelouw@gmail.com

Gauteng Chair

Sivuyile Pezulu

sivuyile.pezulu@gmail.com

Eastern Cape Chair

Sipho Mashiyi

sipho.mashiyi@outlook.com

KwaZulu-Natal Chair

Lindelani Sibiya

lindelani.sibiya@umgeni.co.za

Limpopo Chair

Vuledzani Maiyana

vmaiyana@gmail.com

Mpumalanga Chair

Zanele Sifundza

zanele.sifundza@dpw.gov.za

North West Chair

Guzene O’Reilly

guzenephd@gmail.com

Western Cape Chair

Paul Viljoen

pviljoen2@gmail.com

The YWP-ZA national committee M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

11

HOT SEAT

Gold-standard pumping solutions

Katrina Zlobich, business development manager, Grundfos

What are the challenges South Africa faces when it comes to addressing mine water?

KZ Mine processes create acid mine drainage – the acidic water that is created when sulfide minerals are exposed to air and water through a natural chemical reaction.

Mine water effluent needs to be treated for reuse within the plant or safe discharge to the environment to avoid contaminating other natural resources.

The cost of energy means that water treatment technologies and associated products, particularly pumps, should be as energy-efficient as possible. For a long-term solution, sustainability is vital to any system and, as such, the selection of processes and products plays a big role in overall sustainability.

Which processes and stages of mining does Grundfos offer pumping solutions for?

Grundfos is a world leader in the supply of pumping solutions for mine water utilities, from raw water intake to water treatment, recycling and disposal. We offer mining companies a long-term partnership, which includes the expertise to meet their needs in every requirement for a reliable pump solution, be it for surface, open-pit or underground mining. Grundfos pumps

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

Mine water applications require specialised pumping technology.

Katrina Zlobich, business development manager, Grundfos, talks to Water&Sanitation Africa about Grundfos’ holistic offering to the mining industry. are built to last, even under the toughest working conditions.

Apart from initial transport and slurry pumps, Grundfos can supply to all processes and stages at the mine, even if water contains abrasives such as sand or is in a low pH environment, for aggressive media, such as leachate solutions, or liquids used for cleaning and maintenance.

A partnership with Grundfos will offer an individual approach to each customer and a solution to any application. We offer great reliability and robust solutions, which ensure a high level of security for operations.

dosing solutions can cover small to large applications in basic or advanced functionality, depending on customers’ needs. To insure compliance with water-quality requirements, we offer the Grundfos DID online water analyser, which can be fitted with a variety of sensors, able to measure up to three different water parameters on single controller.

Open-pit drainage/dewatering: Grundfos dewatering pumps are designed to work in the toughest environments and can be found in mining applications and offshore industries worldwide. We can supply dewatering pumps for durable use and heavy flows that can be installed dry or submerged, available in higher-grade material and anti-corrosion versions for severe conditions. Surface-mounted axle-driven pumps are also available if the depth requirements are limited.

The solid cast iron construction and narrow What products and solutions does Grundfos design characteristics of the Grundfos DWK dewatering pumps range make this pump offer for mine applications?

Grundfos offers a variety of products for mine applications, such as: Mine water utility and water treatment: There are several different methods for mine water treatment, including precipitation, reverse osmosis and ion exchange. Grundfos can supply pump solutions from submersible to end-suction pumps as well as our state-of-the-art vertical multistage centrifugal range (CR). This year, we are launching a larger Grizzly CR pump range, which offers a maximum flow up to 225 m3/h and up to 40 bar pressure.

Mine water treatment includes a variety of chemical dosing. Our complete range of

hot seat pump systems and insuring trouble-free operation. Grundfos can supply the specialist expertise to help meet your performance objectives, from the initial identification of needs to the selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of the pumping solution.

ideal for pits, temporary or permanent installations and offer high-pressure pump performance unhindered by sand, small stones or other abrasives.

In cases where more mobility is required, Grundfos offers its DW range of pumps, which are lightweight, providing extra mobility.

Peripheral dewatering: Peripheral dewatering and the maintenance of a constant water level typically involve a number of wells installed around open-pit mines.

Grundfos can offer a flexible and effective solution for removing clean or dirty water with particles and adjusting water levels with boreholes from 30 m to 600 m. Highergrade material and anticorrosion versions for pumps and motors are also available for severe conditions with low or high pH and chlorides.

For example, Grundfos can supply SP pumps with an empty chamber that offers a fast and effective solution when greater depth and power are required by replacing the impeller in the chamber.

In situ leaching: In situ leaching is a process of recovering minerals such as copper and uranium through boreholes drilled into the formation, without the need for conventional mining. Grundfos can supply submersible and end-suction pumps that ensure effective pumping.

Leachate solutions vary according to the ore deposit. This places heavy demands on pump construction, and Grundfos

Do you utilise sensors and monitoring technology for early problem detection?

Automation is critical for mining applications. Grundfos’ solutions include early warning notifications and logging systems for plant optimisation, energy savings and safe operation. Although the majority of our products are pumps, Grundfos focuses on developing in-house electronics and controls for optimal pump performance and protection (VSD, motor protection relays, motor controllers).

We also have our GRM (Grundfos Remote Management) program, which allows for full monitoring and control of systems remotely.

Our communication modules can be linked to other available Scada or communication systems. We offer a wide range of sensors that can be adapted to these systems to prevent damage but also ensure that systems are maintained and serviced at regular intervals.

How do you ensure low life-cycle costs for your pumps?

Grundfos intelligent control units, if installed, ensure that the system always operates at optimal efficiency and performance, and even has functionality to request services on certain wear and tear items installed in the pumps. This leads to systems increasing their lifespan significantly.

offers customised pumps for in situ leaching. Pumps ranges are available built with high-grade steel or, in some cases, titanium, and with a magnetic drive or various kinds of shaft seal solutions.

With possible great fluctuations in demand for performance and multiple pumps installed, adding variable frequency drives will equalise the hydraulic load to the wells, automatically adjusting pump speed to the required demand with state-of-the-art controls.

How do you ensure your pumps can withstand the corrosive properties of mine water?

Correct material selection is the most important method of corrosion prevention, prolonging the lifespan of

What service agreements do you offer for mining applications?

Our service agreements recognise the greater requirements for maintenance in mining applications. A partnership with Grundfos focuses more on the pumping solution than the pump itself. We remain with our customers for the entire project and plant life cycle, offering pump performance witness testing, commissioning agreements to ensure correct installation, and service level agreements that cover all operational cases, from routine maintenance to spare parts and pump audits.

www.grundfos.com M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

13

Water and sanitation in Africa

Egypt Mega desal scheme in sight Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has announced his intention to build a mega desalination plant in response to waterscarcity concerns.

Currently, Egypt relies almost entirely on the Nile River for water, but the country has long expressed concerns that the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will affect the water flow it receives.

It has been suggested that filling up the new dam will reduce Nile water flowing into Egypt by an estimated 20%, and the desalination project is proposed to combat the challenge this would pose.

Once completed, GERD is expected to be the biggest hydroelectric dam in Africa,

with capacity to generate 6 450 MW. While Egypt has long opposed the dam being built by Ethiopia, talks between the two countries over sharing Nile River water broke down late last year.

No further details of the desalination project have been unveiled.

Ghana

without water for more than two days.

The dry season and pollution have been fingered as the cause of the water shortages and residents have been advised to use water sparingly.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, has described the state of sanitation in the country as wholly unacceptable.

He stated that government is working with the private sector to tackle this challenge.

This will include approaches to change people’s attitudes towards waste generation, as well as to methods to dramatically improve waste management. The provision of water and toilets is also expected to move higher on all development agency agendas.

Ghana has received

US$3 million in funding to develop an Integrated Urban Environmental Sanitation Master Plan, which will complement all existing strategies in the sanitation, drainage and water management subsectors to holistically deal with sanitation and waste.

Kenya Drought threatens hydro Kenya is facing the possibility of having to close the Masinga Dam due to low water levels.

The 40 MW Masinga Hydroelectric Power Station will be unable to generate electricity if water levels drop too much. Kenya relies

No water, plenty of waste Ghana has implemented water rationing as water resources run low due to drought conditions.

Most cities and towns across the country are experiencing intermittent supply and the Ghana Water Company (GWC) is working on a timetable.

However, the GWC has assured residents that no community will be Ghana has implemented water rationing due to drought

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AFRICA ROUND-UP Word from around Africa – including the latest industry, project and development news.

Drought is threatening Kenya’s hydropower production capacity

mainly on hydroelectricity and will have to turn to more costly alternatives if the drought persists.

Sondu Miriu Hydroelectric Power Station has already been affected by low water levels and is producing less than 10 MW, against a capacity of 80 MW.

Namibia Namibia-Botswana desalination plant Talks are still under way around the construction of a shared desalination plant by Namibia and Botswana.

The potential project was first discussed in mid-2016 and recently reaffirmed

by Botswana’s president, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, on a visit to Namibia.

Khama stated at the signing of a boundary treaty between the two countries: “We are exploring the possibility of a desalination plant. Both Namibia and Botswana are highly challenged when it comes to water resources.” For example, neither country has experienced good rains over the past year, he added.

“There is going to come a

time when the rain or rivers coming from the north will not provide sufficient water.

So, we are exploring the possibility of setting up a common desalination plant.”

The treaty will jointly govern the use of the shared water resources between Namibia and Botswana along the Kwando, Linyanti and Chobe rivers.

the Great Ruaha River's ecology system in south-western Tanzania. The basin offers a range of opportunities, including agriculture and hydropower generation, but faces long dry seasons and has experienced several years of below-average rainfall.

Uganda Water scheme increases network Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has commissioned a 200 km gravity water scheme to focus on irrigation farming in the Manafwa District. Funded by the

President Museveni of Uganda has urged Manafwa residents to use a new gravity water scheme for farming

Ugandan government and the African Development Bank, the first phase of the USh36 billion (R115 million) scheme has the capacity to deliver 1 296 m3 of treated water to over 500 households per day.

The second phase, which has already been launched, will cover all Manafwa and some parts of the Mbale District.

Museveni has urged residents to use the water for both drinking and irrigation, so as to increase crop production in the dry season.

Tanzania Better basin management Tanzania plans to boost the management of its nine water basins, which are considered key to the country's socioeconomic development.

According to the Minister for Water and Irrigation, Isack Kamwele, the national government plans to allocate more funds to water management in the current financial year as well as carry out a large-scale eviction operation to remove people who have invaded the country's water sources.

Part of this water management will include checking basins for environmental degradation.

The government launched a special team to salvage

FA ST FACT S

200 km

$3 million

20%

Uganda has commissioned a 200 km gravity water scheme in Manafwa

Ghana has received US$3 million to develop a sanitation master plan

Egypt predicts that the GERD will reduce its water flow from the Nile by ~20%

M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

15

Industry Insight

Clean water, clean technology Rowan Blomquist

CEO, Macsteel Fluid Control

A

multi-barrier approach to filtration is becoming increasingly important as regulatory requirements, community demands and the need to protect increasingly complex and costly systems mount.

However, according to Blomquist adding the parameter of ‘least environmental impact’ has a significant effect on the technologies that best fit multi-barrier systems.

Operators and other water suppliers must evaluate water treatment options not only for their efficacy at removing a wider array of contaminants – which are continually being detected at ever-lower levels – but also on clean technology criteria.

This means drinking water processes must conserve energy, use minimal chemicals, occupy less space and generate less waste.

Originally developed in Israel for irrigation applications, automatic self-cleaning filters are extremely efficient overall. Only recently have they been recognised for their clean technology benefits in drinking water treatment.

Macsteel Fluid Control is the sole franchise holder for customised water filtration specialist Amiad in Southern Africa. Through this partnership, Macsteel is able to supply a range of automatic self-cleaning filters to the local market.

Minimising energy and water consumption Blomquist explains that the automatic self-cleaning filters integrate a set of screens to provide a balance of strength, filtering capacity and filtration.

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

In response to consumer demand, municipalities are being tasked to provide the safest, most cost-effective water with the least environmental impact. WASA speaks to Rowan Blomquist, CEO, Macsteel Fluid Control, about the benefits of self-cleaning filters for water treatment.

When sediment builds up on the inside of the filter, a self-cleaning mechanism of small nozzles is engaged to allow the filter cake to exit the filter in a concentrated stream. Water loss to backflush is minimal (typically less than 1% of the flow) and the filter continues operating during the self-cleaning cycle.

Operating an automatic self-cleaning filter demands minimal energy.

A fractional horsepower motor, which draws just 0.5 amps at 220/440 V 3-phase power, is all that is required to rotate the cleaning scanners. Because these filters are highly focused and efficient, they yield minimal initial head loss compared to media filters. This translates into significant energy saving of over 50% compared to sand media filters, which require more pumping to restore head pressure after filtration.

Water consumption is also minimal with automatic self-cleaning filters. Backwash water is less than 1% of the total flow through the filter. Automatic self-cleaning filters, therefore, consume less than one-quarter of the backwash required to clean a media filter with the same filtration capacity Blomquist notes.

In addition, no polymers, filter aids or flocculating chemicals are required, reducing costs, maintenance time and employee exposure to chemicals.

Their filtration efficiency also often allows water treatment providers to add less chlorine to maintain target disinfection residuals.

Reduced footprint (per volume of water filtered) is another significant benefit. Automatic self-cleaning filters do not require storage tanks for water or sand media, so they can deliver

equal filtration capacity on a small fraction of the footprint required for other filtration technologies. Besides taking up less space, these filters require less demand for costly structural materials, like concrete and steel, for the same amount of filtering capacity.

The versatility of these filters, in terms of the particulates that they can filter, the clean technology benefits they deliver and the scalability of the systems, can be seen in how they provide the clean technology benefits in three different types of drinking water systems opines Blomquist.

Complementing or replacing media filters In municipal water treatment plants, automatic self-cleaning filters are replacing or complementing media filtration, offering lower levels of disinfection by-products and reduced energy demand.

Pre-filtration with these filters significantly reduces turbidity (measured as both TSS and NTUs) of influent water with minimal space requirements, energy consumption and water used in backwashing.

The result is a cleaner, more efficient operation of the main filtration system, lower labour requirements, reduced use of chemicals and significant reduction in the release of media filter backwash water.

Labour and maintenance costs are similarly reduced Blomquist notes.

Industry Insight

Pre-filtration protects RO and UF membranes Desalination and grey-water reuse have put significant emphasis on ultrafiltration (UF) and RO membrane technologies.

According to Nature (March 2008), more than 40 million m3 of desalinated water is produced daily by approximately 15 000 desalination plants worldwide, and production is expected to rise dramatically.

South Africa is now turning to desalination to combat the ongoing drought.

Blomquist explains that these outstanding systems are extremely effective at removing suspended particles and organisms down to the unicellular level, as well as dissolved solids; however, they can be compromised by larger particles, which reduce membrane life and efficiency and demand costly, chemical-intensive cleaning.

Before RO and UF membranes, automatic self-cleaning filters offer valuable protection by removing biological organisms, organic matter and inorganic compounds, such as precipitated salts, metal hydroxides, clay, silt and other silica-based materials. Acting as a pre-filter, they increase recovery rates and lessen chemical consumption and disposal for membrane cleaning, he notes.

In addition to the reduction in chemical cleaning needs, automatic self-cleaning filters provide a clean technology solution by reducing the prodigious energy budget of the desalination process.

Building-scale systems In urban environments, automatic filters are serving as POE filtration systems to protect water and HVAC systems in critical environments (such as hospitals) and as pre-filtration for POU purification systems in high-rise buildings.

Most cities’ municipal water is of excellent quality; however, ageing infrastructure and common sediments in urban plumbing systems, primarily silt and pipe scale, can degrade water quality after treatment.

Even where health is not at risk, consumers are increasingly demanding bottled-water-quality tap water. To address that demand and gain a competitive advantage, some high-end metropolitan developers are installing POE pre-filtration systems in luxury high-rises.

This ‘twice-filtered water’ is the best tap water a city dweller can drink, and outperforms bottled water in taste, cost and sustainability comparisons. It also enables residents to maintain individual tap water filtration systems, such as carbon filtration units, with minimal disruption, Blomquist adds.

Where green construction is the goal, developers are integrating automatic self-cleaning filters with UV disinfection equipment to treat collected stormwater run-off for reuse.

Customised water filtration solutions Access to clean water is one of the world’s greatest challenges. For more than 40 years, Amiad has helped meet this vital need by providing outstanding filtration technology to industrial, municipal and irrigation users around the world. Amiad’s pledge is to deliver clean water using

clean technology.

Its filtration systems are, therefore, more than just effective and reliable, they’re environmentally sound: no chemicals, no polymers, a bare minimum of backflush water and reduced energy demand. In addition, many of the systems don’t even require electricity and their small footprints save valuable installation space.

Amiad’s experience and world-leading products, combined with Macsteel’s footprint, form an ideal combination – one that aims to assist with filtration requirements in South Africa’s water-scarce environment.

“Water is dynamic and changes frequently, though one fact remains constant and undeniable – clean water is needed everywhere. Essentially, clean water is life,” says Dori Ivzori, President and CEO – Amiad water systems.

Conclusion Improvements in filtration performance – especially with regard to increasing throughput, improving selectivity and reducing clogging – have a major impact on the economics of existing filtration applications and on their sustainability as well. Automatic self-cleaning filters should be considered a clean technology choice for anyone looking for a multi-barrier approach to their filtration process.

www.macsteel.co.za M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

17

Nature

National Water Week

for water

Roughly 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home.

This year, National Water amaged ecosysWeek and World Water Day tems affect the quantity and bring focus to the sustainable quality of water management of our water available for human consumption. resources under the More than 80% of wastewater theme ‘Nature is discharged into rivers or oceans for Water’. without any pollution removal, result-

D

ing in at least 1.8 billion people globally using a faecally contaminated source of drinking water.

While water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population, floods and other water-related disasters account for 70% of all natural-disaster-related deaths.

According to the United Nations, environmental damage, together with climate change, is driving water-related crises around the world. Floods, drought and water pollution are all made worse by degraded vegetation, soil, rivers and lakes.

How can we tackle this? By using the solutions we already find in nature.

Nature-based solutions Sustainable Development Goal 6 commits the world to ensuring universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030. It includes targets on protecting natural water-related ecosystems, reducing pollution, and minimising untreated wastewater.

In 2018, the focus is on exploring nature-based solutions (NBS) to the 21st century’s water challenges.

NBS have the potential to solve many water challenges, but to achieve this, ‘green’ infrastructure must be utilised wherever possible and harmonised with ‘grey’ infrastructure.

This year’s World Water Day and National Water Week seek to raises awareness of NBS in order to rebalance the water cycle, create a circular economy, mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce pollution, and improve human health and livelihoods. This can be achieved through a number of initiatives including planting trees to replenish forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands.

NBS can provide innovative and cost-effective options for supplementing insufficient or ageing water infrastructure. For example: • Water availability and supply: Water storage via natural wetlands, soil moisture and/or groundwater recharging can be more sustainable and cost-effective than grey infrastructure, such as dams.

D I D YO U K N OW? • By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring freshwater shortages • Today, around 1.9 billion people live in potentially severely water-scarce areas.

By 2050, this could increase to 3 billion people • The number of people at risk from floods is projected to rise from 1.2 billion to around 1.6 billion in 2050 – nearly 20% of the world’s population • At least 65% of forested land is in a degraded state • An estimated 64% to 71% of natural wetlands have been lost since 1900 as a result of human activity • Soil erosion from croplands carries away 25 to 40 billion tonnes of topsoil every year

• Water quality: Pollution from agriculture can be drastically reduced by NBS such as conservation agriculture, which protects soil from erosion, or riparian buffers – strips of land along water courses planted with native trees and shrubs.

• Risk management: The effects of climate change, such as frequent extreme flooding, can be mitigated by a range of NBS, such as riparian buffers or connecting rivers to floodplains.

Ultimately, countries need to better manage vegetation, soils and/or wetlands, including rivers and lakes, both in rural and urban environments, to ensure ongoing, sustainable water supply and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Sources: un.org & worldwaterday.org

Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will rebalance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods

M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

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National Water Week

Investing in SA’s water future

F

ormer Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane made a statement about the cost of delivering water infrastructure becoming prohibitively expensivelate last year at the Water Infrastructure Investment Summit. Jointly hosted by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Water Research Commission (WRC), the summit sought new partnerships with the business and investment sector to ensure South Africa’s water security.

Mokonyane identified several areas and issues that offer direct and indirect potential for partnerships:

1

Maintenance & operations Mokonyane called on the sector to address what she called the low-hanging fruit when it comes to maintenance and operation of infrastructure and the supply of goods and services in the sector. An example is the country’s wastewater treatment plants, which the department has identified as an immediate priority. “If we have over 60% of those treatment plants under local government not up to scratch, surely that can be an immediate area of intervention. We know where they are, we understand what the challenges are,” she said. The department is in discussion with many of the municipalities to ask them to hand the plants over to the department so that it can intervene and rehabilitate them.

2

Ageing infrastructure South Africa is faced with the major problem of ageing infrastructure.

Addressing this, particularly ageing pipelines, should be a priority. Asbestos pipes should be addressed urgently.

The cost of delivering water infrastructure is becoming prohibitively expensive.

4

Regulatory environment “I do believe we need drastic improvements in the regulatory environment. We need to really overhaul the capacity of the state and our department is busy looking at the law reform project,” said Mokonyane. “The law reform must happen so that we ease the cost of doing business, but we must also adapt our laws to make sure they deal with the current needs and challenges.”

5

Water and sanitation master plan A water and sanitation master plan for South Africa, with an implementable action plan, is a critical area where the DWS, together with its international partners, institutions and SOEs, needs to invest in resources. “Until such a time as South Africa has an integrated water and sanitation master plan, we will always be operating and planning in silos.”

6

Embrace innovation The water sector can no longer be seen to be inefficient and ineffective and must embrace innovation. “We cannot continue to work on the basis of old ideas and old-school solutions.

We must be able to adapt in view of the realities of climate change but also in

view of a knowledge-based economic development trajectory that we must all support,” said Mokonyane. She called for an approach that acknowledges South Africa as a developmental state but also one that contributes to inclusive growth and poverty alleviation and creates industries and employment.

7

PPPs Mokonyane pointed out a need to explore how best to establish PPPs through the country’s water boards.

“The less we compound the challenges in the DWS, the better. The more we strike a relationship and recognise the capacity and ability of our water boards and other SOEs, the better. We must do away with our bureaucratic processes and make use of what the law allows us to do. We need to reform the entire value chain in the water space and the starting point is to begin to appreciate the power that exists in our water entities and the means to work through them.”

“We need to reform the entire value chain in the water space.”

Former Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane

3

Bankable projects The water sector needs to be in a position to deal with bankable projects where feasibility studies have been performed.

However, according to Mokonyane, many municipalities can’t put projects into a projects plan, and support and investment are needed in addressing this.

M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

21

Water Resource Management

Saving S

our water

outh Africa faces three major water challenges: flooding, drought, and pollution, explains Peter Shepherd, principal hydrologist and partner, SRK Consulting.

Drought has been at the forefront recently as many towns face water shortages and Cape Town nears Day Zero.

Drought planning is one of the most important aspects of South African water resource management. Much of the planning and implementation of water management lies with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), which is assisted by municipalities in minimising water wastage and understanding growth and demand. This focuses largely on management of surface and groundwater in various catchments, understanding “Too much, too little, or too dirty.” These source and demand through surface are the problems that plague South water, rainfall Africa’s water resources. and groundwater

By Danielle Petterson modelling as well as yield analysis.

The variability of the climate means drought planning will always be an ongoing process.

However, the planning of where water is transferred to and where and how much water is needed is well understood within the DWS, and there are various plans in place that should be implemented to reduce the risk of running out of water, explains Shepherd.

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

He argues that South Africa’s dry climate has resulted in a great deal of understanding around water resources and although Cape Town in facing a crisis, its drought planning is done in line with the standard of a 1:100 event. What is currently being experienced is a 1:300 drought event. Shepherd, therefore, believes Cape Town is doing fairly well insofar as it has maintained supply to this point.

“I still believe that because we are a dry country, our planning of water resources has been good. But implementation of those plans and the continual updating of water resource modelling is paramount,” says Shepherd.

“The implementation of water transfer schemes takes a long time, so strong leadership and management of the implementation is required. We have a great team of water resource planners in the country but we need to implement the plans at a more urgent pace than what is happening at the moment. If we do not, we are bound to find ourselves in a situation where water rationing will be more prevalent. There are many places in South Africa where growth could occur if more water was available and we, as South Africans, need growth as much as possible.”

Measure to manage With climate change and variability, Shepherd believes South Africa is not collecting enough data on rainfall to look at its potential impact on resources.

Many weather stations have closed down and that should change – we need more rainfall stations not less, he says.

Similarly, it is vital to know how much water is coming into and being abstracted from all dams and water sources.

“All our monitoring facilities need to be

Water Resource Management

“For too long water has been cheap and relatively accessible in the larger towns. The growth of our population and changes in demands in the urban environment mean we need to spend more effort understanding where we can reduce demand.”

upgraded to ensure that we understand the changes,” he stresses.

“In South Africa, we do have a very good water resource model but it needs to be continuously updated. The more data available, the better the simulations will be.” Data is mainly collected by the DWS and municipalities, but Shepherd believes it is time for farmers, mines and industries to collect data that can be reported on. “We really need to work together as a team,” he adds.

become an important contributor, but Shepherd predicts this will become unsustainable in the next 100 years and South Africa may have to look outside its borders. There are several large rivers to the north and although this is a lengthy distance, it may be a sustainable option to boost water supply. Desalination also has potential, and although the price is currently prohibitive, it will likely be required in most if not all coastal towns in the future.

Tackling pollution Planning aside, it is vital that South Africa protect its water resources if long-term water security is to be achieved. When it comes to the “too dirty”, South Africa’s poorly performing wastewater treatment works pose a serious concern, as untreated effluent damages the ecology of dams and rivers as well as downstream water resources.

“It is going to take a lot of money, planning and implementation to get those sewage works up to standard, but we need to do that. We can’t have a situation where we are destroying rivers because we don’t have the money to treat our sewage correctly,” says Shepherd.

“The longer we leave it, the more capital we will have to spend to get it back to where we want. It is vitally important and a lot of the DWS budget should be spent to try to rectify the situation.”

Driving down demand “For too long water has been cheap and relatively accessible in the larger towns. The growth of our population and changes in demands in the urban environment mean we need to spend more effort understanding where we can reduce demand,” says Shepherd.

Agriculture, which accounts for approximately 60% of water use in South Africa, will have to adopt better methods of irrigation, such as drip irrigation, which can reduce water consumption by 30%. Similarly, industries like mines are working to minimise the water they use by better utilising what they have on-site and reducing losses from tailings dams via seepage and evaporation.

South Africa also urgently needs to address its bleeding reticulation infrastructure, where unnecessary water losses can add up to 30%.

Positively, many people have realised the importance of reducing water consumption to ensure access to water for all citizens. “There has been a big attitude change; there are a lot of technologies available to minimise the amount of water used and I think this will only improve going forward,” concludes Shepherd.

Future water resources Dams form the primary source of South Africa’s water, and remain the cheapest way to collect water. Shepherd believes dams will continue to be the primary source of the country’s water supply going forward, but South Africa’s water supply needs to diversify. Sustainable abstraction of groundwater is likely to

60%

Agriculture, which accounts for approximately 60% of water use in South Africa, will have to adopt better methods of irrigation, such as drip irrigation, which can reduce water consumption by 30%

M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

23

Water Resource Management

A solution for endangered wetlands This year’s World Wetlands Day was celebrated in northern KwaZulu-Natal by bringing together community leaders, municipalities, state departments, scientists and industry to discuss a workable solution to the rapidly declining water levels in the area.

T

24

he initiative was held under the banner of the KwaZuluNatal Wetlands, hosted by the Isibusiso Esihle Science Discovery Centre and supported by the South African Environmental Observation Network (Saeon) and Mark Schapers, technical director at JG Afrika.

Schapers was the first to alert the Water Research Comission (WRC) and Saeon to serious declines in water levels in the Vazi peatland wetland system six years ago, highlighting the need to design and implement a system that would strengthen the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’s) existing water monitoring programmes in the area.

concerning the greater area around the Vazi wetlands and, in particular, the Lake Sibaya system.

Their work has revealed a significant drop in the water table from as early as 2000, while changes in climate and low rainfall levels in the area have compounded the situation.

After monitoring efforts came to a halt in 2014, when water tables fell below gauging stations, Saeon, working with the DWS and Schapers, intervened to ensure real-time data was available to capture the continued declining trend.

“Good data is our life blood, and even sophisticated models rely on in situ data,” notes Janse van Rensburg.

Finding a solution A formal proposal is now being drafted, which focuses research into ways of replacing the existing resource-based economy in the area with sustainable alternatives. It will include suggestions made by resource and environmental economists who were also invited to share their insights at the event.

This plan will be used to apply for funding from various sources, such as the Green Climate Fund, to assist in the development of a document that will guide the implementation of a strategy for the Vazi wetlands.

Sue Janse van Rensburg, node coordinator: Grasslands-Wetlands-Forests, Saeon, notes the need for urgent action, and points to research undertaken by Schapers and his team of surface and groundwater specialists at JG Afrika

A wetland under threat The declining water table has led to the drying out of the Vazi peatland complex.

Outputs from several scientific studies concur that forestry is having a significant impact on the water resources, exacerbated by prolonged drought, increased levels of abstraction for human consumption, climate change and burning.

The peatlands are important stores of carbon and, by acting as a sponge, help hold up the water table. The earliest reported incident of severe burning in Vazi North was in 1998, and in 2017, fires broke out again in some of the peatlands resulting in an increased loss of peat that has taken thousands of years to accumulate, and with it, the release of greenhouses gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.

MAR CH/APR I L 2018

The combined impact of forestry and below-average precipitation in the area is evident by the extremely low levels of Lake Sibaya. Located in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, water levels of the largest freshwater lake in South Africa are at the lowest ever recorded.

Covering about 19 000 ha, the Manzengwenya and Mbazwane plantations are located in Mhlabuyalingana Municipality within the uMkhanyakude District, and affect three traditional councils, including KwaTembe, KwaMbila and KwaMabaso. The forests are part of a major state-driven land redistribution programme in the area.

The plan will, therefore, also propose ways of substituting existing and future employment opportunities created in the forestry value chain.

Further research is required to determine whether changes in land use, rainfall levels and climate will reverse the decline. Groundwater recharge in the area is under investigation. While previously thought to be a simple function of rainfall, studies indicate that the recharge of groundwater is further complicated by high-energy events, such as cyclones, as well as flooding on the Pongola River, Schapers explains. There may be further consequences for the entire system should these dynamics change.

Janse van Rensburg, however, is optimistic that the favourable response from stakeholders will have a profound, positive impact on the Vazi wetlands going forward.

Supporting the Breede River Catchment

By Amanda Gcanga1, Annabel Horn2, Wilma Kloppers3

T

he Breede River plays a significant role in driving the economy of the catchment, particularly the upper and middle areas of the Breede River, whose economy is driven by the agriculture sector. To sustain and grow the economy of these areas necessitates thorough water management of both the water quality and quantity.

A recently completed study, funded by the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Developmental Planning in 2017, carried out an analysis of the water-quality data for the Breede River. The analysis of the results indicated water quality risks that could possibly negatively impact the agricultural sector, subsequently spilling into the social and economic spheres in the region.

The Breede River originates in the Skurweberg Mountains near Ceres in the Western Cape and flows for about 320 km before exiting into the Indian Ocean (see Figure 1). There are many tributaries that contribute significantly to the flow of the Breede River. These include the Hex River (which joins the Breede upstream of Worcester), the Riviersonderend River (the biggest tributary, which joins the Breede upstream of Swellendam), and the Buffelsjags River (which joins the Breede just downstream of Swellendam).

Improved water governance for better water quality management Managing and improving water quality in the Breede River is a complicated process

Grape harvest (Photo: Robertson Tourism)

An analysis of the Breede River has shown a decline in water quality, and an integrated, multidisciplinary approach is needed to ensure the successful management of this catchment.

as it involves public authorities setting guidelines and monitoring water quality and pollution in the environment, actors contributing to the pollution load of the Breede River such as the agricultural sector and industries, and those that are impacted.

The management of the water resources is governed principally under the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998), which protects water courses. The National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 2009) protects the water resource if the intended activity triggers an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

According to researchers, multi-stakeholder participation in water management is key as it leads to coordinated planning and implementation of water activities. A challenge in the Breede River Catchment is to promote joint vision by different public authorities (listed in Figure 2) and coordinated governance on the part of government agencies tasked with water management.

South Africa, just like the rest of the world, has a history of segmented water governance where water ministries solely took the responsibility of managing water resources.

Up until the early 1990s, water governance globally had been technocratic in nature, with strong vertical control by the state and emphasis

on big dam infrastructure.

This was the period where water engineers were primarily concerned with technical control. Sustainability concerns with regard to environmental and social issues were absent in the discourse of water governance.

This governance paradigm came to an end with the realisation that the technocratic water governance style could no longer address the complexity and interactions of culture, politics, environment, urbanisation, and society and how these ultimately shape supply and demand of water. This gave rise to a new water governance approach – integrated water resources management (IWRM) – which marked a shift from techno-centric to a more participatory FIGURE 1 The Breede Catchment showing the major rivers, national roads and towns (Source: DEA&DP, 2017)

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Water Resource Management

and holistic, sustainable water management approach.

The Global Water Partnership’s definition of IWRM is widely cited and defines the approach as “a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems”.

IWRM seeks to achieve sustainability and a balance between societal, economic, and environmental objectives. Founding principles include a multisectoral approach, coordinated management, decentralisation of governance to catchment areas, and multi-stakeholder participation. New water institutions, such as catchment management agencies, would be established to implement IWRM within the catchment.

With the proposed drive to establish one CMA, it may be argued that this drive is at variance with the original strategy of the IWRM. Participation of multi-stakeholders in catchment areas through established

catchment agencies is viewed as a key element for establishing cooperative water management with the intention to achieve efficiency, sustainability and democracy.

A study by Stein and Edward (1998) defined multi-stakeholder participation as “a decision-making body (voluntary or statutory) comprising different stakeholders who perceive the same resource management problem, realise their interdependence for solving it, and come together to agree on action strategies for solving the problem”. This definition is widely accepted and used in the context of IWRM. With strong support and advocacy from international donors such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, and the Asian Development Bank, the approach permeated in water legislations and policies in developing countries is resulting in major water management reforms.

The current water policy reforms in South Africa, which were established between 1996 and 1998, were built on IWRM principles. Water governance was decentralised to

river catchment level and, subsequently, two catchment management agencies (CMAs) were established in accordance with Chapter 7 of the National Water Act to develop the catchment management strategy, which gives direction to quality and quantity objectives, stakeholder participation, cooperative governance, compliance, and monitoring.

Meissner and Funke (2014) raise the question as to how the Breede Overberg CMA, where the establishment began in 1999, with considerable stakeholder involvement under the leadership of the department now known as Water and Sanitation (DWS), will continue

The Breede River Catchment falls under the management of the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency

Water Resource Management

FIGURE 2 Institutional arrangements for water management in the Breede River Catchment (Source: BGCMA, 2016)

to develop this engagement. Further, knowledge of the natural, environmental and engineering sciences are highly valued in guiding the operational processes, and the writers argue that this overshadows the roles that other disciplines could play in advising the management of the CMA. Breede River Catchment study The 2017 Breede River Catchment study, under review for publication with Water SA, analysed monthly routine river indicator data samples collected by the BreedeGouritz Catchment Management Agency between 2010 and 2015. The monthly water samples were taken along 23 monitoring points in the Breede River. The samples were analysed for levels of pH, electrical conductivity, sodium, total suspended solids, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite, chemical oxygen demand, orthophosphate, faecal coliforms, E. coli, faecal streptococci, turbidity, potassium, and total dissolved solids. The samples were then compared to water quality guidelines and the thresholds of acceptable levels of fitness for use, set by the DWS. Significantly high values of salinity were found in the middle and lower Breede River. The decline in the quality of the river is attributed to the irrigation return flow into the river, geology of the area, and certain agricultural practices such as

the intentional leaching of natural salts.

To bring the salt content of the river to acceptable levels, water is released from the Brandvlei Dam to dilute the salinity levels downstream. However, this method is not sustainable in drought periods.

A second water quality concern is the amount of undesired microbial life carried into the river by the poorly treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants, wineries, and other industries. Wastewater treatment plants are under tremendous pressure to comply with effluent standards; however, factors such as limited budget and a shortage of qualified plant operators hinder progress.

Informal settlements within the catchment area that lack adequate sanitation facilities also contribute to the microbial life that ends up in the river, and then only in certain areas where there is drainage to the rivers of the catchment. High levels of microbial life result in additional expense in cleansing water for agricultural irrigation. Lastly, agrochemicals such as pesticides that are carried by the irrigation return flow into the river threaten fish life and human life through accumulation in the food chain.

The Breede River Catchment falls under the management of the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA), which was established by the DWS in 2005. The BGCMA has a

The decline in the quality of the river is attributed to the irrigation return flow into the river, geology of the area, and certain agricultural practices such as the intentional leaching of natural salts

Low water flows in the Breede River (Photo: Jason Mingo)

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A strong foundation for infrastructure success

responsibility to bring together multi-stakeholders to achieve coordinated water quality management in the catchment.

Significant efforts have been made by the BGCMA towards creating a coordinated management culture.

In its 2015/16 annual report, the BGCMA reported to have established strong working relationships with water user associations, irrigation boards, municipalities, provincial government, academic institutions such as Cape Peninsula University of Technology and University of Cape Town, and non-governmental organisations such as the World Wildlife Foundation and Upper Breede Collaborative Extension Group.

However, there is still work to be done in terms of aligning plans from various institutions and ultimately working together to manage water quality and quantity in the Breede River Catchment area. This can largely be attributed to how public water institutions are structured to operate, mainly operating in silos, with individual monitoring and evaluation systems.

This management style minimises the opportunities for flexibility or responsive adaptation to changing environmental circumstances to ensure sustainable water provision for all sectors. Breaking down the departmental walls and creating a multidisciplinary culture of solving problems within government without leaving out the non-governmental organisations, civil society, and private sector is the optimal way forward.

Corresponding author, Stellenbosch University Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning 3 Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning 1 2

Informal settlements with minimal drainage and sanitation facilities (Photo: Annabel Horn)

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Water Loss Management

NRW: the double-edged sword South Africa’s non-revenue water adds up to millions of litres every year – a significant loss at a time when some cities’ taps are on the verge of running dry.

By Danielle Petterson

S

outh Africa loses an estimated 37% of its potable water through leaks, representing approximately R7 billion in potential revenue. Considering international non-revenue water (NRW) norms and benchmarks sit at 15% to 25%, there is clear room for improvement.

According to Dr Ronnie McKenzie, managing director of WRP and chairman of the IWA Water Loss Specialists Group, NRW is a double-edged sword. It is negative in that water is being wasted, but positive in that it represents a resource that can be utilised, parSebokeng/Evaton pressure management installation

±37% SA’s NRW is ±37%, at a worth of ±R7 billion

ticularly during drought events like the one currently being experienced.

“If a third of our water is being lost through leakage and commercial loses, that represents quite a reliable source

of water that we can try to recover.

Finding and repairing leaks, and reducing wastage, is also the cheapest way of supplementing our water supply,” says McKenzie.

NRW comprises a combination of physical leakage and commercial losses.

It is import that municipalities identify exactly where they are losing their water to determine the necessary solutions.

When it comes to physical leakage, pressure management is one of the most important interventions that should be considered when attempting to drive down water losses, says McKenzie. The fact that leakage is driven by pressure is the common factor in every system. Essentially, if pressure is increased, leakage will increase, but if the water pressure can be reduced, even for a short period, the water leakage will be reduced.

Zoning According to McKenzie, the most important issue when trying to introduce any form of pressure management is ensuring that the zone being considered is and remains discrete. Establishing a proper pressure zone is often M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

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45 000

Johannesburg has over 45 000 pipe leaks

A bull's eye in quality.

Fixed outlet control Fixed outlet pressure control involves the use of a device, normally a pressure-reducing valve (PRV), to control the maximum pressure entering a zone. McKenzie believes this is possibly the simplest form of pressure management as it requires no additional equipment.

This solution offers several advantages, namely that it is relatively simple to install, offers relatively simple maintenance and operation, and has a lower cost because it involves no additional hydraulic or electronic controllers.

The main disadvantage is the lack of flexibility to provide variable water pressures at different times of the day. This means the maximum possible savings cannot be achieved, he explains.

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Egyptian officials visit the Mitchells Plain pressure management installation

Device model

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Picomag DN 15(½"): 0.4 to 25 l/min

R7539

R6785

R6182

Picomag DN 20 (¾"): 0.75 to 50 l/min

R8662

R7795

R7102

Picomag

11 to 35

Picomag DN 25 (1"): 1.2 to 100 l/min

R10107

R9096

R8288

Picomag DN 50 (2"): 5 to 750 l/min

R12842

R11558

R10531

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Tel: 0861 363 737 (0861 endres) 24 hr Helpline: 082 443 4214 Service Hotline: 0861 347 378 (0861 ehserv) info@za.endress.com www.za.endress.com

the most difficult and time-consuming part of the work, but if the zones are not discrete and are interlinked in any way, then pressure management is unlikely to function properly. In fact, it should not even be considered until the underlying zone problems have been resolved.

Once zone problems have been resolved, pressure reduction can be achieved in a number of ways, including: • fixed outlet pressure control • time-modulated pressure control • flow-modulated pressure control • remote node control.

Water Loss Management

Time-modulated control Time-modulated pressure management is effectively the same as the fixed-outlet system with an additional device, which can provide a further reduction in pressure during off-peak periods. This is useful in areas where water pressures builds up during off-peak periods, typically at night.

The electronic controller is relatively inexpensive and easy to set up and operate. It provides greater flexibility by allowing pressures to be reduced at specific times of the day, resulting in greater savings, and does not require a flow meter because the controller connects directly to the pilot on the PRV. However, this system is more expensive than the fixed outlet option and does require a higher level of expertise to operate and maintain. In addition, it does not react to the demand for water, which can be a problem if a fire breaks out requiring full pressure for fire-fighting, warns McKenzie. This can be overcome to some extent through the installation of a flow meter.

Flow-modulated control Flow-modulated pressure control provides even greater control and flexibility than time control and will normally provide greater savings than both fixed outlet and time control.

However, the electronic controller is more expensive and requires a properly sized meter in addition to the PRV. According to McKenzie, it may not

always be cost-effective to use the flow-modulated option and careful consideration should be given to the specific application before selecting this option.

A key advantage is that flow-modulated control will not hamper the water supply in the event of a fire, but the additional savings may be offset by the extra cost of the controller and need for a meter together with the likely additional downtime associated with a more complicated device. There are also more components in a flow-modulated installation, which, at some point, are likely to fail.

Remote node control In recent years, several more advanced remote node control systems have been developed and implemented in various parts of the world, which claim additional savings over standard flow control. In these installations, a sensor at the critical point is often used to monitor the pressure and provide feedback to the controller on a continuous basis or at predefined intervals.

>25%

The international NRW benchmark is 15% – 25%

“Such approaches have advantages and disadvantages, which should always be taken into account when trying to establish the most appropriate form of pressure control for a specific application. Any additional savings will come at a cost both in monetary terms and also the technical expertise needed to support the long-term sustainability of the equipment and the possibility of component failure.”

Selecting the right system The question of selecting the most appropriate form of pressure control is often taken in an office based on the latest computer models developed to assess the financial benefits and costs of the different options.

From the many practical examples implemented over the past 20 years, it is clear that the key challenge when implementing pressure control relates to the unauthorised and unrecorded opening or closing of valves in the reticulation system, which wreaks havoc on the system pressures. Such actions create problems within a pressure zone and can often render the proposed pressure management interventions ineffective.

In many cases, it is simply not appropriate to try to commission a pressure controller until the operational issues have been fully resolved, says McKenzie. “When in doubt, start with basic fixed outlet pressure control and, if appropriate, introduce the simplest form of time control. Only once the system is M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

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stable and operating properly for some time, should more sophisticated forms of pressure control can be considered.”

The low-cost radar sensor with Bluetooth technology

VEGAPULS WL S 61 The radar sensor VEGAPULS WL S 61 is the ideal sensor for typical applications in the water and waste water industry. It is particularly suitable for level measurement in water treatment, in pump stations as well as storm water overflow tanks. The flood-proof IP 68 housing of VEGAPULS WL S 61 ensures continuous, maintenance-free operation.

Your benefit • Measuring range up to 8 m • Can be used outdoors without restriction (LPR standard) • Flood-proof IP 68 housing • Operation via Bluetooth with Smartphone, tablet or PC • Measurement unaffected by weather conditions • Non-contact gauge, level and flow measurement

For more information contact Chantal Groom, VEGA Controls SA +27 (0) 11 795 3249 chantal.groom@vega.com, www.vega.com

Pressure management in SA According to McKenzie, South Africa was one of the first countries to recognise the benefits that can be derived from advanced pressure control, and currently lays claim to three of the largest advanced pressure control installations in the world – in Khayelitsha, Sebokeng and Mitchells Plain.

The fact that two of these are based in Cape Town is promising, considering Day Zero still looms. As the drought has progressed, the city has undergone a process to prepare automated pressure zones for the implementation of pressure management.

“One important issue that is often overlooked when discussing the current water crisis in Cape Town relates to the progress in reducing water use over the past 15 years or so,” says McKenzie. The average daily water use for the City of Cape Town in 2014 was almost the same as it had been in 2000, despite an increase in population of around 30%. Sustaining the same overall water use for the larger population could only be achieved through improved efficiency, which resulted in lower leakage and lower per capita water use.

As mentioned, if wastage and water losses are reduced in a water supply system, the scope for further reduction is limited and in times of severe drought, it becomes increasingly difficult and costly to achieve further savings. “This is unfortunately the situation in which Cape Town finds itself and to some extent it is the victim of its own success in driving down leakage and water use over the past 20 years,” adds McKenzie.

However, further afield, the City of Johannesburg reported last year that pipe bursts had increased from 35 539 to 45 177 since 2012/13, and that the city’s water pipes have over 45 000 leaks – representing significant potential water savings. Given the need to ensure South Africa’s long-term water security, it is clear that municipalities across the country should be looking at strategies to reduce NRW.

The Khayelitsha pressure management installation

Pipes, Pumps & Valves

The original screw centrifugal pump

T

he screw centrifugal pump can go beyond the limits of classical centrifugal pumps, venturing into the application area of positive displacement pumps. The construction is suitable for the handling of solids in suspension and viscous liquids, as well as for applications with larger negative suction heads.

Hidrostal offers a range of versatile, energy-efficient bearing frame pumps,

suitable for horizontal or vertical mounting and incorporating the Hidrostal Screw Centrifugal Impeller.

Commonly installed in dry areas, the Flexible Coupled Bearing Frame pump is a close coupled rotating assembly fitted with Hidrostal’s standard screw centrifugal hydraulic, suitably engineered to accommodate a standard flange mount electric motor.

The construction of the flexible coupled bearing frame pump mounted on a fabricated base plate makes it ideal for rapid dismantling and enables simple removal and installation during maintenance or shutdown periods, explains Leonard Humphreys, managing director, Hidrostal SA. The flange mount construction on the drive-end of the pump allows the electric motor to be mounted direct and in-line with the pump shaft. The two shaft ends are then coupled via a flexible flanged shaft coupling, eliminating alignment checks.

Immersible pumps The company also offers a range of immersible pumps, which can successfully handle difficult municipal and industrial wastewater. Viscous liquids, fragile flocs, and even live fish pose no problem.

Hidrostal’s dry well immersible pumps (with cooling jacket) have independent closed-loop cooling that enables the motor to run in either a wet or a dry well. As these immersible units do not use pumped media to cool the motors, there are no problems of overheating due to slime build-up in the cooling channel.

The pumps are particularly suited for dry-pit applications where the combination of the screw centrifugal impeller and immersible motor are the state-of-the-art technology.

The first pump with the characteristic screw centrifugal impeller was developed by Hidrostal in 1960 for a fishing application. Today, the pump is used in many ways throughout the world in countless other handling systems.

Leakage of the pumped product is eliminated by tandem seals running in an oil bath, avoiding a situation commonly experienced with soft-packed glands.

According to Humphreys, Hidrostal immersible wastewater/sewage pump stations have frequently been mistaken for clean water stations due to the lack of odour and the cleanliness of the buildings. Immersible pumps are particularly suitable for installation where quiet running, clean surroundings, reliable and long, troublefree operation are required.

For Hidrostal, the highest level of quality is most important, explains Humphreys. “Every new area of application is a challenge for Hidrostal.

Our continuous research and development has led to a continually expanding range of systems, which are in use today in very different production environments. The ongoing technical improvements and optimisations are just as important as the shape of the screw centrifugal impeller.”

www.hidrostal.co.za M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

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Crafting stainless masterpieces Advances in metallurgy now make it possible for pump manufacturers to devise precision designs that last a lifetime and don’t compromise on performance.

Stainless steel is one of these evolving materials.

M

inimising costs and maximising productivity are the primary objectives of APE Pumps’ research and development (R&D) philosophy, with purpose-designed and custom-developed solutions ensuring a perfect match for each downstream application.

“Within the infrastructure market and alongside conventional water and wastewater treatment plants, an area where we’re placing renewed focus is the desalination market,” explains Richard Harper, project manager, APE Pumps. “Cape Town is the current focus area, but the need extends up and down Southern Africa’s arid coastal regions, plus into the interior where brackish water can also be treated to potable standards. Recognising that these are hostile environments for pump systems, we’ve invested extensively in R&D

Multistage vs split-case pumps • Multistage high-pressure pumps are ideally suited for fluid transfer applications that exhibit low volumes but high pressure, the perfect application for mine dewatering solutions.

• Split-case pumps are best for higher volumes with lower pressures, with enhanced maintenance accessibility and reduced downtime for the client/ end user.

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

studies to ensure we field products with extended durability.”

Stainless experience A recent long-term case study at an abalone farm in Gansbaai, on the Cape south coast, serves as a prime example.

“Seawater is one of the most corrosive fluids to transfer, and prior to the installation of our super duplex stainless steel split-case pumps in 2014, the exisiting conventional high-chromium white iron pumps weren’t even lasting four months,” he continues.

Cast iron and aluminium pumps often suffer from corrosion and/or cavitation as a result of high alkalinity or high acidity. In such instances, a pump’s reliability, efficiency and performance are affected, especially the pump’s power consumption, which substantially increases its lifetime running costs.

“Studies have shown, for example, that just 0.001 mm of clearance inaccuracy

on a pump system results in an approximate 1% efficiency reduction,” Harper points out.

At the Gansbaai abalone farm, five old cast iron units were replaced with APE’s LN type split-case super duplex stainless steel horizontal centrifugal pumps, each with a capacity of 1 250 m3/h to draw seawater under negative suction head from the intake gully. Successful trials led to an order for a further two super duplex pumps, after supplying four pumpsets from the original purchase order.

These pumps transfer seawater to holding tanks. From there, the seawater is then fed by gravity through the farm before flowing back into the sea.

The main pump systems for the farm were manufactured and imported by APE Pumps’ holding company, WPIL Limited, which is based in India.

Final assembly and commissioning were carried out locally by APE Pumps and sister company Mather+Platt.

Pipes, Pumps & Valves

Milestone super duplex WPIL installations

Unique properties As well as being extremely resistant to pitting, the inherent properties of duplex stainless steel also virtually rule out the risk of stress corrosion cracking.

There are eight progressive grades, 5A and 6A being the two highest.

Working with its South African and other international subsidiary companies, WPIL has designed and supplied super duplex vertical turbine and mixed-flow pumps for major corporates worldwide.

Sectors include water utilities, petrochemical plants, marine dry docks and industrial installations.

“Another key advantage of split-case pumps is that they are practically maintenance free. When maintenance is required, the process normally requires the unbolting and removal of the top housing. Repairs can then be carried out in situ,” adds Harper.

APE Pumps and its group of companies field more than 250 products in their sales catalogue including 500 000 engineering drawings in 3D format via Inventor and Vault, indicative of their understanding and effective penetration of this complex market. “Always use OEM parts made to the original design

The following are some recent international examples: • Chemanol, Saudi Arabia: seawater circulation for industrial cooling.

Three pumps delivering 4 000 m3/h at 51.9 m head driven by 800 kW motors.

• Jubail Chemicals, Saudi Arabia: seawater circulation for cooling.

Three pumps suitable for 6 500 m3/h at 42.5 m head driven by 1 030 kW motors.

• Modec, Brazil: FPSO application.

This seawater lift pump design underwent rigorous testing at the WPIL factory prior to shipment. Four pumps were supplied to meet 1 400 m3/h at 98 m head duty.

• Gemak shipyard, Turkey: TGE dry dock No.1. Seawater discharge pumps.

Four pumps suitable for 7 600 m3/h at 11.10 m head driven by 315 kW motors.

drawings, since buying cheap can end up being very costly, with reduced efficiency and performance, and higher maintenance costs for the client or end user,” Harper concludes.

Suppliers of pumps and valves to the mining and industrial sectors for over 60 years.

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2015/08/13 12:38 PM

Sanitation

Ending the madness:

To flush or not to flush The Day Zero syndrome is not an issue or circumstance for Capetonians only, but should be seen as a possible reality for many others in South Africa and the rest of the world. By Jay Bhagwan*

P

opulation growth, growing demand for water and the complexities posed by climate change have once again manifested in a well-developed city, possibly to a very extreme level. The extreme events are becoming quite frequent and prominent, questioning our preparedness and solutions to respond to these consequences.

Most of our interventions to date have been linear and based on satisfying growing demands, rather than being able to migrate to dealing with and mitigate the growing constraints.

The general response to the crisis, in both the developed and developing world, has its biases towards water, with very little attention afforded to sanitation.

The toilet-wastewater-energy-pollution nexus is an emerging issue in the developed and developing world. The provision of safe, hygienic and appropriate sanitation solutions is a priority development in the world. Developed nations have followed a linear design approach to achieve

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

their sanitation needs with conventional waterborne systems implemented and continuously improved upon to meet more stringent control and pollution regulations in order to minimise the overloading of the natural environment.

Developing countries on the other hand continue to struggle to implement such systems, due to a myriad of factors associated with financing, affordability and revenue and thus resulting in a heavy reliance on on-site systems.

On-site systems pose a different set of technical challenges related to their management, which are often overlooked in the developing world. While technology strides increase in conventional sanitation processes towards zero effluent, these all come at a significant cost and energy requirement.

Further, climate variability and water security place added pressure on resources available for flushing and transporting human wastes. The fundamental dilemma is: “Can we continue to use our scarce fresh

water to transport our human waste and then use large amounts of energy to clean the pollution to be safe to release into the environment?” This makes up nearly 40% of all water usage at a household level.

The common flush toilet has remained largely the same since its invention in 1596.

Though it has played a key role in lifting the industrialised world out of its own dirt and disease, it remains a large polluter and, in this time of acutely finite resources, a drain. Thus, a new paradigm is needed for sanitation, based on technology disrupters that can safely treat human excreta and matches user preferences, without the need for sewers and a reliance on external water and energy supply.

On-site sanitation Globally, an estimated 2.7 billion people use on-site sanitation systems, which are the predominant technology in developing cities.

On-site sanitation includes ‘drop and store’ technologies such as pit latrines and septic tanks and their variants, many of which are recognised by the United Nations as adequate sanitation technology.

In sub-Saharan Africa, pit latrines and their variants are prevalent in comparison to conventional waterborne systems.

It appears that the technology can be scaled at a level that can match the pace of urbanisation in this region, whereas full-sewered applications cannot keep pace. For this reason, on-site sanitation will continue to be used until there is a suitable alternative.

Sanitation A South African solution On-site technologies are often associated with poor user experience in comparison to full flush toilets, usually because of foul odours, and concerns with environmental and public health safety.

Global research has shown that sanitation programmes tend to be supplydriven with very little thought afforded to user preferences. Most indigent people living in developing countries view flush toilets as a symbol of status and equality.

In South Africa, many communities insist on having flush technology instead of dry toilets like VIP latrines – the government's recommended level of basic sanitation technology.

This led the Water Research Commission (WRC) to invest in the development of an on-site low pour-flush application. The technology is similar to Asian pour-flush systems but was adapted to suit South African users: it needed a pedestal with a seat, a water seal, the ability to flush human excreta together with toilet paper and/or newspaper, minimal water requirements, and limited water wastage. An innovative P-trap design allows the prototypes to use

Just one Enviro Loo can save up to 420 000 litres of water annually!

low flush volumes (between 1 ℓ and 2 ℓ) and limits detritus passing through the user interface and into the leach pit. The technology has been further improved through the development of the first 1 ℓ full flush-toilet system, called the Arumloo.

The low pour flush has since been implemented in a number of settlements with similar success reported in households and institutional settings across South Africa.

Users of the technology have indicated that the toilet “looks nice” and it is a “safe toilet”. The latter indicates a fear element that crept into communities as a result of unfortunate incidents with children falling into pit latrines.

Conclusion Our current linear design approaches to sanitation delivery, either in the form of full waterborne or on-site ventilated pit latrine systems, are not sustainable. Through innovation, we can shift the paradigm in which we serve our towns and cities towards more responsible use of our water, energy and nutrients while achieving the main aim of sanitation: protecting public health and the environment. This impetus

or direction is one of the core strategies of the WRC, DST, DTI and DWS. It forms an important objective in South Africa’s Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP 2017) and is also supported by the initiatives led by the Gates Foundation Sanitation Grand Challenge programme.

The new solutions are in development and are being piloted and tested. There is now a new industrial opportunity and an opportunity to grow a new service industry around operation and maintenance through the use of innovative products, which will result in smart supply chain management and new jobs. South Africa and many water-stressed countries should take advantage of this opportunity to leapfrog these new solutions and create greater water security into the future, as well as deal with the anticipated new drought cycles. This option should be a serious contender to current approaches, in terms of the opportunities it presents, since human waste is a resource. *Jay Bhagwan is the executive manager: Water Use and Waste Management at the Water Research Commission.

Proud winners of the Frost & Sullivan 2017 Southern African Dry

The waterless, non-polluting, low

Sanitation Company of

maintenance toilet system needing little

the Year Award!

more than sun and wind to operate, Enviro Loo has various models including a domestic unit catering for up to 10 users per day, communal units for up to 30 users, an industrial unit for up to 40 daily users as well as a waterless urinal.

Contact us today to find out more at info@enviro-loo.com or on 011 762 1624

Southern African Dry Sanitation Company of the Year Award

Sanitation

Bridging the gap in sanitation

T

he problem with conventional flush toilets is that they require a large amount of water, (9 ℓ to 12 ℓ per flush), which is not always available or affordable. Coupled with the excessive amount of water used to flush the toilets are the ongoing leaks that place unnecessary pressure on our already waterscarce country.

VIP toilets, while not requiring water to operate, have inherent problems as they do not have a water seal, can smell extremely bad and attract flies. Thus, the majority of households prefer to have the toilets constructed a significant distance away from the homestead, which subsequently creates a safety factor for children, the elderly and woman wanting to use the toilet when it is dark.

In a VIP scenario, the pit is directly below the top structure, resulting in communities using the pit as a solid waste disposal site and the pit consequently fills up much faster. When the pits are full, emptying is a messy, unpleasant and expensive operation.

The Eaziflush™ revolution Every household, whether in outlying rural or peri-urban areas (where potable water is often not made available to individual households), still has access to sufficient water for washing, bathing, cleaning and cooking – whether collected from rivers, communal taps, or harvested rain water.

Envirosan’s patented Eaziflush™ Sanitation System can easily be adopted for use in all areas, ranging from rural to urban, including areas with water supply as well as areas with limited or restricted water supply.

The Eaziflush™ system will revolutionise the way we use toilets and allow municipalities to roll out dignified and sustainable sanitation solutions that are well received by all stakeholders.

The Eaziflush™ has been developed over five years of extensive research and testing and is now being rolled out throughout the African continent.

The unit can be used either as a

pour-flush application or as a conventional cistern flush unit, using less than 2 ℓ of grey, river, rain, or potable water per flush. This puts less strain on households with limited access to water resources, while simultaneously eradicating all unpleasant odours.

The Envirosan EaziFlush™ results in a potable water saving in excess of 200 ℓ per household per day.

Rationale •E azilfush™ unit (6 occupants, 5 flushes per day) = 60 ℓ required •C onventional 9 ℓ flush unit (6 occupants, 5 flushes per day) = 270 ℓ required The advantage of the Eaziflush™ unit can clearly be seen in terms of aiding water conservation in Southern Africa compared to conventional waterborne sanitation systems, even in the absence of using grey water to flush the system.

Potable water saving used for flushing the toilet is in excess of 200 ℓ per household per day. Combined with Envirosan’s unique leak-free cistern, the actual water saving is multiplied exponentially.

Rural, peri-urban and urban compatibility For outlying rural and peri-urban areas, the Eazilfush™ unit can be designed to feed into a leach pit, septic tank, bio-digester or other on-site or off-grid treatment and storage options without any adverse effects on the surrounding soil conditions. For urban areas, the Eaziflush™ can be used in all environments and is compatible with all sanitation treatment or containment facilities currently on the market, including sewer networks.

Envirosan relishes the opportunity to partner with like-minded stakeholders within the sector to deliver a sanitation solution that restores the dignity to users and ensures sustainability for municipalities.

www.envirosan.co.za M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

39

Desalination

V&A set for desalination

A

n emergency desalination plant at the Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront will address the increasing water demands of the City of Cape Town region.

The desalination project, undertaken by QFS and Osmoflo, will involve the supply, installation and commissioning of a fully containerised 2 MLD seawater reverse osmosis and multimedia filtration plant, scheduled to be operational by March 2018. This will be delivered under a rental contract to the City of Cape Town for a minimum duration of 24 months. Following the City of Cape Town’s need to augment severely restricted potable

2

The intake structure being placed in the water, from where it will be moved to the intake location Below Left TO RIGHT Intake screen

The intake pipeline being tugged to sea and positioned by assisting divers

Pumped through screen The intake structure has a 100 mm screen where water can enter vertically from all directions. The intake is designed in such a way as to minimise the risk of fish and other sea life being sucked into the pipeline.

40

3

Water is abstracted Water is abstracted from the sea through an intake structure positioned 13 m below sea level, and about 40 m off the shoreline. The intake structure consists of a heavy concrete block, designed to withstand the waves and tides, remaining in a fixed position.

(Photo credit: Meindertjan Rebel – WSP)

1

water supplies, this project will help to bring fast relief to the severe water shortages in the area.

QFS has been building membrane plants since 1999, and focuses on membrane-based water treatment for sea water desalination, wastewater reuse and brackish water treatment. Herman Smit, managing director of QFS, comments, “The V&A Waterfront desalination project feels like the culmination of years of promoting membrane equipment for the treatment of potable and wastewater. It is satisfying to use our 21 years of experience to contribute to the Cape Town augmentation programme for some relief during the drought.”

MAR CH/APR I L 2018

Raw Water Tank

The raw water tank (right) and brine water tank (left)

Water is abstracted by a pumping station based on the helipad by the site. The positioning of the pump station goes hand in hand with the suction line and intake structure design. The challenge was to place the pumping station in a position where helicopter operations will not be impeded, but the nett positive suction head (NPSH) remains above the critical limit, preventing cavitation and premature failure of the pumping station.

The seawater from the pumps is fed to the raw water storage tank on-site. A screen filters any large solids in the feed prior to entering the storage tank.

Desalination

4

Filtration and reverse osmosis An HDPE pipe manifold feeds the raw water from the raw water storage tank to three separate containers, each housing a multimedia filter where solids still small enough to pass through the screen are filtered. The filtrate from two of the three multimedia filtration containers goes directly to matching seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) containers, where the water passes a 5 µm cartridge filter prior to being boosted to the required operating pressure of 65 bar. Each of these two SWROs produces 500 m3/day of permeate, totalling half of the plant’s production.

The third multimedia filtration container’s filtrate is fed to an ancillary container, where the water is filtered through 5 µm cartridge filters. The filtrate from the ancillary container feeds the final SWRO container where the water is boosted to the required operating pressure of 65 bar. The third SWRO produces 1 000 m3/day.

5

Pumped to calcite filter; minerals added A por tion of the 2 000 m3/day of permeate produced is passed through a set of filters containing limestone media. The media dissolves into the water to raise its calcium levels, thereby remineralising the water. This step is required to ensure that the water is not corrosive to metal pipe work and appliances like a geyser. The remineralised product is stored in the potable water tank, and the brine is stored in the brine tank.

The projected recover y for the entire plant is 45%, resulting in 2445 m3/day of brine being produced.

www.qualityfilters.co.za

6

DISTRIBUTION OF POTABLE WATER The potable water from the storage tank is pumped directly into the city’s distribution network, while the brine is gravity fed back into the ocean in a different area from where the raw water is abstracted. An actuated valve at the brine outlet point prevents the tank from running empty, thereby preventing the brine pipeline from filling with air, which can impede the brine flow from the tank.

M A RC H / A P R L 2018

41

wastewater

Turning waste into water

D

irect wastewater reuse for potable and industrial applications has been successfully implemented in several countries across the globe.

Windhoek, Namibia, for example, has been practising direct potable reuse for close to 50 years, showcasing how treated sewage can be safely and cost-efficiently treated to potable standards. However, the uptake of

The ongoing drought has highlighted the need to explore alternative sources for potable water.

Danielle Petterson explores the potential for direct wastewater reuse in South Africa.

reuse in South Africa has been slow.

According to Professor Anthony Turton of the Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, there is significant potential for wastewater reuse in South Africa, both for potable and industrial use. When it comes to industrial use, in particular, recovering water from waste is cheaper than using potable water. However, the tariff structure in South Africa disincentivises bulk users from recycling because private users pay a higher tariff than bulk users, explains Turton.

Direct reuse in SA Improvements in membrane technologies and their affordability have made a significant contribution to the viability of wastewater reuse in recent years.

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s National Strategy for Water Reuse (2011) notes that specific opportunities exist in coastal communities and cities where treated wastewater is discharged into the ocean, effectively losing an opportunity for water reuse.

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

SA’s first directreuse plant In 2011, South Africa’s first direct water reclamation plant became operational in Beaufort West.

The Beaufort West water reclamation plant uses membrane technology with comprehensive pretreatment to deliver SANS 241: Class 1 potable standards water directly to a water treatment facility for further treatment to drinking water standards.

This poses the question of whether cities like Cape Town should be better exploring direct wastewater reuse for potable purposes, given the ongoing drought. Turton believes this should be the case, pointing out that Perth, Australia, with a population of 1.2 million, recovers 120 MLD of high-quality water from sewage at the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW). “Extrapolate that to Cape Town and there is a potential for 400 MLD, at least theoretically,” he says.

As part of Cape Town’s augmentation plans, the Zandvliet WWTW is on track to provide 10 MLD of treated wastewater for potable use by June 2018, increasing to 50 MLD in December 2021. In the long term, four WWTWs are expected to provide an addition 180 MLD of treated wastewater by 2021.

“Hotels and industry can do the same. In fact, hotels are highly suited to do this because of lower costs associated with membrane bioreactor (MBR) technologies now being implemented in Cape Town for the first time. This means that guests can have a quality experience knowing that all wastewater is recovered,” says Turton.

“This is lower in cost than desalination and represents the low-hanging fruit.”

Turton points out that while retrofitting is complex, given the crisis, direct reuse is probably easier than building desalination plants. However, Cape Town appears to have prioritised desalination over wastewater reuse in its drought alleviation strategy, with three temporary desalination plants expected to provide a combined 16 MLD

by May 2018.

Chris Braybrooke, GM: Marketing, Veolia Water Technologies South Africa, says that retrofitting existing WWTWs for direct potable use could cost less than half of what desalination would, in addition to being good for the environment and available countrywide.

Furthermore, Cape Town already has some WWTWs that utilise MBR technology.

“This means that the output quality is very close to potable water and it only needs what we would consider polishing,” says Braybrooke. “There are only a few barriers that need to be invested in to get the water to a potable grade.”

Turton adds: “It comes down to a cost-benefit analysis. Desalinated seawater in Cape Town

Wastewater

could cost as little as R12/m3; however, if blended with water recovered from sewage, this cost can go down to R8/m3, depending on a range of factors.

The important thing is that water recovered from waste is cheaper than desalination, but both together are probably the best way to create longterm water security.”

Changing attitudes The National Strategy for Water Reuse notes that, in order to implement direct reuse projects, perceptions and risks related to public acceptance, trust in scientific knowledge and engineered systems, trust in water supply authorities, social justice and fairness will all need to be overcome.

“It’s all about educating the public.

It is totally safe and it is time to start engaging with the public, making them aware that the technologies are proven.

The time is right to look at water reuse.

44

MARCH/A P RIL 2018

But we need our minister to endorse it,” says Braybrooke.

Turton, however, believes there first needs to be a change in the attitude of government – away from seeing bulk infrastructure as a vehicle of self-enrichment and towards a tariff structure that promotes wastewater recycling.

Cape Town’s planned direct wastewater reuse projects: • Zandvliet 10 MLD by June 2018, 50 MLD by December 2021 • Cape Flats 10 MLD by June 2018, 75 MLD by December 2021 • Macassar 20 MLD by June 2019 • Potsdam 10 MLD by June 2019 • Athlone 75 MLD by December 2021

Wastewater

Leveraging nanotechnology for reuse

A

changing climate, water scarcity and increased population all play a role in the demands on water resources. These challenges require municipalities to pursue sustainable supply options such as indirect potable reuse (IPR), which aims to diversify water sources to maximise the reliability of a region’s water supply.

With IPR, municipal wastewater is treated and injected into a groundwater aquifer via vadose zone wells, spreading basins or another means in which water percolates through the unsaturated soil into the aquifer.

Case study The City of Scottsdale Water Campus in the US is one of the largest and most advanced IPR facilities in the world. Its advanced water treatment (AWT) facility was commissioned in 1999 and today consists of fourteen 8-inch reverse osmosis (RO) trains for a total of 45.4 MLD and three 16-inch RO trains for a total of 31.8 MLD, operating at 85% recovery to produce RO treated water for golf course irrigation and aquifer recharge.

TABLE 1 LG Chem TFN BWRO specifications Stabilised salt rejection (%)

99.6

Active area m2

37 (400)

Standard test condition: 2,000 ppm NaCl, 15.5 bar, 25˚C, pH 8, 15% recovery

The depletion of water supplies for potable and irrigation use has become a major problem around the world.

TABLE 2 Average* water quality analysis results Constituents

Sodium Chloride TDS (calc.)

TOC

Feed ion concentration (mg/ℓ)

Permeate ion concentration (mg/ℓ)

Ion rejection

Standard deviation

Three-year permeate target (mg/ℓ)

283

7.50

97.35%

0.22%

17.00

422

4.55

98.92%

0.18%

20.00

1 285

26.30

97.96%

0.23%

70.00

6.81

0.27

96.06%

0.42%

N/A

*Average of four independent sample analyses over two months of operation (March-May 2016)

LG Chem has developed new thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) brackish water RO (BWRO) membranes that incorporate proprietary nanotechnology to improve conventional RO membrane performance.

The TFN BWRO membranes aim to reduce the overall cost of desalination while achieving superior product water quality.

In March 2016, LG replaced the existing 630 low-fouling membranes in three trains at the AWT facility. These trains, in 20:10:5 array configuration, had been running for five years before being replaced with LG’s TFN BWRO membranes The results from the water quality analyses presented in Table 2 demonstrate consistent rejection performance of the TFN membranes for major constituents.

The permeate TDS, sodium, and chloride concentrations are well below the threeyear targets.

At the end of 2016, the client was very satisfied with the performance of LG membranes and decided to order another three trains of the same capacity to be replaced with LG membranes. Phase 2 installation took place in January 2017 where three trains with the 24:10:5 array configuration were replaced with the LG’s

TFN BWRO membranes, bringing the total number of LG elements at Scottsdale Water Campus to 1 332. Today, the performance of all six trains meets the targets. This case study is a good example of the successful implementation of LG TFN BWRO membranes in IPR applications.

A solution for SA “The recent drought has made us all more aware that we need to look for alternative solutions to meet our growing water demands. We should learn from countries like the US, where alternatives like IPR have been successfully implemented and find ways to tailor them to our local needs,” says Henk Smit, managing director, Vovani Water Products.

Vovani serves as a supplier for LG Chem products in South Africa.

www.vovani.co.za

M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

45

Wastewater

Reviving

Stellenbosch WWTW

The 93-yearold Stellenbosch Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) is receiving a muchneeded upgrade to eliminate pollution and odour problems at the undercapacitated plant.

A

t an operating capacity of 20 MLD, the wastewater treatment plant's current throughtput is well below the region’s demand.

As a result, poor-quality effluent is being discharged into the nearby Veldwachters River in addition to creating odour problems in the touristpopular Western Cape town.

Veolia Water Technologies South Africa has been contracted by Stellenbosch Local Municipality to upgrade the mechanical and electrical works at the region’s only WWTW. The upgrade, including all initial civil works, will increase the plant’s operating capacity to 35 MLD, ensuring the increasing sewage

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

is adequately treated and surrounding waters are not polluted.

Working in conjunction with the designs from consulting engineers Aurecon, Veolia has commenced installing a range of technologies to increase the plant’s operating capacity.

The upgraded plant will feature a full biological and nutrient-removal facility using a membrane biological reactor and will also cater for future growth in the area. Innovative, low-footprint membrane and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology will be used to treat the effluent to comply with discharge specifications. This final UV clarification step will remove all remaining harmful contaminants from the wastewater.

“These technologies ensure that treated wastewater will be of SANSapproved potable quality; this is vital as the plant outflow will discharge into the Veldwachters River, which is used to irrigate local crops,” says Peter Avenant, process engineer at Veolia. The plant is also located in a highly dense and popular area and modular-type bio-trickling filters and bioreactors will be installed in the inlet system to address the town’s odour concerns.

Phase 1 of this project has been completed and Veolia is currently commissioning the plant. Phase 2, the refurbishment of the existing works, commenced in October 2017.

Technical Paper

Data Management

Part III of III

URBAN NETWORK re-engineering A group of researchers and experienced water professionals from Griffith University and Seqwater in South East Queensland, Australia, got together to find out how advanced sensors, big data and artificial intelligence can be used to improve urban network management.

By Edoardo Bertone1,2, Khoi Nguyen1, Oz Sahin1,3, Guilherme Franklin de Oliveira2, Rodney Stewart1,2, Hong Zhang1,2 and Kelvin O’Halloran4

A

VPS-based, manganese prediction model was effectively developed and tested for Hinze Dam, with a number of real-time validation trials during winter’s critical circulation events. The model proved to be able to accurately predict the timing of the lake destratification, as well as the magnitude of the peak in soluble manganese. Such a model has been deployed in real time at the WTP through the creation of a graphical user interface (GUI; see Figure 4), automatically collecting the required inputs (e.g. VPS and weather data).

Thanks to this model, WTP operators now have an early warning of critical manganese events, meaning that they will have enough time to proactively adjust the treatment process accordingly. In addition, manual lake samplings for manganese have been drastically

reduced, leading to substantial cost savings for Seqwater.

With the adopted hybrid approach, all chemicals used at the Mudgeeraba WTP were predicted with reasonable accuracy, based on historical water quality data.

Pumping costs were also predicted with high accuracy. The model was used for a ‘what-if’ analysis and was run over historical data assuming a different use of the two connected reservoirs. In particular, it was found that an increased use of Little Nerang Dam would have led to considerable cost savings in almost any water quality scenario, as pumping costs from Hinze Dam are very high compared to the cost of higher chemical dosages in case of worse raw water quality. Assuming, therefore, that Little Nerang Dam almost always represents a cheaper option, it becomes crucial to avoid high depletion risks and, thus

For a full list of references, contact the lead author on: e.bertone@griffith.edu.au 1

ities Research Institute, Griffith C University, South East Queensland, Australia

2

S chool of Engineering, Griffith U niversity, South East Queensland, Australia

3

riffith Climate Change Response Program, G South East Queensland, Australia

4

Seqwater, South East Queensland, Australia

carefully select the optimal withdrawal amount, especially if dry conditions are expected by the BoM. In this sense, the Little Nerang Dam level forecasting model was validated over different historical conditions and can provide a useful decision support tool for the WTP decision-makers. A GUI was M A RC H / A P R I L 2018

47

Technical Paper

Data Management

also developed, providing the user with the ability of optimising the intake from Little Nerang Dam by also minimising spill and depletion risks. A mobile application is also currently under development in order to further engage the stakeholders with this research output.

Given that the current electricity tariff implies that any use of the Hinze Dam pumps will trigger a number of very high fixed charges, the WTP managers can now run the model towards the end of the month, and establish if it is safe to withdraw uniquely from LND for the

Figure 4 Real-time manganese prediction model: GUI

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MAR CH/APR I L 2018

following month. In this way, at least for the wettest months of the year, substantial economic benefits will be achieved by turning off the pumps for whole months and increasing the use of Little Nerang Dam. Recent work also showed the potential to use the fDOM probe to optimise the coagulation process. The probe has been calibrated for temperature, turbidity and IFE. As its excitation and emission pair is 365 nm and 480 nm, it only reads fluorescence in the peak-C region.

Peak-C is interpreted to be related primarily to vascular plant sources having highly aromatic, conjugated, and mainly high molecular mass components. This is likely to be the hydrophobic DOM that is easier to remove through coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation processes, which can lead to the formation of disinfection by-products in the distribution system, if not effectively removed.

Future work will seek to integrate fDOM reading within the existing coagulation models in order to achieve

Figure 5A Water end-use disaggregation

a more autonomous, proactive coagulation process that can lead to a greater preparedness regarding sudden water quality variations, and a minimisation of health risks for water consumers.

Real-time water demand management From the water consumption side, the use of smart water meters in combination with intelligent pattern recognition algorithms has allowed the consumption data to be autonomously disaggregated into a repository of end-use categories, providing a platform for water customers to closely monitor their water use by logging into their user-defined online account, where all detailed descriptions of daily, weekly and monthly consumption tables as well as charts on water consumption patterns for different end-use categories can be found and downloaded. The analysis of high-resolution data from a smart water meter can also benefit water businesses by providing them with water end-use reports of any desired property or suburb, quickly. This enables the development of more targeted conservation programmes in water-scarcity periods, improved water demand forecasting and optimised pipe network modelling.

This study, more specifically, introduced Autoflow (see Figure 5A) – an innovative water demand management system developed using artificial intelligence combined with smart water metering to provide real-time consumption

data for both water authorities and consumers. This could significantly improve current decision-making relating to the development of water demand management strategies as well as provide empirical verification on achieved water savings from already implemented programmes. From the utility’s perspective, huge savings in both water and capital cost could be realised from the early detection of leakage, the deferral of system upgrades as a result of reduced peak demand, and the optimisation of pumping schedules.

In terms of the customer, continuously updated detailed consumption data would significantly enhance users’ awareness, which would result in reduced water and energy bills. Further savings would also be experienced when customers join various rebate schemes offered by the water utilities to help improve the overall water management system. Once fully developed, this software would provide added motivation for water utilities to continually promote the use of more effective water saving measures. This software also offers up-to-date consumption data and the ability to implement further peak demand reducing solutions (e.g. a time-of-use tariff), making it an effective tool for the operation, management and planning for, and of, water infrastructure.

Holistic long-term management The developed SD models have lower practical utility on a daily operational basis, but support the water utility managers in taking delicate, long-term planning decisions.

The extreme event model, for instance, enables the identification and evaluation of how combinations of factors, when interlinked in the SD model, produce partially unexpected outcomes that, if overlooked, could potentially imply substantial extra costs if a wrong long-term planning decision were to be made. For instance, a particular dam management option (i.e. lowering the dam level threshold, triggering the use of alternative sources of water) did not seem effective, as it would have implied exponentially increasing the risk of delivering unsafe water.

Similarly, the effect of an increased frequency and intensity of rainfall events would be nonlinear, since an increase of 15% would be detrimental (i.e. increased flood, on-site sewage treatment plant overflow, landslip occurrence risks) and an increase of 30% would lead to a risk of delivering unsafe water. This is because, at the same time, the risk of another extreme event – i.e. bush fire – would be substantially reduced; additionally, it would also be possible to cope much better with increased population and, in turn, water demand.

Another tool that will help water utilities to deal with water demand issues better is the SD model for water tariff assessment. The model was effectively calibrated and validated based on historical data, visual inspection, results of recent relevant reports, stakeholder consultation, and sensitivity analysis. Inclining block tariffs with different cutoff points were simulated and optimised based on the local context set up by the water consumption and social survey results. Water utilities can also optimise the billing frequency and other water tariff features; such a tool will help in quickly setting up a new water pricing scheme alongside, or instead of, water restriction, in the event that a drought occurs. This model could be also coupled with smart water metering data and water disaggregation model outputs for

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Technical Paper

Data Management

Figure 5B Water end-use disaggregation

the optimised management of water demand through adaptive pricing.

Conclusion Through a number of research-industry collaborations within the water resources

management field, data-driven or participatory models (or both) have been developed. Such models are based on historical datasets, real-time data collected by remote sensing instrumentations, surveys and stakeholders’ input. The models are different in scope (reservoir, water treatment, water distribution,

water consumption), objectives (real-time treatment optimisation, monthly operational planning, support for policymakers, water demand management), and forecasting horizon (real time, seven days, six weeks, decades).

However, they all share the common goal of exploiting existing resources and extract information that can support water utilities and help manage the existing water supply, and better cope with climate change and population growth.

Although location specific, the methodology can be applied to new case studies whenever enough quantitative or qualitative data can be retrieved. Regardless of the approach used, stakeholder engagement is a crucial step for any decision support system development, in order to guarantee adequate knowledge transfer and a real deployment of the developed tools. Future work will focus on developing further models based on water utilities’ needs, refining the existing ones, and strengthening the outputs-transfer part of the project, by developing more interactive GUIs or mobile applications, and, in general, through an increased deployment of smart technologies.

Produc t & Industry News

Pocket-sized measuring technology

In industrial process measurement and automation, demand is steadily rising for simple, reliable and maintenancefree measuring instruments in a pocket-sized format.

P

roviding an answer to Industry 4.0, the new Picomag from Endress+Hauser fulfils these requirements, measuring the flow of electrically conductive fluids and their process temperature. It also offers customers easy commissioning with Bluetooth, using its SmartBlue app, as well as seamless system integration, thanks to IO-Link technology.

The pocket-sized technology is suitable for the quantity measurement or process monitoring of cooling, heating or process water for temperatures between -10° C to +70° C and pressures up to 16 bar. Due to its compact design, Picomag can be installed flawlessly into any pipe up to 50 mm in diameter, even in confined spaces, using a number of process connection adapters available. It is a cost-optimised solution for applications, where the focus is on high repeatability (±0.2% of full scale) and thus reliable measured values.

Display The large and user-friendly display allows for an instant local process reading of flow, temperature and totaliser values, with errors occurring during operations displayed via diagnostic symbols in accordance

with Namur recommendation NE 107.

This guarantees optimal readability at any time. Configuration parameters can also be called up and monitored by simply knocking on the device.

Bluetooth With a Bluetooth connection, it is possible to carry out wireless configuration or data retrieval over a distance of 10 m, even at difficult-to-access installation sites. The free SmartBlue app from Endress+Hauser – available for both Android and iOS – provides the user with quick and easy navigation through all device and diagnostic functions.

control systems via IO-Link technology.

This communication standard has been established for 10 years and can be combined with all conventional fieldbus systems. Thus, it offers maximum flexibility of installation into existing system infrastructures. As an interface, the IOLink master offers users comprehensive data access through the control room.

Other advantages of IO-Link technology include the automatic transfer of parameters after a device replacement, as well as low wiring effort as compared to conventional wiring.

Ultimately, the Picomag is ideally equipped to handle the future requirements of process automation.

IO-Link technology Another highlight of the Picomag is the digital data transmission to process

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Coriolis – a growing market The Coriolis method, a technology used to measure mass flow, is seeing a growing market, despite it being a relatively new technology. Krohne has also developed its own unique, patented algorithm, known as Entrained Gas Measurement (EGM). bar

l/s °C m3/h

m/s

fact

Precise monitoring of water flows and leak detection in irrigation networks WATERFLUX 3070 – technology driven by KROHNE • Electromagnetic water meter with integrated temperature and pressure measurement • Line pressure monitoring for leak detection or pump efficiency control • Multiple power concept for any location • Remote transmission of readings and meter status as option

KROHNE South Africa 8 Bushbuck Close, Corporate Park South Randjiespark, Midrand, Tel.: +27 113141391

Fax: +27 113141681, Clayton Duckworth, c.duckworth@krohne.com, www.za.krohne.com

S

ince the introduction of EGM technology for all Optimass Coriolis mass flow meters in 2012, Optimass flow meters have proved themselves in two-phase flow and batch/loading/empty-full-empty applications in various industries, such as food and beverage, chemical, and oil and gas.

The Optimass series offers continuous and repeatable mass flow and density measurement with two-phase flows such as liquids mixed with gas, slurries with gases, or highly viscous fluids with gas entrainments. Together with the indication or configurable alarm for the user, EGM can also be used to improve processes by identifying transient gas entrainments.

“Krohne is one of a select few companies that offers a straight-tube Coriolis meter, which impacts on space considerations and, therefore, results in low installation costs,” says Clayton Duckworth, national sales manager, Krohne. “The main benefit of this type of technology is to calculate density, thereby enabling the client to send various product media through the same pipe.”

Krohne’s mass flow meters are manufactured at its UK plant – a factory dedicated to manufacturing these meters – thereby ensuring quality of the highest standard.

“At this stage, Coriolis is one of the more costly technologies around for flow measurement, but it is an extremely accurate technology. It is, however, becoming more popular and cost-effective as time goes on,” concludes Duckworth.

Produc t & Industry News

70 years of AGRU Back in 1948, Alois Gruber senior laid the foundations for a success story that continues on to the present day.

S AGRU headquarters in Bad Hall, Austria

Electro-socket fittings proven in millions of applications are manufactured from stress-crackresistant PE 100-RC material

More than 30 years ago, AGRU set new standards with the world's first calendering of extra-wide geomembranes for environmental and building protection purposes

eventy years on, AGRU has become a global player with an annual turnover of €350 million (R5 billion). The AGRU Group has plants on three continents and employs more than a thousand staff worldwide.

Given that exports currently account for 95% of its business, there are AGRU customers all over the globe.

Within the industry, AGRU has built a reputation for premium quality, customer focus, reliability and professionalism in all areas of plastics engineering.

In the USA, the company produces largescale polyethylene pipes with diameters of up to 3.5 m and lengths of up to 600 m.

These large pipe strings, weighing up to 1 000 t, are then shipped across the world's oceans to their deployment locations. One major driver of success in the development of an industrial empire spanning several continents was extensive application of engineering expertise, combined with a comprehensive premium plastics engineering portfolio.

The economic miracle As early as 1948, master locksmith Alois Gruber senior founded his own workshop in Waldneukirchen, Austria. In the 1950s, he embarked on pioneering work in two industries – initially in anodising technology and later in the manufacturing of plastic piping systems. When he purchased an anodising system in 1954, he laid the foundations for today's success at AGRU Oberflächentechnik. Gruber senior bought the first machine for extruding plastic pipes in 1961 and then, five years later, invested in injection moulding machines for fittings. AGRU Kunststofftechnik became the first manufacturer in Europe to deliver pipes and fittings from a single manufacturing source. In the post-war years (the period of the ‘economic miracle’), AGRU made its own history.

The second generation In the years that followed, Alois Gruber senior’s son, Alois Gruber, joined the company as a managing director. He transformed the AGRU Group into a global player, opened new production facilities in China and India, and successfully established AGRU's position as a single-source supplier. Thanks to ongoing investment in new technologies, AGRU is a ‘first mover’ that delivers industry innovations such as large-diameter pipes, electro-fusion fittings, high-purity piping systems and extra-wide geomembranes from the outset of the respective industrial cycle. Electro-socket fittings, proven in millions of applications, were launched in 1990. This revolutionary invention facilitates the installation of plastic piping systems, for which time-consuming butt or socket welding had been needed up to this point.

World's biggest PE pipe To continue meeting the increased demand for AGRU products in the USA, a new plant was built in Nevada, in 2008.

Fully automated high-bay warehouses in Austria and the USA simplified logistics and in 2010, AGRU began the production of large-scale polyethylene pipes with diameters between 80 cm and 250 cm.

The inauguration of AGRU's own large-diameter pipe plant at Charleston, South Carolina, to enable the extrusion of what is currently the world's largest HDPE pipe with a diameter of 3.5 m and a length of 600 m, was a major milestone.

Today, AGRU is represented locally by sales partners in more than 100 countries and continues to expand its market share and explore new markets. These successful internationalisation efforts will not only reinforce the global player's position on the international markets, but also lay a secure foundation for future growth.

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24 - 27 June 2018 • CTICC, Cape Town • www.wisa2018.org.za

Sink Or Swim: Preparing Our Cities For The Future

Uncharted Waters: Developing Solutions Through Science And Technology

Waste Not Want Not: Optimising Processes For Treatment And Reclamation

Under The Microscope: How Do We Join The Dots?

Bridging The Gap: Sustainable Finance For Improved Delivery

Pooling Together: Enabling Participation Through Good Governance

Conference Speakers

Clem Sunter

Silver Mugisha

Rajendra Singh

Samantha Yates

Tony Wong

Contact us for further information: Scatterlings Conference & Events: Project Manager; Carolyn Melnick, Tel: 021 422 2402, email: caro@soafrica.com • Programme & Abstracts: Robyn Cawood, Tel: 011 463 5085, email: robyn@soafrica.com Sponsorship & Exhibition: Charne Millett-Clay, Tel: 011 463 5085, email charne@soafrica.com

WISA • Events

WISA 2018: A turning point The Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) will host the WISA Biennial Conference and Exhibition 2018 in Cape Town from 24 to 27 June 2018.

T

he central theme of the conference – ‘Breaking barriers, Connecting ideas’ – seeks to address past, existing and future water resource challenges by promoting collaboration, cooperation and integration within the water sector, explains Jason Mingo, WISA 2018 Technical Committee chair and project manager in the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

Amid growing concerns around the impact of climate change, and the threat of more extreme weather events, the Southern African region faces increased uncertainty and vulnerability regarding water supply, notes Mingo. This makes the 2018 event all the more timeous, not least because the host city is facing its own drought and watersecurity troubles.

“The conference, while hosted every two years, is especially relevant given the attention and focus placed on water in terms of its scarcity across the Southern Africa region,” says Mingo. The development of new technologies, processes and advancements in research during this time means that there has never been a more exciting time to be involved in the water sector.”

Similarly, the conference theme speaks to the current state of the water sector. “And not only at a local and regional scale, but the attempts being made even at a global scale, where the water sector needs to broaden its involvement and connection to a number of different sectors and disciplines to ensure safe, equitable and quality access to water and sanitation,” Mingo adds.

The importance of water management in ensuring and contributing to resilience, sustainability and liveability for cities and continued growth of the economy requires integration of both disciplines and sectors, including government, corporate and communities. As such, the conference aims to promote, inspire and demonstrate the value of working beyond existing mandates and perceived restrictions. While an emphasis is placed on Southern African case studies and research, international examples applicable to the Southern African context are welcome.

As per the theme, the 2018 conference is targeting both water professionals and those professionals who are interested and involved in some way with the water

sector to provide a networking platform. In addition, the event will feature a diversity of forums, presentations and workshops to engage on new ideas, to realise such ideas and drive positive change within the filed.

The range of international keynote speakers will also provide some context in terms of benchmarking where the region and WISA stand. The conference will offer delegates a picture of the shared challenges faced by other regions across the world, with further opportunities to identify international and regional collaborations.

“The event aspires to be the turning point in how the water profession within the region considers its role within the broader society, and to address the need for better integration and collaboration across sectors and disciplines,” says Mingo. “By promoting and supporting concepts linked with this theme, it is hoped that WISA 2018 will be the beginning of a new approach to water management.”

Importantly, the event is to have an open session to engage with the public directly to improve public understanding of WISA’s role and importance as the professional body for the water sector.

Low water footprint Day Zero is expected to hit the City of Cape Town a few weeks after WISA 2018 takes place* and the conference organisers are determined to ensure that the event’s water footprint is minimal.

Rand Water has already donated 15 000 x 500 mℓ bottles of water – sourced from Gauteng’s water system – for delegates.

The plastic from the bottles will then go into the venue’s recycling system.

A number of other conference sponsors and exhibitors will also be involved in the plan, which is being finalised with the CTICC. *at time of going to print

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INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

Index to Advertisers African Utility Week

56

Keller AG

AGRU Kunststoftechnik

49

Krohne

52

Amanz'abantu

26

Macsteel Fluid Control

16

Aqua Resources

6

Mather+Platt

35

AquaPlan

OFC

Atlas Copco

44

Circuit Water

OBC

2

N&Z

LI

Pipelines

50

Quality Filtration Systems

43 14

Endress+Hauser

30

Rainbow Reservoirs

Enviro Loo

37

Rocla

Envirosan

38

Sizabantu Piping Systems

ERWAT

20

SMEC South Africa

Grundfos

12

VEGA Controls

32

Hidrostal Southern Africa

33

WISA

54

Integral Labs

18

Vovani Water Products

28 9

PART OF

WATER

IBC

IFC & 45

15 – 17 May 2018 18 May 2018: Site visit

Cape Town, South Africa

THE WATER TRACK WILL BRING TOGETHER EXPERTS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO SUPPORT UTILITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT TOWARDS SOLUTIONS THAT CAN MEET AFRICA’S WATER DEMAND. BENEFITS OF ATTENDING • Meet key industry stakeholders from across the continent in a dedicated water conference and expo • Be provided with a report from the World Bank on the current status of water infrastructure projects • Find out the different ways in which the Western Cape is shifting cultural behaviour toward water consumption due to the drought crisis the province is facing • Learn about the latest advances in a smart water utility?

Book your conference pass today, contact Gary Meyer on +27 21 001 3808 | gary.meyer@spintelligent.com

3-DAY BREAKOUT CONFERENCE TRACK

DEDICATED WATER EXPO ON MAIN FLOOR

#AUW2018

www.african-utility-week.com