WATER LEAKS
NMBM has prioritised the rehabilitation of major pipelines that are old and in need of maintenance, as they can cause massive leaks and prolonged water disruptions to large suburbs. R90 million has been received this financial year for the rehabilitation of pipelines. This comes from a loan that NMBM has taken based on a 10-year Non-Revenue Water (NRW) business plan to reduce NRW.” experiences intermittent water supply from Kouga Dam (which is critically low) through the Loerie supply system. Recent projections have revealed that Kouga Dam will likely reach dead storage at a capacity of 3.1% in the next few months. “We are planning to construct a new pump station and bulk water pipeline to transfer water sourced from the Gariep Dam (Nooitgedagt), in order to mitigate this once the Kouga Dam reaches dead storage.”
Monthly household audits are conducted to find further leaks and possible illegal connections. “If there is a holiday home in NMBM that has been vacant for months but has an active water bill, then we can notify the owners about a possible leak. If there are households with very low readings, then we will investigate further; if there is an illegal connection, we will issue a fine, fix the meter and may even involve the police,” states Francis.
In the long term, there are plans for two desalination plants. The Coega Development Corporation has applied and received funding from National Treasury for a 15 Mℓ/day desalination plant. The city also has plans to construct its own desalination plant on the western side of NMBM at Skoenmakerskop, which on completion will produce 30 Mℓ/day into the system. Water consumption While fixing leaks and using alternative water sources (like boreholes and desalination plants) to augment NMBM’s existing supply will contribute towards improving its water security, reducing water consumption is key. “We are faced with a complexity of reducing water consumption in a city with a growing population; however, our calculations show that reducing consumption from 300 Mℓ/day to 250 Mℓ/day would alleviate significant pressure on our water supply,” says Francis.
A laboratory on the move The Lovibond® Tintometer Group has developed new water safety kits for basic drinking water analysis, targeted microbiological and chemical analysis.
T
hese ‘mobile laboratories’ can be used anywhere in the world and are housed in a robust case that can be carried by hand or, if in difficult terrain, in a practical backpack. They are ideal for reliable monitoring directly on-site at the source or treatment plant when no laboratory is nearby. Used by rescue and emergency teams, experts on-site, aid organisations, research institutes and universities, and semi-skilled helpers, these water safety kits can be adapted to an individual's specific needs.
There are three products available: • Water Safety Kit Basic – simple solution • Water Safety Kit Chemical – chemical and microbial solutions • Water Safety Kit Combined – best suited for aid organisations and nongovernmental organisations.
ADVANTAGES OF WATER SAFETY KITS • Heating and cooling function as standard for incubation with the DI 20 incubator for microbiological tests, allowing accurate, reliable and repeatable measurements • Simultaneous detection of different microbes in the duo kit • The most impor tant analysis parameters are included in all kits • Even non-exper ts can easily per form almost all tests • Instructions for many devices and tests with selfexplanator y pictograms • Safe and simple tests according to WHO standards • Optional transpor t backpack for the larger case
M AY / J U NE 2021
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