Water & SanitationComplete resource and wastewater management

Think water, think WISA!The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

MEDIA

Africa

March / April 2012 • ISSN 1990-8857 • Cover price R35.00 • Vol 7 No. 2

e

Department of Water Affairs

A WINNER!Sebokeng Pressure Management Project

SEWPACKSA Making a diff erence

WISA 2012 conference Water footprint

Municipalities KwaZulu-Natal feature

Securing SA's water supply

Ravi Saman, water and wastewater vertical manager for Schneider Electric discusses their product and services

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MAR/APR 2012 1

Water & SanitationComplete resource and wastewater management

Think water, think WISA!The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

MEDIA

Africa

March / April 2012 • ISSN 1990-8857 • Cover price R35.00 • Vol 7 No. 2

e

Department of Water Affairs

A WINNER!Sebokeng Pressure Management Project

SEWPACKSA Making a diff erence

WISA 2012 conference Water footprint

Municipalities KwaZulu-Natal feature

Securing SA's water supply

Ravi Saman, water and wastewater vertical manager for Schneider Electric discusses their product and services

THE HOT SEAT P12 EDE

rtiseP1 M

cal es 2

TT

Editor’s letter 3

COVER STORY

Security of water supply in South Africa 4

WISA

President’s comment 7Making a water footprint 8

WISA YWP

YWPs at Vula Career Day 10

PUBLIC SECTOR

Augmentation of the ’61 Pipeline 21The hydraulic optimisation of Amanzimtoti WWTW 24Achieving a water-saving culture 26Water Lifeline Project 28Expanding our horizons 33

TECHNICAL PAPER

An Integrated Approach: Wetland Rehabilitation 36

AFRICA

Madagascar makes use of SA technology 45

PANEL DISCUSSION

Sewpacksa making a diff erence 47Tackling the water and sewerage industries head on 49

INTERVIEW

Global and African initiatives 56

INDUSTRY

Sustainable acid mine water treatment technology 59Anglo American’s eMalahleni water reclamation plant 60

TECHNOLOGY

New record set at De Hoop Dam 64Chicken abattoir case study 67

AWARDS

Sebokeng Pressure Management Project a winner 81

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Building water management capacity for Africa 87

James Ndlovu, CEO TCTA

Peter Labrum, managing director, SRK Consulting, on Global and African initiatives

3333

2121ABOVE Augmentation of the ’61 Pipeline

REGULARS

News international 14News Africa 15Trends & products 71Level of dams 83Subscriptions 84

1

CONTENTS Volume 7. No.2

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EDITOR'S LET TERPublisher Elizabeth ShortenEditor Debbie BesselingCreative executive head Frédérick DantonSenior designer Hayley MendelowSenior sub-editor Claire NozaicSub-editor Patience GumboContributors Tezren Pandither, Suvritha Ramphal, Darren van Rooyen, David Townshend, Donnelly McCleland, Fareed Nagdi and Umesh Bahadur Marketing Martin Hiller Production manager Antois-Leigh VisagieProduction assistant Jacqueline Modise Subscription sales Nomsa MasinaDistribution coordinator Asha PursothamAdministration Tonya HebentonPrinters United Litho Johannesburg+27 (0)11 402 0571Advertising sales Avé Delport Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6224 • Cell: +27 (0)83 302 1342 Fax: 086 502 1216E-mail: avedel@lantic.net

Publisher

MEDIA Physical address: No 4, 5th Avenue Rivonia 2056Postal address: PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117, South AfricaTel: +27 (0)11 233 2600Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5E-mail: debbie@3smedia.co.za

ISSN: 1990 - 8857Annual subscription: R270 (SA rate)Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.All articles in Water&Sanitation Africa 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.

WISA mission statementThe Water Institute of Southern Africa provides a forum for exchange of information and views to improve water resource management in southern Africa.

Endorsed by

Our March/April 2012 issue cov-ers some of the sector’s busiest times as we head into some of the water industry’s most

prominent events of the year. These include the Department of Water Aff airs National Water Week with the theme: ‘Water is Life: Conserve it, Respect it, Enjoy it’, which was held from 5 to 12 March, and the Water Institute of Southern Africa’s (WISA) 2012 biennial conference taking place from 6 to 9 May in Cape Town.In this issue of Water&Sanitation Africa, we interview Dana Grobler, chairperson of WISA 2012’s conference, about what we can expect this year at the conference, which has the theme ‘Water Footprint’. According to Grobler, WISA 2012 will be diff erent in that the conference will be bringing in water resources together with what is classically called the water services people, as well as water researchers. This will be the fi rst time there has been a con-certed eff ort to bring together these three groupings that form the pillars of water resources and water management. 1 200 delegates are expected to attend the con-ference where approximately 140 formal papers will be presented, 50 to 80 posters will be on display and a wide variety of workshop topics will also be presented.The Department of Water Aff airs will also be hosting their prestigious Blue Drop Awards during the conference.A highlight of this issue is an extensive feature on water projects in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. There is the project that optimises the hydraulic effi ciency

of the Amanzimtoti W a s t e w a t e r Treatment Works. The project was

Water is life

WISA CONTACTS:

HEAD OFFICETel: +27 (0)11 805 3537 Fax: +27 (0)11 315 1258Physical address: 1st Floor, Building 5, Constantia Park, 546 16th Road, Randjiespark Ext 7, Midrand

BRANCHESEastern CapeChairman: Anderson Mancotywa Tel: +27 (0)41 506 2172Secretary/treasurer: Owen WentzelTel: +27 (0)41 363 1984

Free StateChairman: Gerda VenterTel: +27 (0)51 405 9201Secretary/treasurer: Riana WesselsTel: +27 (0)56 515 0375

KwaZulu-NatalChairman: Gordon BorainTel: +27 (0)33 846 1826Secretary/treasurer: Stephanie WalshTel: +27 (0)31 302 4077

Western CapeChairman: John ClaytonTel: +27 (0)21 531 6411Secretary/treasurer: Farouk Robertson Tel: +27 (0)21 400 4574

www.ewisa.co.za

Debbie M Debbie M BesselingBesseling

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of W aTreThe

Water & SanitationComplete r

esource and wastewat

er management

Think water, think WISA!

The official magazine of

the Water Institute of S

outhern Africa

MEDIA

Africa

March / April 2012 • ISSN 1990-8857 • Cover price R35.00 • Vol 7 No. 2

e

Department of Water Affair

s

A WINNER!

Sebokeng Pressure

Management Project

SEWPACKSA

Making a diff erence

WISA 2012

conference

Water footprint

Municipalities

KwaZulu-Natal

feature

Securing SA's water supply

Ravi Saman, water and waste

water vertical

manager for Schneider Electri

c discusses

their product and services

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Cover opportunityIn each issue, Water & Sanitation Africa off ers companies the opportuni-ty 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 aff ord the advertiser the cover story on pages 4 and 5 and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings contact Avé Delport on +27 (0)83 302 1342 or e-mail avedel@lantic.net

initiated as a result of the number of new commercial developments in the catchment area so that an increased fl ow can be accommodated. In addition, the quality of the effl uent discharged into the Ezimbokodweni River has been signifi cantly improved.Msunduzi Municipality has formulated a fi ve-year Water Conservation and Water Demand Management initiative to cut wa-ter losses, increase revenue and improves-ervice delivery with the ultimate objective of reaching the Presidential Directive of halving water losses by 2014.The uMgungundlovu District Municipality has secured a multi-million rand fund-ing package for its Water Lifeline Project from the Netherlands-based Facility for Infrastructure Development known as ORIO.We hope you enjoy this issue of Water&Sanitation Africa.

Conserve it, Respect it, Enjoy it

4 MAR/APR 2012

COVER STORYDepartment of Water Affairs

While striving to ensure that all South Africans gain access to clean water and safe sanitation, the water sector also promotes eff ective and effi cient water

resources management to ensure sustainable economic and social development.

National Water PolicyThere are three fundamental objectives for managing South Africa’s water resources, which are fi rmly grounded in the provisions of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa (Act No 108 of 1996) and arise from the following principles: • To achieve equitable access to water; that is, equity of access to water ser-vices, to the use of water resources and to the benefi ts from the use of water resources.• To achieve sustainable use of water by making progressive adjustments to water use with the objective of striking a balance between water availability and legitimate water requirements, and by implementing measures to protect water resources.• To achieve effi cient and eff ective water use for optimum social and economic benefi t.Planning for the future requires a total paradigm shift to ensure optimal use of water. There is need to ‘stretch’ wa-ter, be it through water conservation, water reuse or de-salination. However, when it comes to planning, there are many uncertainties. The fact that rainfall patterns are vari-able, population and economic growth cannot be reliably predicted and climate change eff ects diff er from region to region across the country compounds the problem. South Africa prides itself in its ingenuity when it comes to avail-ing water to areas of dire need, such as mines, agriculture, inter-basin transfer and building of dams.

Security of water supply in The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) is the custodian of South Africa’s water resources. It is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy governing this sector. It also has override responsibility for water services provided by local government.

2004 National Water Resource StrategyThe 2004 National Water Resource Strategy is the docu-ment that governs how water systems should be managed.The National Water Resource Strategy must, subject to item (4)(a) of Section 5:(a) set out the strategies, objectives, plans, guidelines and procedures of the minister and institutional arrange-ments relating to the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources within the framework of existing relevant government policy in order to achieve ‒

(i) the purpose of this Act(ii) any compulsory national standards prescribed under

Section 9(1) of the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No 108 of 1997).

According to Johan van Rooyen, the DWA National Water Resource Planning Director, the National Water Resource Strategy is something citizens should take more seriously. “People should actually measure the Department or the whole water sector against what we are saying in the strategy. This is something that should be used as a bench-mark.” The main message is that fresh water is limited and availability varies from area to area. The document also lays out the list of all the options available to the Department to

MAR/APR 2012 5

COVER STORY

South Africareconcile the resource with demand. Overall and on average, there is more water than what is required. How does this work? The fi rst part of the answer lies in the ecological reserve, which was introduced through the National Water Act of 1998.

National Water ActThe purpose of this Act is to ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled in ways which take into account, among other factors:(a) meeting the basic human needs of pre-

sent and future generations(b) promoting equitable access to water(c) redressing the results of past racial and

gender discrimination

(d) promoting the effi cient, sustainable and benefi cial use of water in the public interest

(e) facilitating social and economic development

(f) providing for growing demand for water use

(g) protecting aquatic and associated eco-systems and their biological diversity

(h) reducing and preventing pollution and degradation of water resources

(i) meeting international obligations(j) promoting dam safety(k) managing fl oods and droughts.The ecological reserve is the amount of

water that needs to stay in the catchment; this is water that should not be abstracted. But until 1998, there was no such concept. This means that more was abstracted from rivers than what was ecologically sustain-able. Basically, the ecological reserves were not taken into account when water was al-located. So when the Department compiled the national strategy in 2004, these reserve shortages were found. Many water supply systems have not yet reached a shortage point yet, but sooner or later all of South Africa’s systems will reach this point if noth-ing is done. Since 2004, the Department has been

working on reconciliation strategies for the separate water supply systems. These recon-ciliation strategies aim to ensure that there

is enough water for the areas where the big-gest portion of our economic activity is. The main areas (although not the only areas) are the Western Cape, the Vaal and the KwaZulu-Natal water supply systems.To get to diff erent scenarios of water

requirements, projections of population growth, the type of industry that may grow in the area and the increase in services to the population all have to be taken into account. Monitoring and adjustment of the possible eff ects of climate change introduces even more uncertainty. All possible water resourc-es and all other interventions, such as water conservation, demand management and the use of groundwater, are looked at. “We need to understand what the drivers of develop-ment will be so that we can have the water ready when it’s needed ‒ some of these interventions could take 15 to 20 years,” says Van Rooyen. “So we must think very far

In each issue, Water&Sanitation Africa off ers advertisers the opportunity to promote their company’s products and services to an appropriate audi-ence by booking the prime position of the front cover, which includes a two-page feature article. The magazine off ers advertisers an ideal platform to ensure maximum exposure of their brand. Please call Avé Delport on +27 (0)11 467 6224/ +27 (0)83 302 1342 to secure your booking.

ahead to make sure we’ve planned now so that we can implement when needed.”

Legal aspects of water• Principle 1 The water law shall be subject to and consistent with the Constitution in all matters, including the determination of the public interest and the rights and obligations of all parties, public and private, with regards to water. While taking cog-nisance of existing uses, the water law will actively promote the values enshrined in the Bill of Rights.• Principle 2 All water, wherever it occurs in the water cycle, is a resource common to all, the use of which shall be subject to national control. All water shall have a consistent status in law, irrespective of where it occurs.

• Principle 3 There shall be no ownership of water but only a right (for environmental and basic human needs) or an authorisa-tion for its use. Any authorisation to use water in terms of the water law shall not be in perpetuity.• Principle 4 The location of the water resource in relation to land shall not in itself confer preferential rights to usage. The riparian principle shall not apply.

Source: Fundamental principles and objectives for a new water law for South Africa.

The ecological reserve is the amount of water that needs to stay in the catchment, and should not be abstracted

For more information, please visit www.dwa.gov.za

MAR/APR 2012 7

WISAPresident's comment

On behalf of WISA, I am delight-ed to convey our congratula-tions on the appointment of the new director general of

the Department of Water Affairs, Maxwell Sirenya. While we acknowledge the high vacancy rate that the department has, we hope that it will urgently address the filling of vacancies at senior management

level. WISA wishes Sirenya all the best in his new position and look forward to continue our mutually beneficial relation-ship with the Department of Water Affairs under his leadership. In November 2011, the acting chief executive and I went on a presidential tour as a tradition of WISA. This tour enables the president and the acting chief executive to interact with the members at branch and division’s level and also patron members. Branches vis-ited included KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. Patron members visited included UMhlathuze Water, Ethekwini Municipality, Umgeni Water, Zetachem, Bloemwater, Mangaung Mayoral Committee, Department of Water Affairs ‒ Regional Office, Overberg Water,

• ABS Wastewater Technology • Amatola Water• Aveng Water• BIGEN AFRICA Services• BKS• Bloem Water• Botjheng Water• City of Cape Town• City of Tshwane• Dow Water & Process SA• Department of Water Aff airs

• Development Bank of Southern Africa• ERWAT• ESKOM Holdings• eThekwini Municipality• Festo• GE Betz South Africa• Golder Associates Africa• Grundfos Alldos• Hatch• Huber Technology• ITT Water & Wastewater South Africa• Johannesburg Water

• Magalies Water• Merck• Mhlathuze Water• NCP Chlorchem • Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality• Overberg Water• PD Naidoo & Associates Consulting Engineers• Rand Water• SALGA• SAME Water• Sedibeng Water• Siemens

• SSI Engineers and

Environmental Consultants

• TCTA

• Tecroveer

• Umgeni Water

• Veolia Water Solutions

& Technologies South Africa

• Water Research Commission

• Water & Sanitation

Services SA

• WEC Projects

• Zetachem

City of Cape Town, WAMTechnology, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and Amatola Water. Discussions held during our visit were very fruitful and will play an important role in WISA’s operations. Some of the areas covered included process control-ler training, training for water sector practitioners, mentorship, water resource

management, ESETA funding opportuni-ties, and sponsorships for WISA 2012. We felt very honoured with the recep-tion and the support that we received from the branches and patron members.I must commend the Western Cape WISA branch for such a well-organised process controllers’ day held on 24 November 2011. The event was attended by more than 250 process controllers from the province. Your collaboration with Overberg Water, DWA, ESETA, DBSA and others in preparation for the event was excellent and it made WISA proud. We are all looking forward to the WISA 2012, Water Footprints event. This pres-tigious biennial event will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 6 to 10 May 2012. I encourage

you to take part in this conference that promises to attract a record number of delegates and exhibitors. A wide range of topics that will be covered in the parallel sessions shows how unique WISA is.

75th anniversaryThe Water Institute of Southern Africa will be celebrating 75 years in the industry on 4 May 2012. We salute the pioneers and volunteers who dedicated their time to build this institute into what it is today. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary, we must remember to build a strong WISA that will contribute positively in address-ing the water sector challenges.

WISA President

2012, let us celebrate

On behalf of WISA, I am delighted to convey our congratulations on the appointment of the new director general of the Department of Water Aff airs, Maxwell Sirenya

PATRON MEMBERS

Anderson Mluleki

Mancotywa

A year of hope

8 MAR/APR 2012

WISAWISA 2012 conference

The theme for WISA 2012 is “water footprint”, tell us the concept behind this?The idea behind the “water footprint” theme is to say that humans, through their various social and economic ac-tivities, have an impact on all aspects relating to water. So in other words, water resources are being impacted as a result of the process of water being utilised, becoming contami-nated, and then requiring to be cleaned in wastewater treat-ment systems before being returned often for reuse. The concept of the water footprint implies that the conference will look at the issues and challenges in their broadest sense and the associated impacts that humans have on water.

How will this year’s WISA conference stand out from those of previous years?We are expecting between 1 200 and 1 500 delegates

Making a water footprintThe WISA 2012 conference will be taking place in Cape Town from 6 to 10 May. Debbie Besseling speaks to the conference’s chairperson, Dana Grobler, about what delegates can expect from this year’s event.

to attend WISA 2012. The conference will be diff erent in the sense that we are bringing in water resources, together with what we classically call the water ser-vices sector and water researchers. This will be the fi rst time that there is a concerted eff ort to bring together these three groupings that actually form the pillars of

"This will be the first time there is a concerted effort to bring in these three groupings

that actually form the pillars of water resources and water

management." Dana Grobler, WISA Conference chairperson

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water management. In addition, WISA has formed a partnership with the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) and the NWP representatives will be present at the con-ference. What also makes this conference unique is that we will be hosting the Department of Water Aff airs Blue Drop Awards ceremony during the conference.The conference also in-cludes an exhibition which will be providing opportunities for exhibitors to display advances in water technologies which can support water conservation, water reuse and developing and using alternative water sources.

What can delegates expect from the conference in terms of acquiring knowledge in their fi eld of expertise?Delegates can look forward to at-tending any of the 162 formal papers that will be presented, and viewing 66 posters that will be on display. There will also be a wide variety of workshop topics (28 in total), which will include the Blue Drop and Green Drop workshops, to support the Department of Water Aff air’s initiative to implement regulatory mechanisms for the water services sector.One of the podium workshop sessions will be on corporate responsibility towards

water, which intends to bring in an element that will undoubtedly grow in the water sector in the next 20 to 30 years.

What are your views on the challenges faced in the water sector?If one simply considers the amount of media attention given to water-related issues in South Africa, there are undoubt-edly some serious challenges in terms of water resource management, water services delivery and provision of water supply. This includes issues of acid mine drainage, desalinisation, lack of service delivery, hydraulic fracking and aquatic ecosystem deterioration. To put these issues into perspective, South Africa has gone through a period of about 100 years of developing and using

water resources to support economic ac-tivities, but we now enter an era in which we have no option but to improve the management of this limited resource to ensure a continued sustainable economic situation. South Africans do not have any further major water resources that can still be developed. We therefore need to ef-fectively manage the resources that we

have, and that would imply that we should focus on wa-

ter conservation and demand manage-ment, the reuse of

water and the minimisation of the impact

on the aquatic eco-systems which supports the sustainable supply of water.Climate change for

Southern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa is defi nitely go-ing to be a major challenge. All indications are that the variability

of conditions, in terms of more in-tensive rainfall and runoff events verses

longer periods of low rainfall, requires a diff erent approach to water use and its management. In terms of water services, the Department of Water Aff airs should be commended for the eff orts it has put in place to establish the Blue and Green Drop incentive-based regulatory mechanisms

that addresses the issues of water manage-ment in local and district municipalities. In doing so, the department has also created awareness among politicians and council-lors of local municipalities of the need to technically make provision for maintenance and management of equipment that will ensure adequate water supply and preven-tion of wastewater contamination of water resources. This is simply the start of a much broader focus on infrastructure mainte-nance and management, and building the skills base that is required to achieve this.WISA 2012 provides an important op-portunity to participate and deliberate these issues and contribute towards the solution that is required to improve the planning and management of water in Southern Africa.

DWA should be commended for the efforts it put in to create an incentive-based regulatory mechanism that addresses the issues of infrastructure management in local and district municipalities

10 MAR/APR 2012

CareersWISA YWP

This year may be seen as a signifi cant one in the Young Water Professionals (YWP) calendar, as it is the fi rst year that YWPs attended the event as exhibitors, passing on their knowledge to the

eagerly awaiting students. Sibusiso Sikhosana and Tezren Pandither attended the event on behalf of YWPs. They demonstrated the need for future water professionals in

South Africa, the signifi cance of embarking on a career in the water sector ‒ whether it may be as an engineer, environmentalist or lawyer ‒ and emphasised the benefi t of joining the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA), auto-matic membership to the YWP and becoming a part of a nationwide professional society.Vula Career Day provided an excellent opportunity for the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Chapter to introduce itself and engage with students and professionals in an interactive and highly communicative manner. It also provided a platform for YWPs to market itself by informing indi-viduals and institutions of the society, its principles and practices, and upcoming events. Before the start of the event, the team had the chance to introduce themselves to the various institutions; such as the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). They used this as an opportunity to seek out possible future events that YWP may want to be involved in. In seeking out areas or events for future ref-erence, we may stumble across potential experts within the fi eld of water who can be made a part of YWP.

YWPs at Vula Career Day

By Tezren Pandither and Suvritha Ramphal*

The 11th Annual Vula Career Day, held at Hilton College in Pietermaritzburg, attracted hundreds of disadvantaged matriculants from all over Pietermaritzburg. Institutions such as SSI Engineers, Mondi, UKZN, DUT and ESKOM were present and offered their support to the Vula Programme.

WISA YWP

MAR/APR 2012 11

Students were eager to learn about YWP and kept the questions coming. In anticipa-tion, the YWP team prepared a fl ier for the attendees, which contained basic informa-tion about YWP, such as:

Who are we?YWP is a subsidiary of the WISA. Our target audience are water professionals (students or employees) up to and including the age of 35.

What are we about?YWP provides the platform for communi-cation and knowledge-sharing between the generations of young and established water professionals. We aim to reduce the knowledge gap by educating the public on the signifi cance of wasteful water use and water conservation, and by informing them of the threats to our water resources.

Save the water & environment of tomorrow and be a hero today!Scholars are one of the three target audi-ences that YWP KZN Chapter will be ap-proaching throughout the year. The other

*ABOUT THE AUTHORSTezren Pandither is a junior civil engineer at SSI Engineers, working in the water sector and taking on a role at the Young Water Professional in KZN. Pandither obtained a BSc civil engineering degree from UKZN in 2010.Suvritha Ramphal of JGI is a junior water researcher and a member of the YWP KZN Chapter. Ramphal obtained a BSc geography and environmental management degree and a national diploma in project management.

two are university students and working professionals. • Tertiary institutions will be targeted as a means of en-gaging with students during career days.

• Technical tours will be ar-ranged for working profession-als and students to attend.

YWP wishes to participate in the DWA initiative ‒ the Aqua Enduro Programme ‒ this year. Last year, YWP had the privilege of meeting with a participant, Lucky Khumalo, from Mconjwana High School in Pietermaritzburg. He was delighted to have been aff orded the opportunity to go to Port Elizabeth. He learnt much about water, the sector and the resource. He went back home inspired to share his knowledge with his school and family, and wishes to become involved in programmes within his community. This lucky scholar is currently awaiting acceptance on a bur-sary application.

HOT SEAT

Achieving more while using lessIn the hot seat of this issue of Water&Sanitation Africa, Ravi Saman, Water and Wastewater Vertical manager for Schneider Electric South Africa, speaks to Debbie Besseling.

W&SA Please provide a brief history of the companyRS The vision of global specialist in energy management, Schneider Electric, is of a world where we can achieve more by sing less of our planet’s resources. With inte-grated solutions to make energy safe, reli-able, effi cient, productive and green, the company is uniquely positioned to address today’s energy challenges. Its more than 130 000 employees worldwide achieved sales of €22.4 billion in 2011 through an active commitment to helping individuals and organisations all over the world make the most of their energy.Schneider Electric South Africa, through its core brands, has served a spectrum of customers on the sub-Saharan African continent for over 30 years. With its head

Schneider Electric South Africa

speaks to Debbie Besseli

What is the structure of the company, and how do the business units cross over in order to provide a complete solution your clients?

SolutionsConsuming less, producing more eff ec-tively, improving energy effi ciency and protecting the environment by off ering solutions with a limited environmental foot-print are all central concerns for Schneider Electric South Africa. Today, the company unites a world of talent and energy to meet the main challenges in its industry, namely: critical power and cooling, low and medium voltage power installation systems and control, industrial automation, and control and energy effi ciency. These business units comprehensively cov-er water and wastewater as well as a number of other signifi cant market segments.

What challenges do you currently face in the water sector and how do your products and services assist with providing solutions to these challenges?Ageing infrastructure, low level of skills, capacity to meet increasing demand, leak detection and increasing energy costs are the main challenges we face. The dilemma is that the selling price of water per litre cannot be increased to compensate for the increased input costs.Schneider Electric South Africa has com-mitted to saving its clients up to 30% in energy costs and does this through various interventions. Some of the immediate sav-ings are achieved through power factor correction, harmonic fi ltering and imple-menting variable speed drives to optimise pumping and aeration.EcoStruxure aff ords the client the op-portunity to improve plant delivery through TVDA (tested, validated and documented architectures) solutions and plant-wide seamless integration of all products through an Ethernet backbone. The company provides leak detection through hydraulic modelling of the existing system with minimal disruption to operations.Schneider Electric South Africa also off ers comprehensive training from begin-ner to expert level across all Schneider Electric South Africa products and solu-tions, as well as customisable training

offi ce based in Midrand, Gauteng, a logis-tics centre conveniently situated near OR Tambo International Airport and branches in Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth and Richards Bay, the company is well placed to serve the South African market. It also exports to countries such as Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia.The company holds a Level 4 contributor BEE rating, following the announcement of a formal arrangement with leading empowerment concern, Community Investment Holdings, in April 2010, thus giving it a 100% BEE procurement recogni-tion level.

How long has Schneider Electric South Africa’s Water and Wastewater Vertical been established?Water has always been a sector of im-portance to the company. The nature of treatment and transporting water from source to consumer is an energy-intensive process and considering that Schneider Electric South Africa is positioned as spe-cialists in energy management, it is fi tting that the water sector is a core focus. The business focus was formalised in 2005 with the creation of the Water and Wastewater Vertical, and has to date grown from strength to strength, contributing ap-proximately 10% to the overall revenue of Schneider Electric South Africa.

Energy Building ITB Power Industry

Business Units (BU’s)

12 MAR/APR 2012

MAR/APR 2012 13

HOT SEAT

for specifi c customer needs both locally and internationally.

Schneider Electric has acquired several companies in the last year, have any of these acquisitions strengthened your operations in the water and waste industry?Most defi nitely, three acquisitions are of particular signifi cance: Scada Group, Telvent and 7T.

Scada GroupTelemetry and Remote SCADA Solutions, a division of Schneider Electric, has for the past 30 years been a leader in developing intelligent fi eld controllers for telemetry, SCADA, and remote asset monitoring. The SCADAPack range of programmable fi eld controllers is designed specifi cally to oper-ate in harsh remote environments. Water utilities can realise tangible and intangible benefi ts by deploying intelligent SCADA

systems where both hardware and software are tightly integrated leveraging standard protocols and programming environment.

TelventIn today’s highly competitive environment, utility companies require a more cost eff ec-tive use of distribution assets through target-ed investment for maintenance and growth. Utilities face tighter information technology budgets, reduced in-house development staff , and the need to quickly deliver busi-ness benefi ts through applications.ArcFM provides a complete, out-of-the box solution for facilities management designed to meet the needs of the water in-dustry. ArcFM, is a complete enterprise util-ity solution for editing, modeling, mainte-nance, and management of facility and land base information for water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities.ArcFM takes advantage of an industry standard architecture and programming environments, an easy-to-use interface, and powerful cartographic tools, giving utilities in the water market an optimised solution for the entire organisation.

7TWater utilities also experience the challenge of deteriorating water qual-ity due to aging distribution piping and depleting water sources. Many have invested signifi cantly in SCADA systems which allow for partial monitoring of the network, but don’t off er the option of proactively simulating impacts on the distribution network.Most water utilities have only 20% of their investment placed in the actual plant. The remaining 80% is placed in the distri-bution network. And most water utilities have little or no idea of what happens to the water once it leaves the waterworks.AQUIS is a hydraulic modeling tool that simulates the fl ow and pressure in your distribution network. AQUIS uses realtime data to analyse and track the current situ-ation enabling operators to make better and smarter decisions and to optimise production and enhance your bottom line.

High availability water treatment focuses on three levels:• SCADA On the SCADA side, Schneider Electric South Africa off ers seamless, integrated and

scalable redundancy. This fl exible redundancy can be enlarged to avoid not only network errors, but also PC hardware errors – the result is a highly optimised and available solution.

• Network Ethernet, which has proved itself over the years as being the reliable industrial standard, provides the solution for communication architectures requiring high levels of availability. Communication can easily be adjusted to the required level of availability, such as redundant media and/ or network interfaces, self-healing fi bre-optic rings and communication backups. Schneider Electric South Africa adopts Ethernet as a standard communications platform.

• Control Doubling the PLC gives a highly optimised solution that avoids the negative eff ects and process downtime caused by problems at the control level. In the event of an error, there is an automatic bumpless switchover between the primary and the standby PLC; both are connected by a dedicated high speed Ethernet link. The availability level of the control system can be increased by duplicating the I/O level, along with the corresponding sensors and actuators.

To help you maintain the desired water quality, AQUIS tracks the water through its entire network and gives you an at-a-glance overview of the chemical composition, age, taste and odour.

Strategically speaking, where do you see Schneider Electric South Africa’s business operations in the water and wastewater sector over the next fi ve years?The company is currently a major force in water in South Africa and given the focus it has locally and from a corporate perspec-tive, it will become the dominant force in water and wastewater.

Ageing infrastructure, low level of skills, capacity to meet increasing demand,

leak detection and increasing energy costs are

the challenges we face

For more information, please visit www.schneider-electric.co.za or www.schneider-electric.com

14 MAR/APR 2012

NEWS

CHINA’S $US80 BILLION (about R610 billion) project to divert waters of southern rivers to the arid north is nearing comple-tion and will begin supplying water next year. The project’s eastern and central routes, which will bring waters from the Yangtze River to the Yellow River, will be fully constructed in the next two years, planners said at a review meeting of the project conducted in the eastern Shandong province.The south-to-north water diversion plan is one of the most ambitious construction projects embarked on by Chinese engineers, estimated to cost more than 500 billion Yuan (around $80 billion). It envisages diverting 44.8 billion cubic metres of water every year from Yangtze by 2050. Sun Yifu, deputy water resources chief in Shandong, through which much of the eastern route runs, said the entire route would become operational in the fi rst half of 2013, with 18 water supply units coming online next year and 23 others before 2015.Construction of the eastern route began in 2002, when the whole project was given approval after decades of plan-ning. The project was fi rst pro-posed in the 1950s and backed by Mao Zedong. The central route began to be built the following year. It will be com-pleted in 2014. Offi cials said last year more than 440 000

International

people would be relocated for the eastern and central routes, bringing criticism of project’s costs. Around 100 000 people will be displaced every year until 2014. Construction has not yet begun on the western route, which plans to divert water from the upper reaches of the Yangtze as well as a number of rivers on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, including the Brahmaputra and Mekong.Source: The Hindu

PAKISTANInsects believed to have caused cracks in water reservoirENGINEERS REPAIRING cracks

in the water reservoir of Naltar power project believe that some aquatic worms or in-sects might have eaten up the concrete leading to widening of cracks in the walls.According to Water and Power Executive Engineer, Hamid Hussain, “When the water tank was drained, some worms or insects were found inside and they might have caused the damage to the reservoir.” As cracks in the water reservoir of the 18-megawatt hydropower project widened earlier, the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government called in two experts from Lahore to stop the leakage, leading to a complete blackout in the capital city. In addition to braving the freezing cold, Gilgit residents have endured extensive power outages, with only seven hours of electricity in the past six days.The water reservoir, spread over 18 kanals, has at least three fissures in the walls and the bottom, resulting in seepage of water. The experts, who started the repair work recently, used a chemical sub-stance to fill in the fissures but the insects ate it up, Hussain said, adding that the tank had now been drained and work was in progress. They said the chemical substance was easy to dry and power supply would be restored.

The Naltar power project, inaugurated in 2008 during General Pervez Musharraf ’s government, is the biggest power project in G-B and sup-plies electricity to almost 90 percent of Gilgit’s population. Source: The Express Tribune

UNITED STATESDeloitte developing water toolDELOITTE IS helping to de-velop the Water Action Hub, a public online tool to help companies collaborate with governments, non-profit or-ganisations, communities and each other to improve sustain-able water management.The consulting firm is team-ing with the International Business Leaders Forum, the Pacific Institute and the German International Development Agency in developing the hub under the CEO Water Mandate, part of the United Nations Global Compact.Deloitte’s pro bono contribu-tion to IBLF, valued at up to $US500 000 (about R3.8 mil-lion), will allow organisations to access an online clearing house for emerging corporate water accounting methods, tools, and stewardship practices.Deloitte director, Will Sarni, said the tool works at the watershed levels to help or-ganisations build local water stewardship strategies.The Hub will feature a mapping function that visually places each facility and/or organisation within watershed maps to help organisations better understand stakehold-ers and initiatives in their watersheds of interest. Watershed maps are designed to allow companies to build upon their use of other online analytical mapping and water risk characterisation tools, such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Global Water Tool and the World Resource Institute’s Aqueduct project. Source: Environmental Leader

CHINAMassive water diversion project nears completion

GAMBIAMultimillion water project launched in BajagarrA PROJECT HAS been funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to the amount of 12 739 024 dalasi (about R3.14 million), and aims to improve access to clean and safe drinking water for a total of 30 000 inhabitants in 12 communities of the West Coast Region. In his welcoming re-marks, the Chief of Foni Bintang Karanai, Alfusainey Jarju, highlighted the signifi cance of clean and safe drinking water and challenged the benefi ciary villages to live up to expectation in the management of the water points. Jarju urged them to form water management com-mittees in order to ensure the sustainability of the projects.Speaking on the occasion, Child Fund the Gambia na-tional director, Eustace Casselle, underscored the importance of the project saying that it will construct eight new wells and rehabilitate four existing water points as well as build capacities of water manage-ment committees. The project, he noted, comes following the successful implementation of the European Union water and sanitation project three years ago. He urged the VDCs of the benefi ciary villages to be involved in the management and maintenance of the wells.For her part, the representative of German Embassy, Chancellor Anita Martin, said the project is a grant from the German government and is in recogni-tion of the basic human need to access clean drinking water. The assistance, she noted, is a refl ec-tion of Germany’s goodwill and friendship to the government and the people of the Gambia.According to Martin, the assistance will contribute to strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries. She expressed confi dence that come 2013, the availability of clean drinking water from closed wells

will be improved and sustain-ably secured, while village struc-tures will be strengthened and hygiene standards increased in the region.Source: FOROYAA Newspaper

KENYAWorld Bank lines up Sh128 billion for in-frastructure projectsTHE WORLD BANK will lend to Kenya up to Sh128 billion (R11.8 billion) in low-interest loans over the next two years to fi nance infrastructure projects in energy, road and water sectors.

World Bank's Rachel Kyte

The bank’s vice-president for sustainable development, Rachel Kyte, said the funds will be part of a total loan package of Sh157.5 billion earmarked for infrastructure projects.Kyte, who spoke in Nairobi after touring development projects funded by the bank, said the key focus for the bank this year is on energy and water projects. During the discussions, Kyte emphasised on the need for partnership not only in car-rying out the planned projects, but also in other reforms, such as those at Mombasa Port.She said economic growth would be sustained if the reforms were carried out, noting that the World Bank had expertise in other port projects it carried out in Latin America and Asia.“The president encouraged the World Bank to point out areas in which there is room for improvement,” said Kyte. She said the projects that the bank is currently fi nancing, estimated at about Sh168 billion, were satisfactory in overall terms.“We believe there is op-portunity for sustainable growth in Kenya and we are pleased with the progress on the

project portfolio we have here,” said Kyte. The World Bank’s focus in relation to the devolved government units will be on the delivery of services by concerned ministries. “If the execution of projects is good, then you will have no problem with the absorption of funds,” she said.Source: Business Daily

SOUTH AFRICAKeeping in contact with cross-border customerROCKWELL AUTOMATION hosted successful two-day technology updates in neigh-bouring Botswana and Na-mibia, which focused primarily on the water, wastewater and mining industries. Following on the success of the roadshow presented in Botswana in 2010, 45 local delegates joined Rockwell

Automation, its channel partners, Systems Automation & Investment (SAI), Kalahari Control & Instrumentation, and JRK Investments, as well as Rockwell Encompass Partners, Endress+Hauser and ProSoft, in the capital, Gaborone. The company in conjunction with its local channel partners EcoServe and Electro Tech then continued to host its fi rst event of this kind in Namibia to 30 delegates in Windhoek.Both events placed particular emphasis on process automa-tion and software integration. Products such as Allen Bradley’s ControlLogix® and MicroLogix 800®, as well as vari-able speed drives (VSDs) and medium voltage (MV) drives, were showcased. According to Colin Morris, Rockwell Automation export sales manager: sub-Saharan Africa, “These events provide us with the ideal opportunity to share valuable industry skills and knowledge with our

Africa NEWS

NEWS

16 MAR/APR 2012

In 2011, Rockwell Automation hosted technology updates for its clients in neighbouring Botswana and Namibia, which were focused primarily on the water, wastewater and mining industries.

Africa

end-user customers. This helps them to stay abreast of new developments without having to travel across international borders. We have clearly seen the positive interest expressed by customers in this region to attend these events.”In addition to presentations, hands-on demonstration units provided delegates with fi rst-hand experience of the functionalities of the Allen-Bradley equipment.“We have already seen posi-tive feedback from both events, with promising leads being received. Based on this success, we are planning technology updates for other sub-Saharan regions,” concludes Morris.Source: Rockwell Automation

Robor claims Deloitte Best Company to Work For titleFOR THE THIRD year run-ning, steel tube and pipe manufacturer Robor has been named a winner in the Deloitte

Best Company to Work For survey in the Manufacturing Industry category.According to Gordon Gilmer, CEO of the Robor Group: “To be a competitive, sustainable global company, we recognise that our employees need to be highly productive, talented and are expected to often deliver more than what we are able to compensate them for. Every employee owns a share of Robor through our Employee Share Trust, as well as participa-tion in the ‘Gainshare Scheme.”The people challenges are not unique to Robor, but are felt throughout South Africa. Multi-skilled employees who assist companies to reduce their manpower dependance ‒ especially during industrial action ‒ are the way forward. “With these challenges in mind, Robor’s employees are urged to constantly infuse new ideas and provide ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions to meet our custom-ers requirements,” says Sundrie Naidoo, group HR executive at Robor.

Leadership development, education and mentoring are at the core of Robor’s holistic ap-proach to transformation. Part of this approach is the Young Graduates Forum, currently in its fourth year. This forum encourages young gradu-ates ‒ many from previously disadvantaged backgrounds ‒ to grow into senior manage-ment. This forum facilitated by Gilmer, exposes employees to the group’s strategic plans and insights.“Recognition is a vital aspect of the Robor culture and employees are constantly encouraged with monthly inno-vation awards. Communication is maintained through team forums, newsletters, quartlery feedback sessions, Robor DVDs, bi-annual roadshows and CEO breakfasts where employees are recognised for their eff orts and their views of the company are canvassed,” concluded Naidoo.Source: Robor

Cementing the future together

ON 10 OCTOBER 2011, Endress+Hauser offi cially began their new Sandton head offi ce

building project: Cementing the future together! Svanesso, a sculpture by Swiss artist Claire Ochsner, was removed for safe keeping. The sculpture, known locally as the Braai Angel, was donated to the Sandton offi ce by Klaus Endress (Group CEO) on the offi cial opening of the conference centre in October 2004. The new building project was meant to begin in 2010, but due to economic crisis the building project was postponed. According to Rob MacKenzie, managing director, “For a long time now, it was clear that we would outgrow our current building, and in order for us to meet the growing demands of the market, we need to invest in a state-of-the-art building for sales and services in Sandton.”Over the past 25 years, the ‘people for process automation’ have developed from a niché provider of level instruments sold via an agency, to a R300 million Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment company as a major supplier of products, ser-vices and solutions for process measurement technology.Source: Endress+Hauser

TANZANIAGovernment to launch sanita-tion campaignTANZANIA WILL this month launch a four-year national sanitation and hygiene cam-paign, which will cost $US25

NEWS

MAR/APR 2012 17

Degrémont, a subsidiary of SUEZ Environnement,is the world specialist in water treatment plants and

OUR EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR FUTUREOUR EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR FUTUREFor PULSATOR Settling tank or similar

Baffles as such makes an important contribution towardssustainable development.Degrémont’s subsidiary in South Africa, previouslytrading as AQUAZUR, is committed to keep plantsrunning smoothly.The objectives of Degrémont’s Spares Departmentare mainly to supply the needs of its clients with:• The best and affordable quality spares, as per theoriginal designs• Delivering the spares within the best specifieddelivery periodFor AQUAZUR V & T Filters or similar

BafflesLamellar blocks and platesGRP pipesVacuum FanGRP pipes

For this & other Degrémont’s water t t t l t i t t t

y pFor AQUAZUR V & T Filters or similarNozzles, Washers & GrommetsPartialisation ValvesClack ValvesSilica Filter MediaPartialisation valvesSiphonSlab mould

Other Spare partsChemical dosing pumpVarious pumpsVarious valvesPipes (GRP, Fibreglass, PVC, Steel)InstrumentationAir diffuserMixerMembranestreatment plant equipment, contact:

George van der Merwe, Technical Man.george.van.der.merwe@degremont.co.za

Mornay de Vos, Business Develop. Man.mornay.de.vos@degremont.co.za

Tel: +27 (0) 11 807 1983Fax: +27 (0) 11 807 4118www.degremont..co.za

THE WATER TREATMENT SPECIALISTS

DESIGN AND SUPPLY OF SPARE PARTS

MembranesScreening

Africa

million (R190.6 million). Upon its completion, the campaign, which has been fi nanced by the African Development Bank (AfDB), will enable 1.3 million households and 700 schools to have quality toilet facilities.Acting director of prevention services in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Elias Chinamo, said the fi rst year of the campaign will involve 42 districts in 12 regions. The regions are Dodoma, Iringa, Rukwa, Mtwara, Mara, Kigoma, Coast, Arusha, Manyara, Tanga, Kagera and Tabora.During the period, 13 million household latrines will be improved, costing US$13 million and a total of 700 schools with improved toilets and hand washing facilities, costing $US7 million. In the fi rst year of implementation (2011/12), some 100 000 households are targeted to achieve improved

sanitation and 88 schools are targeted to have a ratio of 40 girls and 50 boys per drop hole.“It is estimated that each drop hole will cost US$400 while another US$100 will be used for supervision and monitoring, bringing the total cost of per drop hole to US$500,” he explained. Each toilet facility will have 20 drop holes.First year will involve 88 schools at a cost of US$875 000, second year 175 schools at a cost of US$1 750 000, third year 263 schools at a cost of US$2 650 000 and fourth year 175 schools at a cost of US$1 750 000.Chinamo, who is also assistant director of environmental health in the ministry, said that 100 000 households will be involved in the fi rst year (at a cost of US$1 million), 300 000 in the second year (US$3 million), 500 000

households in the third year (US$5 million) and 400 000 households in the fourth year (US$4 million).According to Chinamo, poor sanitation costs Tanzania US$206 million. This sum is the equivalent of US$5 per person in Tanzania per year or 1% of the national GDP. Source: Tanzania Daily News

ZIMBABWEGovernment provides water to poor

ZIMBABWEAN authorities say they are making sure poor townships get uninterrupted

water supply after a typhoid outbreak, leaving wealthy areas with reduced supplies.Harare offi cial, Tendai Mahachi, told reporters that well-to-do suburbs will get water about twice weekly. He said, “the wealthy can aff ord to buy water” and cope with outages.At least 900 cases of the bacterial disease have been treated this year in poor western suburbs of Harare, many having had no piped water for months and even years. No deaths have been reported in the typhoid outbreak blamed on food contaminated by faeces from broken sewers during water shortages.A cholera outbreak in 2009 blamed on the collapse of water, sanitation and preven-tion services killed more than 4 000 people. Source: Associated Press

18 MAR/APR 2012

Merger announcementPROFILE

The merger brings together two highly comple-mentary businesses ‒ combining Nalco’s lead-ing position in water and energy services with Ecolab’s strength in the food and beverage,

healthcare and institutional markets.

When did the Ecolab-Nalco merger take place?SP: The merger became effective on 1 December 2011, creating a global leader in water, hygiene and energy services, offering premier product solutions, the industry’s largest and best-trained sales and service force, coverage in more than 160 countries, and 2011 pro forma sales of more than $US11 billion (about R84.7 billion).

Nalco has become an Ecolab company, will there be any name changes?PV: In the new Ecolab organisation there are six main-stream divisions and Nalco has been integrated into two of these divisions, namely: water process services

and energy services. Although Nalco and Ecolab have merged, the Nalco brand will continue to be used.In South Africa, the situation is different in that there are two private limited companies: Ecolab and Nalco Africa. Nalco Africa has a joint venture with Protea Chemicals, a division of the Omnia group.

What can the water industry expect as a result of the merger?SP: Ecolab is the number one global player in the bev-erage market, focusing on sanitisation and cleaning chemicals, as well as application chemicals in the food and beverage industry. Water plays a significant role in the production of food and beverage. There is also a large amount of water used in the processes and as a utility. From an Ecolab perspective we are very excited that we can offer our customers a one stop service, from when the process is initiated through to the final stages. Our business not only comprises sanitation and cleaning programs and services, we also offer

African footprintThe combined company sales in 2011 were ZAR800 million. From Johannesburg we serve Southern and Eastern Africa markets, and we have presence in Zambia, Namibia and Kenya with local office. We have two plants one in Johannesburg and the other in Kenya. We employ around 300 associates in the region. The industries we serve are basically the same as Ecolab globally.

Global company footprint• More than 100 manufacturing plants• More than 400 distribution facilities• More than 50 customer service call centers• More than 1,000,000 customer locations• More than 160 countries served

Markets served

Every day, we make the world cleaner, safer, healthier- protecting people and vital resources. Ecolab is everywhere it matters, because what we do -- and how we do it – matters everywhere.

• Foodservice• Hospitality• Food and beverage processing• Food retail• Commercial facilities• Healthcare• Government and education• Laundry

• Vehicle care• Energy, oil and gas• Food, beverage and pharmaceuticals• Manufacturing• Mining and mineral processing• Power generation• Primary metals• Pulp and paper

Nalco Holding Company recently merged with Ecolab Inc. Debbie Besseling speaks to the managing directors of both local companies, Sean Perry of Ecolab and Paul Voorhout of Nalco Africa, to fi nd out about this strategic transaction.

Global leader in water, hygiene and energy services

Ecolab can now benefi t from Nalco’s expertise in the reuse of water

MAR/APR 2012 19

PROFILE

other related services including water treat-ment options, water saving solutions, etc.

PV: There is a huge upside from a Nalco point of view because Ecolab’s core business is in an area where we have traditionally been weak, and the big foot print that Ecolab has in the food and beverage industry is an opportunity for us to get in to this particular market.One of the great things about this merger is that while Ecolab focuses on aspects such as disinfecting and sanitising, we focus on the environmental aspects of water. Where Ecolab is very strong, for example, in the bottle washing programs, which make use of a major amount of water, we then can add our expertise in terms of the re-use of water and reducing water con-sumption. This is just one example of the tremendous benefits of the merger.

Tell us about your business operations in the rest of Africa?PV: Two years ago Nalco Africa formed a joint venture with Protea Chemicals, which has a strong supply chain distribution infra-structure in Africa. One of the focal points for Nalco Africa is to grow

this infrastructure in Africa, and during the last two years we have been focusing on the local market and trying to ensure that we align with our global key accounts, including Nestle, Chevron and BP.Ecolab already has structures set up in Africa and this, combined with the Protea Chemicals supply chain, creates a big opportunity for us, not just in food and bever-age, but in other areas such as mining and petro chemicals.From a Nalco Africa technol-ogy perspective, we see a ten-fold growth in Africa, most of which will come from the petroleum and mining industries. We all know that there is about 12 billion

dollars worth of exploration, and we are talking about future trends.

SP: Before Nalco joined us, our big challenge was that we wanted to become the hub for sub-Saharan Africa. We have registered companies in Kenya, Tanzania and

The merger brings together two highly complementary businesses

Sean Perry, managing director

Ecolab and Paul Voorhout

managing director Nalco Africa

One of the focal points for Nalco Africa is to grow this infrastructure in Africa

20 MAR/APR 2012

PROFILE

Uganda. Our South African opera-tions take care of the neighboring states up to Zambia. In North Africa we have companies in Morocco and Dubai, and further North, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. That is the Ecolab footprint in Africa.

What challenges does the company face in the water sector and what products and services do you offer as a solution to these challenges?SP: This is what is exciting for both organisations. Where in Ecolab we see a need for water and water specialists, Nalco automatically fills this gap. In the same instance, we give Nalco options going forward to realise its potential, making this a fantastic relationship. We also see tremendous op-portunities in the area of sustain-ability. We are in a water scarce country and region, and we need to optimise the way we use water in our processes. So there is a focus from our customer base on what the alternatives are in this area. We have also launched several new products. Our latest technological advancement is a dry lubricant used in the breweries and any-where where there are conveyors. This product has significant water saving advantages, by cutting down on the water as normally a water based lubricant would be used. Dry lubricants have been around for some time, but there was always a challenge to making these work in the brewery environment and in the South African brewery environment specifically.

PV: The energy services side of the industry has many water challenges. A good example is the refineries that are built in the cosmopolitan areas, some of which are still making use of municipal water. There is pressure on the refineries to reduce water and this is where we come in. In addition, we also have capacity to assist in looking at the alternative water sources, such as using wastewater, effluent water and grey water as process water. The main challeng-es for the refineries are to reduce the amount of water and also to reduce the amount of discharge.On the mining side, the chal-lenges are similar, the mining sector also uses a lot of water. As mining operations move into Africa to the likes of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where very arid and dry ar-eas exist, water for mining becomes even more of a scarce resource. Technology such as reverse osmosis plants is being used more frequently and this is where we play a role.

At a strategic level, what are your plans for the next 5 years?PV: Reverse osmosis is going to become big in Africa going forward and this is a very strategic area for us. Also in the next five years it is our intention to enter the industrial water management market.The mining sector will be part of a 20 year programme. Another stra-

tegic area is the pulp and paper industry which makes use of a signifi cant amount of water. Nalco has a strong technology in this area that is to be launched this year.

About Ecolab With 2011 pro forma sales of US$11 billion and more than 40 000 employees, Ecolab Inc.(NYSE: ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that provide and protect clean water, safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments. Ecolab deliv-ers comprehensive programs and services to the food, energy, healthcare, industial and hospitality markets in more than 160 countries. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com

3D TRASAR® Technology3D TRASAR technology saves our global customers water, so much water, we built a counter to keep track of the savings.

http://www.nalco.com/services/3d-trasar.htm

Our global society is building road maps to sustainable development that conserve the earth's non-renewable resources. One of our most precious resources is water. What does 3D TRASAR Technology do?Cooling systems, no matter their size or design, come with multiple operational challenges. Scale, corrosion, fouling, and biological growth...all are threats, and all can impact water usage and cost. 3D TRASAR technology for Cooling Water utilizes unique real-time monitoring, patented actives based control technology, proprietary stress resistant chemistry and 24/7 information management capabilities to detect, determine and deliver improved scale, corrosion and microbiological performance in cooling systems. Therefore, the 3D TRASAR system detects the upsets that precede scaling, corrosion and bio-fouling and then delivers the appropriate chemical response. The result is a balanced, efficient and safe cooling system. Less maintenance, no over- or under-dosing of chemicals, lower operating costs and maximum asset protection are the key deliverables.

MAR/APR 2012 21

PUBLIC SECTORKwaZulu-Natal

The augmentation will also accommodate future supply to the Richmond and Thornville areas. It will be implemented by duplicating the exist-ing single DN800 pipeline in two stages ‒ the

fi rst stage will be the construction of a DN1300 steel pipeline between ED2 and ED4, and the second stage will be the construction of a DN1100 steel pipeline be-tween ED4 and Umlaas Road. Umgeni Water appointed SSI Engineers in 2008 to review the overall design of the ’61 pipeline system and to design and manage its augmentation.

Project description The pipe supply for stage one between ED2 and ED4 was awarded to Group Five Pipe, and the construction of the pipeline to Esorfranki Pipelines. This 4 km section of the pipeline traverses existing built up areas, and the working corridor which is severely constrained made

Augmentation of the ’61 Pipeline

By Darren van Rooyen

Due to increasing water demands, Umgeni Water has decided to augment the capacity of the ’61 pipeline system that feeds the greater Edendale area and the Outer West area of eThekwini Municipality.

handling and laying the new DN1300 pipes extremely diffi cult. The contractor has dealt with this and various other challenges during construction and the pipe-line was commissioned in February 2012. Tenders for stage 2 of the

pipeline closed in January this year, and Umgeni Water hopes to have a contractor on site by April 2012 at the latest. This 13 km section of the pipeline traverses pri-vate property and game farms, and although the work-ing corridor itself is not too restricted, there is minimal access to and from the working front, which should present the contractor with some logistical challenges. The pipeline will be laid in a 120 m long DN1800 jacked sleeve under the N2 at Umlaas Road, and will rise back

ABOVE DN1300 pipe installed through DN1800 concrete sleeve which was pipejacked under Richmond RoadBELOW DN1300 pipe being lowered into the trench

PUBLIC SECTOR

23 MAR/APR 2012

to ground level in a 13 m deep vertical shaft, before discharging into a new inlet structure at the reservoir site.In addition to the ’61 pipeline aug-mentation, Umgeni Water has provided for a future off -take to supply water to Richmond. The 30 km long DN450 pipeline

to Richmond and Thornville is being de-signed in-house by Umgeni Water, and the design of the booster pump station and reservoir was done by SSI Engineers. The

Project team• Client: Umgeni Water • Project Manager: Peterson Ndlovu • Contractors: Group Five Pipe Esorfranki Pipelines• Consultant: SSI Engineers and

Environmental Consultants• Project Manager: Darren van Rooyen

hydraulic conditions at the pump station are quite unique in that the suction head can vary by up to 60 m. To accommodate this, the pumps will be powered by vari-able speed drives and controlled via PLC with a complex operating philosophy programmed to protect the pumps from cavitation and the pipeline from transient pressures. Another feature of the pump

station is the surge attenuation bladder tanks on both the downstream end of the very long suction main and at the head of the delivery pipeline. These are both ac-commodated within the pump station

Project statusThe pipeline from ED2 to ED4 (stage 1) was commissioned in February 2012 with the anticipated completion of the project in October 2013.

The pipeline from ED2 to ED4 was commissioned in February 2012 with the anticipated completion of the project in October 2013

LEFT Pipelaying in progress near the Slang-spruit river where the sides of the trenches needed to be battered back for stability

BELOW DN1300 bitumen coated steel pipes in the pipeyard

24 MAR/APR 2012

PUBLIC SECTORKwaZulu-Natal

SSI Engineers and Environmental Consultants (SSI) were awarded the contract by eThekwini’s Water and Sanitation Department. The project was initiated in the wake of several large new

commercial developments in the catchment area. In addition to accommodating the increased flow, a major benefit is a significant improvement of the qual-ity of the effluent discharged into the eZimbokodweni River, particularly during peak wet weather conditions.Modifications to the plant presented an opportunity to include a pilot project to determine the viability of enhanced methane generation based on the co-diges-tion of high strength toxic waste with sewage sludge. This involved replacing and upgrading various electri-cal panels and control equipment, and constructing the necessary plant and equipment to accommodate the pilot project.The pilot study is a collaborative venture undertaken by the municipality and the Pollution Research Group

from the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of KwaZulu-Natal with funding from the Water Research Commission.SSI’s project principal, Gordon Druce, who managed the design, tender and construction stages of the pro-

ject, explained that the existing plant was not operating at its hydraulic capac-ity, primarily due to design limita-tions and the

configuration of various sections of the plant ‒ which restricted the overall process capability of the plant. “The improvements that were implemented en-hanced the hydraulic efficiency through the works with improved flow division and settling capacity. Similarly, the activated sludge treatment process has

The hydraulic optimisation of Amanzimtoti WWTWA project that optimises the hydraulic effi ciency of the Amanzimtoti Waste Water Treatment Works has recently been completed.

Aerial view of the Amanzimtoti Waste Water Treatment Works

Modifications to the plant presented an opportunity to include a pilot project to determine the viability of enhanced methane generation

MAR/APR 2012 25

PUBLIC SECTOR

been enhanced through eliminating short-circuiting and improving the uni-form distribution of flow into the parallel lanes of the aeration tanks,” says Druce.The project involved constructing an additional inlet channel at the head of works, extensions to various flow divi-sion structures, new inlet launders to the existing aeration tanks and augmenting and upgrading some existing pipework and new interconnecting pipework on both the east and west plants. In addi-tion, new structures on the east plant include a primary settlement tank, a mixed liquor flow division chamber and two secondary clarifiers.Construction work took place within the confines of an operating treatment works, presenting SSI and the contractor, Icon Construction, with the complexities of having to design and construct new structures and interconnecting pipework in and around existing infrastructure and services, while minimising the impact

on the routine operation of the works. Pre-planned short duration shut downs of various components took place to facilitate tie-ins and connections.“The contractor had to plan and ex-ecute cut-ins into the existing system

and ensure that spillages were avoided or limited to amounts that are manage-able through temporary containment on site, thus preventing any possible environmental infringements,” says Druce. “Also challenging was the fact that with new construction work required in and around existing services, many old and relatively fragile asbestos cement pipes needed to be exposed by hand to

prove their positions and levels, and, in many instances, supported and protected during excavation.“From the geotechnical investigation, the inferred geology comprised an inter-layered sequence of sand and very soft

clays below the founding depths of the new primary settlement tank and the two new secondary clarifiers,” explains Druce. “This inter-layered sequence of sand pinched out across the site, resulting in the clay layer

varying significantly in thickness. The thicker clay would consolidate more than the thinner layers, which could lead to tilting of the structures on shallow foun-dations. Piling systems using continuous flight auger compression piles were installed. Any uplift through groundwater pressure under the new tank structures was accommodated through the use of groundwater pressure relief valves.”

The improvements that were implemented enhanced the hydraulic efficiency through the works with improved flow division and settling capacity

26 MAR/APR 2012

KwaZulu-NatalPUBLIC SECTOR

Having embraced the Department of Water Affairs’ policy that “Water Is Life”, the municipality formulated a

five-year Water Conservation and Water Demand Management initiative to stem water losses, increase revenue and im-prove service delivery ‒ with the ultimate objective of reaching the Presidential Directive of halving water losses by 2014. According to Brenden Sivparsad, man-ager: design and planning, infrastructure services at the Msunduzi Municipality, “At present, we distribute an average of 160 ℓ million of water to over 600 000 people each day. If we do not optimise the use of the water, we cannot rule out water restrictions and even shortages.”During the first year, the Msunduzi Municipality not only moved ahead with numerous technical interventions, but also focused on non-technical engage-ments and activities aimed at increasing consumer awareness.The high impact interventions that be-gan in earnest in February this year include the replacement of aged infrastructure, pipes and water meters, as well as the reduction of water pressure, leak detection

and the minimisation of illegal connec-tions. Improvements were almost immedi-ate. Non-revenue water for the 2009/10 fi nancial year was 37%. This dropped by 1.3% within the fi rst few months, equating to a saving of 15 Mℓ/day.“Because unnecessarily high water pressure increases both the frequency and volume of water leaks, we have introduced 30 state-of-the-art Pressure Reduction Valves (PRVs) to reduce pres-sure to consumers to 60 m. As a result, we expect to save in excess of 10 Mℓ/ day, equating to about R13 million,” says Sivparsad. So far, Oribi, Murray Road, Bisley, Hathorns, Symons and Masons reservoir zones have been rezoned and redesigned to comply with the new pres-sure regime. The PRVs will be installed during 2012.Two advanced controllers have been installed in Townbush Road, which feeds 75% of the CBD. Using GSM com-munication signals, these revolutionary devices are constantly updated and adjust the PRVs to ensure that water pressures are kept at optimum levels at all times. Currently, they deliver a saving of 2.2 M ℓ/ day. Savings are expected to

equate to R2.65 million by next year when the system has stabilised.Leak detection and repair is another priority. Level 2 leak detection began in March and a total of 1 791 km of pipes were surveyed. A total of 1 739 visible and non-visible leaks were found, of which 99% were repaired. Level 4 leak detection took place in Symons reservoir zone in the CBD area, where 78.3 km of pipeline was surveyed, 14 leaks were found and 10 were repaired. Special steps are being taken to repair those in difficult positions, such as tarred intersections. This has ended estimated losses of 2.4 Mℓ/day. Sivparsad explains, “Our mains replace-ment programme, which will ultimately replace approximately 30 km of pipe across the city, is well underway. This year, pipe replacement in the CBD was priori-tised due to the high frequency of bursts because of crumbling infrastructure.” High traffic congestion in the CBD neces-sitated using sophisticated trenchless technology. A new pipe is forced through the old one, and as it travels along the ex-isting pipe, it cracks it and takes its place.

The Msunduzi Municipality has made great strides when it comes to saving water over the past year.

Achieving a water-saving culture

Line valve maintenance being conducted by Msunduzi Municipality’s Operations staff

PUBLIC SECTOR

MAR/APR 2012 27

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Advantages include cost savings and minimal disruptions, as there is no need for major excavations and road closures. Phase 1 comprises 3.2 km of which 1.8 km has been replaced. The remainder will be completed during 2012.Meter maintenance and meter cleaning has also achieved encouraging results during the past 12 months. A year ago, illegal connections and unmetered or unregistered connections accounted for 37% of the city’s water losses. In February 2011, there were 12 589 exception reports. Of these, 5 947 m needed main-tenance that included clearing rubble and grass. A total of 6 061 m was inspected and 3 122 m was found to be damaged or not working. To date, 1 157 m has been replaced. Phase 2 of this replacement programme began in early 2012, and by the end of 2013, all faulty meters will have been replaced. “While these interventions form the backbone of the Msunduzi Municipality’s Water Conservation and Water Demand Management initiative, it is only by

entrenching a water-saving culture that we can ensure that saving will be sustainable,” says Sivparsad. An aware-ness programme has been initiated, and Thembeka Jali, a teacher, has visited 28 schools to teach both learners and edu-cators about the need to save water. An hour-long presentation is supported by posters, which are displayed at schools. The aim is for learners to take this mes-sage home so that it can be disseminated to whole communities. Feedback from learners indicates that this is happen-ing and that they are using water more responsibly, and even reporting leaks and illegal connections. Although this programme has been put on hold during the summer school holidays, 75 primary and high schools within the Msunduzi Municipality are expected to be reached. Based on research that illustrates that learners retain more information during play, the Msunduzi Municipality created a soccer tournament among 18 schools within the Edendale area late last year to endorse this water conservation learning

programme. Winning teams will receive educational material and equipment for their schools.

Pipe replacement using trenchless technology being carried out by JK Structures at the corner of Echo Road and Bulwer Street in the Pietermaritzburg CBD

28 MAR/APR 2012

KwaZulu-NatalPUBLIC SECTOR

Jeff ares & Green’s water sector institutional support team assisted the uMDM in Pietermaritzburg secure a €14 million (R140 million) grant to augment their own funding of R240 million to help provide bet-

ter water services in its six local municipalities, namely Mkhambathini, Richmond, uMngeni, Mpofana, uMshwathi and Impendle.The funding comprises a grant from the Netherlands-based Facility for Infrastructure Development (ORIO). ORIO is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, and

Water Lifeline ProjectThe uMgungundlovu District Municipality (uMDM) has secured a multimillion-rand funding package for its Water Lifeline Project from the Netherlands-based Facility for Infrastructure Development ORIO. Jeffares & Green, technical director: Neal Bromley, speaks to Debbie Besseling about the project.

fi nances the development, implementation, construction, expansion, operation and maintenance of public infra-structure in developing countries.

Project backgroundThe uMDM has recently taken over the responsibility of the provision of water and sanitation services as one of its core functions, in line with its mission to be a “water-centric, performance-oriented, results-driven municipality”. This added responsibility has resulted in a number of challeng-es that the uMDM is prepared to meet head on, namely:• A large proportion of the district, which excludes Msunduzi, is rural and poverty-stricken with little social and physical infrastructure and very little economic opportunity.

• The district has inherited an ageing, and in many cases, failing, water infrastructure system from previous water services authorities.

• Due to the enormity of the water and sanitation back-log, and available grant funding (MIG), it is only able to address backlog eradication as part of its next fi ve- to ten-year programme.

• The utilisation of the system is already at 100%, and with huge non-revenue water at an estimated 66%, the existing demand for water cannot be sustained any longer and neither can supply be extended to growing communities that have no water.

• Water-related health issues are on the increase. • New development prospects, such as housing schemes for the poor and industrial development, have been halted.

According to Bromley: “The uMgungundlovu District Municipality applied for the funds in order to address the issue of the limited water supply being experienced in the uMngeni River supply system and its limiting eff ect on Local Economic Development (LED).“For some time there has also been an urgent need to address serious water losses caused by the ageing water infrastructure, further aggravated by overloading the system, which can no longer cope with the ever-growing demand. Water currently being lost through leaks and bursts can be utilised by the district municipality to provide basic services and unlock LED across the district.”The Water Lifeline Project will provide the much needed structural and technical support to move the uMDM from a place of crisis management to a position of proactive and preventative planning and operations.

BELOW Solar powered concen-trator which re-lays information from individual water meters to a central control system via the GSM cellular phone network

MAR/APR 2012 29

Project objectives• Reduce water losses within the system to enable development within the current estimated yield of the uMgeni River system.• Replace bulk infrastructure to ensure it can cope with current demands, projected future demands, as well as upcoming backlog eradication projects.

• Supply areas where limited or no potab le water is being delivered.

• Replace and upgrade infrastructure along the N3 corridor to increase services, thereby enabling potential housing and industrial developments that will, in turn, uplift communities and create short-term and long-term employment opportunities.

• Implement sustainable training and artisan develop-ment programme to ensure eff ective implementa-tion and operation and maintenance (O&M) for the project and capacitate the municipality adequately.

• Develop small emerging enterprises.

Project phasesThe fi rst funding tranche of R15 million is for the devel-opment phase, during which development, planning, preliminary design and scoping of training needs will be carried out for the period of one year ‒ which started on 1 March 2012.Following the successful completion of the de-velopment phase, the implementation phase will be rolled-out for fi ve years, during which time the designs prepared in the development phase will be taken to a detailed design stage and implemented. The commencement of the O&M phase is not reli-ant on the full completion of the implementation phase and will follow when specifi c infrastructure is commissioned.

Project scopeThe project scope is to upgrade and extend the existing secondary bulk water supply pipelines and reticulation networks with an estimated 95% of the re-ticulation network being improved by this project. The project is based on the need to reduce or manage the water demand within this system which is currently limited to the available yield. The resultant water sav-ings will enable the district to supply new areas with water and thereby promote vital LED.

Anticipated project resultsWater supply• Improve water services to approximately 450 000 people.

• Reduce water losses.• Reduce interrupted services to consumers by reduc-ing the total number of signifi cant pipe failures.

PUBLIC SECTOR

ABOVE Revenue is continuously lost through leaks and burst pipes due to old infrastructure

BELOW Municipal Manager TLS Khuzwayo, Deputy Major Cllr TT Zondi, His Worship the Mayor Cllr YS Bhamjee, Technical Director Jeffares & Green Neal Bromley and Jay Reddy, Department of Water Affairs

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PUBLIC SECTOR

• Replace approximately 168 km AC pipes.• Improve the fi nancial performance of the municipality by increasing the billed customers.

• Supply water to approximately 20 000 people who currently have either no ser-vice or an interrupted service.

• Reduce the incidences of water-borne diseases (health and hygiene programme) through the supply of potable water.

• Potentially create 80 000 new jobs, thereby bringing about economic devel-opment and upliftment in the district.

• Enable new development investments in the region, currently stalled due to inad-equate services provision.

Training and education• Technical training and skills development programmes to community members.

• Apprenticeship and artisan training in plumbing and building.

• Employment and up-skilling for approxi-mately 15 500 temporary workers and fur-ther construction training for an estimated 2 300 of these people.

• Contractor and business development mentorship and training to community and project benefi ciaries.

• Various internship programmes.Bromley says, “Although almost the entire district will be positively aff ected, the biggest impact will be on the poor com-munities who will benefi t enormously from the upliftment programme via the new and improved services, employment opportunities and various technical train-ing programmes.”

To advertise on the e-newsletter contact Tania MilicT:+27 (0)12 331 5168 | C: +27 (0)82 829 9285 | E-m: tania@dfcom.co.za

MEDIA

Since its inception at the beginning of July, the new Water & Sanitation Africa weekly e-newsletter is proving to be very popular, with almost 4 000 subscribers

already receiving their copy directly every week.

Subscribe now to the weekly e-newsle er for the most up-to-date news in the industry!

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Water & Sanitation Africa

MAR/APR 2012 31

RIGHT The overall objectives of the projects are to reduce water losses within the system to enable development within the current estimated yield of the uMgeni River system

Each day TCTA strives to FAST-TRACK water security for the nation and to TRANSFORM the

livelihoods of South AfricansThe Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) prides itself on having sustained solid relationships with citizens and communities where we implement projects. Since 1986, we have played a pivotal role in bringing water to the economic nerve-centre of our country. The special role of

of Lesotho, through tunnels to South Africa, giving birth to new enterprises and meeting the critical needs of households and communities. We continue to raise funding off-budget to build bulk raw water infrastructure, at the same time increasingly supporting Government’s transformation initiatives. The TCTA footprint spans the borders of South Africa and Lesotho, and extends across our country.

E X P A N D I N G O U R H O R I Z O N S

MAR/APR 2012 33

Annual reportPUBLIC SECTOR

Today is a proud moment for us at TCTA and we want to share it with you. Even though TCTA has never received a qualifi ed audit, it is by no

means an easy feat. Every year we set ambi-tious targets, and we drive our people hard to make this collective dream a reality. We put our partners under pressure to share our vision, buy into our plans and walk the path with us. All of this, we do to demonstrate to government that we do not take our role as specialist service provider for granted. We aim to be government’s partner of choice.In the past year, a considerable amount of thought centred around how to move from our traditional role of being reactive. We have become proactive and are taking the initia-tive in identifying new horizons for ourselves. This means diversifying our project profi le, including reviewing our project funding

methodologies. Previously, all of our projects were funded off -budget. Last year, we under-took projects which fall within the potable water domain, utilising funding provided by the fi scus. While pursuing a reconfi gured business model, we remained focused and proved that we are reliable, resourceful, trust-worthy and capable of undertaking projects where the criteria have expanded beyond the original terms of the mandates.

Project milestones during the previous fi nancial cycle:• Vaal River Eastern Subsystem Augmentation Project: The project deliv-ered water ahead of schedule, ensuring that the critical supplies were available to meet the needs of Sasol and Eskom.

• Mooi-Mgeni Transfer Scheme: Construction commenced in February 2011.

• Olifants River Water Resources Development Project: The supply chain management process was initiated for the construction of a pipeline in the Nebo plateau.

• Komati Water Scheme Augmentation Project: Construction of the pipeline to Duvha and Matla power stations com-menced in January 2011.

• Mokolo-Crocodile: The tender for this project is in the public domain.

• Acid Mine Drainage: Preparatory work around due diligence has commenced.

• MetsiBophelo Borehole Project: We provided project management support for a groundwater supply intervention programme in fi ve provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West.

Into the futureThis organisation is growing and is de-veloping internal capacity to handle a variety of water-related projects. In order to stay relevant to the broader objectives of this country, innovation and cutting-edge thinking will be critical.We have positioned ourselves as a knowledge hub for delivering water infrastructure and facilitating water effi ciency mechanisms.My vision f or the next fi ve years is to see TCTA increasingly acknowledged as a strate-gic vehicle for driving the national develop-ment agenda and uplifting the livelihoods and lives of our citizens.

Expanding our horizonsTrans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) held its annual report cocktail function in October 2011. Water&Sanitation Africa provides highlights of CEO James Ndlovu’s speech, which details the organisation’s performance for the period 2010/11.

My vision for the next fi ve years is to see TCTA

increasingly acknowledged as a strategic vehicle

for driving the national development agenda and

uplifting the livelihoods and lives of our citizens

James Ndlovu, CEO TCTA

FROM LEFT: TCTA chief fi nancial offi cer, Halima Nazeer, Chairman of the TCTA Board, Dr Snowy Khoza, Acting Director General of the Department of Water Affairs, Trevor Balzer

PROFILE

MAR/APR 2012 35

Avital part of water management is forecasting future water de-mand as accurately as possible. This allows water authorities

to plan capital expenditure requirements and focus on areas that may require con-servation and efficiency projects. Water demand can be linked directly to the number of people, and their standard of living, in Rand Water’s area of supply. It is also directly correlated to the needs of large industries, mines and commercial businesses that use water. An effective water-conservation and water-demand management programme will reduce water-supply costs and water wastage. This, in turn, makes it easier to ensure the delivery of sufficient water to meet the demands of existing, as well as new, consumers. Water-demand and water-conservation management goes beyond saving water; it encompasses using water wisely so that everyone has sufficient water at as low a cost as possible. It’s about curbing ineffi-cient usage, loss and wastage, even down to not over-watering gardens or watering gardens while it rains.Rand Water believes it has a statutory duty to promote water efficiencies and works to accomplish this through various ways from communicating water-demand management principles to technical inter-vention. It encourages replacing or fixing leaking domestic taps or the installation of pressure-reducing valves to restrict water flow through municipal pipelines at off-peak times. There are numerous other ways to en-sure efficient water use, such as financial

Water is lifeintervention through tariffs that discour-age waste, awareness and education initiatives, or legal action. Rand Water has spent millions on water demand manage-ment pilot projects in recent years, includ-ing retrofitting toilets to improve their efficiency and teaching communities on how to repair leaking taps. Other strategies include interaction with communities through road shows, indus-trial theatre and cartoon characters, such ‘Manzi’. Rand Water's Water Wise educational projects are a partnership between Rand Water, industries and the various Water Wise Centres. For children and young adults the learning experience makes water issues relevant to them through games, puppet shows, stories and nature walks. The goal is to instil a water-aware at-titude in these youngsters, who can then pass on the message through their Water Wise lifestyle. Water Wise targets the ‘green industry’, such as farmers, home owners, nurser-ies, golf courses and horticulturists, in a number of partnerships and initiatives to manage water use and promote efficient green practices. Recently additional attention has been given to educating industries on water conservation techniques.Rand Water’s philosophy is that water is life and life is water, and it needs to be respected and conserved.

Contact us on 0860 10 10 60 or visit www.randwater.co.za

Rand Water

Shortage crisis aff ects all National Water Week, which took place from 5 to 11 March, is an initiative of the Department of Water Aff airs that focuses on saving water and using it wisely. The national campaign aims at creating a mindset of responsibility in each citizen to protect the integrity of South Africa’s water resources and use them effi ciently as high-quality water promotes good health, eradicates waterborne diseases and reduces child mortality rates. World Water Day is on 22 March and the theme this year is the 'World is thirsty be-cause we are hungry'. Studies on the world’s deteriorating water situation have shown that a looming water crisis is aff ecting both rich and poor countries, and a third of the human population, mostly in the developing world, is now short of water. Internationally, water use has grown at more than twice the rate of the world’s population increase over the past century. The United Nations says sustainable, ef-fi cient and equitable management of scarce water resources should be a key priority for all aff ected countries, which should seek innovative ways to address the shortage. For example, a petroleum company in India now buys sewage and treats it to meet its raw water requirements. Water scarcity is a major threat to the businesses around the world that are failing to prepare for the serious economic and political risks posed by growing competition for fresh water, the threat of water contami-nation, reduced water availability and rising water-related costs. Imbalances between supply and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, as well as interregional and international com-petition and disputes, all refl ect the problem of how to cope with scarce water resources. Rand Water is engaging with all its partners and customers in a collaborative eff ort to drive home the water conservation message.

36 MAR/APR 2012

TECHNICAL PAPEREnvironment

What are wetlands?In the past, the value of wetlands has often been underrated. Common misconceptions have been that wetlands must be wet, have a river running through them, or are always situated in low-lying areas. The definition of a wetland is much broader and more textured: they are characterised more by soil properties and flora than by an abundance of water. Wetlands can be seasonal, staying dry for up to several years, or they can be permanently wet. A pan, for example, is a wetland that forms in a depression. This may even occur at the top of a hill, nowhere near a river, and dry out completely during the dry season. Wetlands also come in many sizes; they can be as small as a few square metres ‒ such as at a low point along the side of a road ‒ or cover a significant portion of a country, like the Okavango Delta.

Why are wetlands important?Wetlands provide a range of ecological and social services. They are bio-diverse environments that sup-port species that occur nowhere else in the landscape, and provide feeding, roosting and breeding sites for many others.Another primary feature of a wetland is that it retards the movement of water in the landscape, which has

It has been estimated by wetland specialists that originally over 10% of South Africa was covered by wetlands. But, this fi gure decreases signifi cantly every year, owing to unsustainable land-use practices. Specialists estimate that half of South Africa’s original wetlands have been lost because of this.

Wetland RehabilitationAn Integrated Approach

By David Townshend, Donnelly McCleland, Fareed Nagdi and Umesh Bahadur

two important benefits. The first is that wetlands pro-vide a measure of flood control ‒ effectively storing a portion of the flood volume, which is then released gradually, thereby mitigating downstream erosion. The second benefit is the purifying effect of the slower

movement of water, which allows heavier impurities to settle and phreatic vegetation and micro-bacteria opportunity to remove nutrients. For these reasons, artificial wet-

lands are often used in newer urban drainage systems to aid both mitigation of flooding and improvement of water quality.Flood mitigation and water quality improvements are two attributes that directly benefit local human societies, but they are not the only ones. Wetlands also provide a source of income for local communi-ties: they support livelihood fishing, provide grasses used to weave baskets, and, if used correctly, can provide a sustainable grazing area for cattle. Wetlands can also be used recreationally, supporting activities such as sailing, recreational fishing, bird-watching or picnicking.

FIGURE 1: A large, seasonal wetland identifi able by the characteristic fl ora. This wetland contained no surface water at the time of the photograph

Wetlands are characterised more by soil properties and flora than by an abundance of water

MAR/APR 2012 37

Causes of degradation of wetlandsAn increasing number of wetlands are lost every year through alien invasion, degrada-tion, and erosion, the main causes of which are agriculture, urban development and mining. An extreme example of this is where wetlands are drained to be used for human settlements or farming, entirely destroying the wetland. A less extreme, but far more common case arises through ignorance of the extent of the wetland when developers encroach on the “dry” seasonal areas, assum-ing that since they are not perennially wet, they do not form part of the wetland.

Working for WetlandsWorking for Wetlands is a national govern-ment programme managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), co-governed by the depart-ments of Water Aff airs and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and funded by the Department of Environmental Aff airs (DEA). The programme is mandated to rehabilitate damaged wetlands and to protect pristine wetlands, with an emphasis on comply-ing with the principles of the Expanded Public Works Programme and using only local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). Working for Wetlands currently has a budget of R80 million per year, of which R28 million is allocated directly to paying wages.Since 2001, the programme has involved work in over 600 wetlands throughout South Africa, and currently implements approximately 500 interventions per year. In order to manage this, wetlands have been grouped into “projects” that are managed provincially by SANBI Provincial Coordinators (PCs). Each PC is responsible for one province, consisting of several pro-jects, and each project encompasses sever-al wetlands with numerous interventions.

Programme historyThe Working for Wetlands Programme has its foundations in the wetland reha-bilitation work started in 2001 under the Working for Water Programme in the Department of Water Aff airs and Forestry (DWAF, later DWA and DAFF). At that stage, all of the work was done internally by Working for Water staff , with simple interventions (e.g. earthworks) being designed on site by the Working for Water project managers. Some more complex gabion structures were also designed by gabion suppliers, but their location and application were decided by Working for Water.

In 2004, the programme moved from DWAF to the Department of Environmental Aff airs and Tourism (DEAT, later DEA) and became Working for Wetlands under the management of SANBI. For the next two years, the entire programme was managed by SANBI in a manner similar to the way it was managed under DWAF; the basic designs were done by SANBI and gabion design was done by gabion suppliers. In 2006, however, as the design requirements and the regulatory environment became more complex, SANBI saw the need to

outsource the design work for larger structures to Land Resources International (LRI), an external agricultural engineering consultant, in conjunction with several wetland ecologists. At the same time, the legislation governing Environmental Impact Assessments became more strin-gent, so LRI supplied the additional service of ensuring compliance by providing a dedicated environmental practitioner to prepare the necessary documentation and obtain authorisations.Over the next four years, LRI slowly took over more of the design and planning work, as it became apparent that the combined expertise of wetland ecologists and engineers was extremely benefi cial to the work being done. The structural design also became more complex as improved solutions were sought.In 2009, a new tender was announced for the design and planning and was ulti-mately awarded to Aurecon in 2010, who brought expertise in the fi elds of project management, environmental practice and engineering to the programme. In early 2010, when the environmental legislation

TECHNICAL PAPER

became more demanding, Aurecon found it necessary to provide a team of Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) to deal with the upgraded docu-mentation and authorisations required.

Programme overviewThe programme is managed in three phases over a two-year cycle, as shown in the fl ow diagram in Figure 3. The fi rst two phases straddle the fi rst year of the cycle and involve planning, identifi cation, design and authorisation of interventions.

The third phase is implementation, which takes place during the second year.The fi rst phase is the identifi cation of suitable wetlands that require interven-tion. This involves an assessment by a wetland ecologist of the interventions required and benefi t gained. Provincial Wetland Forums are a critical component of the wetland identifi cation processes since they are representative of diverse groups with shared interests (e.g. from government institutions to amateur eco-logical enthusiasts). Use of this wide social knowledge-base allows for more effi cient and eff ective planning. This phase also involves initial communication with local land-owners and stakeholders to gauge the social benefi ts of the work.The result of the second phase is a set of rehabilitation plans for each project, informed by site visits attended by the de-sign team and any interested stakeholders. This allows a highly collaborative approach to be used, as options are discussed by

FIGURE 2: An example of headcut erosion in a degraded wetland

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experts from diff erent scientifi c disciplines, as well as local inhabitants with deep anec-dotal knowledge. While on site, details of the interventions are discussed and agreed upon, and some survey work is done by the engineers. The rehabilitation plans include details of each intervention to be implemented, preliminary construction drawings and all necessary documentation required by applicable legislation (e.g. environmental authorisations). The reha-bilitation plans are reviewed by various government departments, stakeholders and the general public, before a spe-cifi c subset of interventions are selected for implementation.For all interventions that are based on engineering designs, the engineer visits the site before construction to ensure that the original design is still appropriate and to assist with setting out the final design. At this point, final construction drawings are issued to the implementing contractors.During Phase 2, monitoring systems are put in place to support the continuous evaluation of interventions. The systems monitor both the environmental and social benefi ts of the interventions.

Benefi ts of the programmeThe Working for Wetlands Programme is part of a broader family of Natural Resource Management Programmes that are unique in the value they add, both environmentally and socially. The immedi-ate environmental benefi t of the Working for Wetlands Programme is obvious, with,

TECHNICAL PAPER

FIGURE 3: Flow diagram of the bi-annual Working for Wetlands Programme cycle

40 MAR/APR 2012

on average, more than 100 wetlands being saved and restored each year.However, saving wetlands cannot be achieved only by building structures that physically rehabilitate the wetlands. It is equally important to educate local com-munities, developers and farmers in the wise use of wetlands, and to appreciate their role in the ecology of river systems and the benefi ts that can be gleaned from their appropriate use. This educa-tion theme is an integral part of the pro-

gramme, as its success depends on local involvement and support, which can only happen if the local communities under-stand the importance of the work. One of the main problems facing South Africa currently is unemployment and, as a result, job-creation is a major focus of many governmental organisations, SANBI included. Job creation and skills develop-ment have become an important objective of the Working for Wetlands Programme, with an annual labour wage target of 35% of the project budget and over 2 100 jobs being created every year. This target infl u-ences the intervention design directly and the extent of labour-intensive work is a major criterion in the selection and design of interventions. It is worth noting that only SMME implementation contractors are employed and that they source most of their materials from local SMME builders’

supply businesses.Skills development is another focus of the project and is implemented on several levels. Unskilled labour is employed and trained in various construction techniques (such as concrete work, gabion construc-tion, earthworks and river diversion), while implementing contractors are trained in construction and site management. At the highest level, the SANBI Working for Wetlands coordinators and managers make continuous eff orts to further their

own knowledge of standard engineering and construction practice.It should be stressed that the work envi-ronment for the implementing contractors is generally far more hostile than that of many conventional construction sites. Working in wet areas is always challeng-ing, even for experienced construction teams, and the wetland sites are mostly remote and relatively inaccessible, mak-ing the supply of resources a diffi cult task. It is a tribute to both the programme and the implementing contractors that, despite these hostile conditions, most of the structures are built to a high standard, which highlights how skills are being developed appropriately.

Professional consultant rolesWetland ecologistsWetland ecologists are integral to the

programme since they provide scientifi c insight into the operation of wetlands and bring expert knowledge to the design teams. They are mainly involved in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the programme.During Phase 1, ecologists evaluate wet-lands to establish the viability of rehabilita-tion by using existing studies as far as pos-sible, specifi cally provincial conservation plans, where both terrestrial and aquatic environments are considered. In addition, new wetlands that have not previously been evaluated by this programme are assessed from the air, with the help of the Bateleurs (an environmental, aeroplane-fl ying, not-for-profi t organisation). This aerial perspective assists in highlighting key wetland problems and threats, which can then be assessed in greater detail during Phase 2. A limited number of site visits are conducted during this phase by the wetland ecologists to provide a better understanding of the overall catchment and reduce the amount of time required in the fi eld by the entire team during Phase 2 assessments.Phase 2 involves a more detailed review of problems in specifi c wetlands, using desktop analysis and site visits with the rest of the design team. Rapid wetland as-sessment techniques are used throughout this phase to evaluate the present eco-logical state, importance and sensitivity of each wetland, formulate the rehabilitation objectives, design an appropriate reha-bilitation strategy, assess the likely impact of wetland rehabilitation on wetland health and ecosystem delivery, and as-sess the value of rehabilitation in terms of the improvement in wetland health and ecosystem service delivery. The results of this assessment are compiled into a report on each wetland, which forms part of the rehabilitation plans.During Phase 2, baseline monitoring information is collected by the wetland ecologists to provide a point of compari-son for evaluating the success of specifi c wetland interventions. The data collected includes fi xed-point photographs and coordinates of the identifi ed problems, information related to the health of the wetland and details of the estimated area that will be rehabilitated. This data forms part of the monitoring and evaluation sys-tem and is vital to the assessment of each intervention’s performance.

Environmental assessment practitionersSouth Africa’s legislative landscape has

TECHNICAL PAPER

FIGURE 4: Community use of a wetland. A structure designed to arrest a headcut formation is used as a washing area for laundry

One of the main problems facing South Africa currently is unemployment and, as a result, job-creation is a major focus of SANBI

TECHNICAL PAPER

gone through numerous changes over the years and has resulted in additional demands on the Working for Wetlands Programme in order for it to be compliant. Aurecon’s EAPs have assisted SANBI to ne-gotiate their way through this regulatory maze by means of innovative approaches and engagement with national organs of state. Complying with legislation proved to be an onerous task, for three main reasons.

Challenges encounteredNational legislation is designed with individual projects in mind and makes no allowances for on-going programmes on the scale of Working for Wetlands. The Department of Water Aff airs, for example, requires a water use licenc e for each of approximately 500 rehabilitation interven-tions implemented every year. In 2010, this requirement was relieved to a General Authorisation (which is usually processed much faster), but was still required for every intervention. An attempt was made by Aurecon to negotiate a programme-level authorisation, but this has so far been unsuccessful.The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) has strict requirements to pre-vent damage to the natural environment by construction work. However, no specifi c allowance is made for rehabilitation work, where the aim of the construction is to repair damage to the environment.While legislation supports inter-depart-mental cooperation within government, in practice this does not necessarily happen. SANBI needs to be able to negotiate with other government departments to avoid much of the superfl uous requirements, but this has so far proven intractable, despite eff orts by individuals in these departments.

Positive work doneThere are, however, several positive exam-ples of initiatives by SANBI and Aurecon that allowed the authorisation processes to be optimised, and the overhead costs for Working for Wetlands reduced. This has been highly signifi cant since it means that the total budget spent on administration has been reduced, and more has been spent on wetland restoration.NEMA requires two levels of environ-mental assessment. The simpler and faster assessment is a Basic Assessment Report (BAR), which is generally suffi cient to cover the work done by Working for Wetlands. A full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) entails a much more detailed and far longer process and is only required

for certain activities, such as working in areas with peat. Since a number of the rehabilitation projects occur in areas with peat, an application was made to DEA to relieve the requirements for such projects to a BAR, on the basis that they entail rehabilitation rather than the use of peat. DEA agreed with this assessment and authorised the relief, thereby preventing unnecessary delays.NEMA makes allowance for a “class ap-plication”, whereby similar applications from the same applicant are grouped into one submission. This allowed a BAR to be prepared for each province based on the

rehabilitation plans, which were adapted from previous years to incorporate NEMA’s latest requirements in order to streamline the process and avoid duplication of work.One of the merits of the structure of the design team is that there is a close interaction between individual members of the team and stakeholders. This al-lows, for example, the engineers and EAPs to work together closely to ensure a high quality assessment of the potential environmental impacts associated with a project. Although NEMA requires that EAPs maintain their independence from designers (in this case the engineers), DEA realised the benefi ts of close interaction and, given Aurecon’s excellent track record in the area of Environmental Assessments, an exemption from this regulation was granted to Aurecon.

The dynamic nature of wetlands means that changes to authorised designs are occasionally required in order to meet the needs of the altered environment. The EAPs have facilitated this by means of letters to DEA, which outline the changes needed and the reasons for them. Aurecon’s EAPs have also assisted SANBI by providing guidance on which work actually requires authorisations. Maintenance of existing structures and alien clearing, for example, do not require authorisations.In previous years, the Working for Wetlands Programme had developed a

suite of landowner forms, which Aurecon updated to include the latest relevant NEMA requirements, thereby ensuring that the single set of forms covers all the legis-lation relating to the Public Participation Process (PPP). The PPP was conducted at national, provincial and local levels in the form of advertisements, engagement with provincial wetland forums, interaction with various organs of state (including the Department of Water Aff airs and South African Heritage Agency) and regular communication with all interested and aff ected parties.Aurecon has prepared a compre-hensive Construction Environmental Management Programme with an as-sociated audit checklist for use by SANBI, which has been authorised by DEA to ensure environmental best practice and

FIGURE 5: Labourers working on a gabion weir designed to arrest erosion, trap sediment and re-saturate previously drained areas, thereby improving its benefi cial functioning

MAR/APR 2012 41

The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) has strict requirements to prevent damage to the natural environment by construction work

42 MAR/APR 2012

TECHNICAL PAPER

compliance with legislation. DEA also agreed that SANBI’s provincial coordina-tors could fulfi l the role of environmental control offi cers as required by the environmental authorisations.

Monitoring and evaluationOne of Aurecon’s objectives is the devel-opment of a framework for monitoring and evaluating the ways in which the

programme is able to benefi t poor and marginalised communities, and the extent to which these benefi ts are materialised. Consequently, Aurecon’s social develop-ment specialists derived a monitoring and evaluation framework that is based on the Logical Framework Methodology, an in-ternationally tried-and-proven method of presenting all key information concerning a project, or interventions, in a clear, con-cise and logical way. It is therefore as much a framework for summarising available

Table 1: Engineering design methodologyPreliminary investigation

Geotechnical survey

A full geotechnical investigation is done in several typical wetlands throughout the country in order to identify charac-teristic traits and develop general guidelines.

Study of aerial photography

A study of the area is done using available aerial photography (e.g. Google Earth and 1:10 000 maps). This gives insight into the wetland and its operation.

Site visit Assess the problem

The scale and nature of the problem is discussed between the engineer and wetland ecologist.

Decide on type of intervention

The wetland ecologist, engineer, EAP and PC discuss and decide on the type of intervention required, taking into ac-count factors such as the wetland requirements, engineering requirements, social drivers, implementer capability, avail-ability of suitable materials, etc.

Geotechnical assessment

The engineer performs a basic geotechnical assessment by a visual inspection with the aid of an augur, and using Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) tests.

Basic survey The engineer does a basic survey using a tape measure and dumpy level.

Assess hydrology Through a visual inspection of the wetland, the engineer iden-tifi es annual fl ood levels and assesses its fl ow characteristics.

Design Hydrology & hydraulics

A detailed hydrological study is not needed for most structures, as they are intended to be drowned during large storm events. However, simple hydraulic methods were used to ensure they act effi ciently up to the point where they become drowned.

Interpret survey and DCP results

The engineer plots the survey and DCP results to guide deci-sions regarding the height and depth of the structure.

Preliminary design

A preliminary design is done, indicating characterising dimen-sions and the structure type.

Detailed design For most structures, a detailed design is done according to the standard detailed design methods developed. For high-risk structures, a conventional engineering approach is used, sometimes requiring more detailed surveys.

data on the programme’s achievements in terms of social benefi ciation, as a roadmap for building on these results and gaining deeper insight into the programme’s social benefi ts.

Design engineersSince excellence in engineering design and project management is a primary busi-ness focus for Aurecon, one of the main

strengths added to the programme by their appointment was technical, scientifi c and management expertise. The nature of the programme is such that conventional engineering practice is usually not possi-ble, and this has led to several challenges.

Challenges encounteredThe most signifi cant challenge was the shift in perspective required of many par-ticipating team members. Conventionally designed and engineered structures have

a high cost of failure; therefore, it is crucial to ensure that they are accurately and precisely designed, both hydraulically and structurally. However, in this programme, a balance is required between the com-plexity of designs and the number of designs, in order to optimise both the ag-gregate area of wetland restored and the total number of jobs created. This implies that a less risk-averse approach to design can be followed, since the consequences of failure of rehabilitation interventions are generally minor and pose no threat to life or property. The programme an-nually makes provision for maintaining previously implemented interventions, so any failures can be rectifi ed. The value of this approach is that it allows structures to be less design- and materials-intensive, which in turn allows a greater number of wetlands to be rehabilitated. But, this is an uncomfortable situation for design engineers because, in conventional de-signs, structural or functional failure would only be acceptable at low probability of failure. This has led Aurecon engineers to develop a risk-focused design method for this programme.Another factor aff ecting the design approach is the requirement that a large number of structures need to be designed in a very short period, with very little back-ground information, and for the structural-ly poor soil conditions typical of wetlands. The key to effi ciently negotiating these challenges was through “standardising” the design details according to criteria that are relatively universal. StandardisationThe standardised methodology developed consists of three phases, as shown in Table 1. The fi rst steps are information gather-ing, and, using the risk-focused approach, the extent of data collection is minimised in order to save costs with consideration of the risks involved. The next step is a decision on the type of intervention to implement. This involves a discussion between all members of the design team, and requires a delicate balance between the engineering and environmental as-pects of the solution, taking into account the simplicity of implementation and the labour-days created.The types of interventions used in Working for Wetlands generally fall into three categories. The simplest are small, soft interventions, such as earth berms or geo-cell linings that do not require much in the way of engineering design.

The nature of the programme is such that conventional engineering practice is usually not possible, and this has led to several challenges

The other two most popular types of intervention are gabion and concrete weirs. Aurecon’s structural and water engineers investigated several examples of these types of structures and developed simple design guidelines and standard details for them. For the concrete weirs in particular, a booklet of standard reinforcing details was developed, signifi cantly reducing the time taken to design a structure.

Moving forwardThe programme has come far since it started in 2001, mov-ing from a small internally-managed project to a large-scale programme employing a team of external specialists. The intervention designs have also improved, where appropriate, from simple structures to complex reinforced concrete weirs or equivalent gabion structures.The most demanding challenge faced by SANBI is to reduce the overhead costs of the programme and maximise the budget spent on the actual rehabilitation of wetlands. One way in which this might be done is by fi nding a balance between the design costs and the construction costs. Reducing the design costs means that more interventions can be implemented, but with caution that they are likely to be less effi cient, and therefore restore less wetland. Increasing the budget spent on the design work means the interventions would be more eff ective, but that fewer could be implemented. The complicated and extensive legislative requirements have resulted in an excessive cost incurred by the programme. Much has already been done in an attempt to reduce the workload, but it is hoped that further discussions with relevant govern-ment departments will allow for a relaxation of the regulations, which are actually intended to prevent the damage that Working for Wetlands is trying to repair.Monitoring and evaluation systems have been developed and some are already in place, but limited budget has meant that the evaluation of interventions is not nearly as extensive or inter-rogative as it should be to yield meaningful results.Job creation is an important activity, but keeping a balance between this and wetland rehabilitation remains a constant challenge. As the project is currently fully funded by the National Government’s Extended Public Works Programme, the key to this dilemma may be to source additional conservation-specifi c funding and use this to balance the dual focus of the programme.

ConclusionsWorking for Wetlands adds diverse value to society and the environment, and presents an international role-model of what is achievable in wetland restoration. In the last six years, it has created 12 000 jobs and 1.5 million person-days of paid work, and has restored over 600 wetland sites. It has also achieved close and nurturing collaboration between multiple disciplines, particularly between engineers and environmental scientists, who generally have limited understanding of each other’s competencies.

AcknowledgementsAll of the information and photos were provided by various members of the SANBI and Aurecon teams. In particular, credit is given to Andre Beetge, Cilliers Blaauw, Craig Cowden, John Dini, André Görgens, Donovan Kotze, Karien Lotter, Tobie Louw, Jan Peroldand Jenny Youthed.

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PANEL DISCUSSION

What kind of support have you received from the companies in the industry in terms of membership?The support has been fantastic. Most of the suppliers have joined (not all, as you will always have some detractors) and government, consultants and the industry as a whole have responded positively to Sewpacksa. Having the ability to deal with an organisation that speaks with one voice is one of the main benefi ts.

What are some of the challenges faced in the small wastewater treatment works (SWWTW)/small package plant industry, and how does belonging to Sewpacksa assist in overcoming these challenges?The industry has had a poor image in the eyes of the authorities, as well as with customers due to a chequered past. We aim to change this by setting standards, measuring all members against those standards and ultimately sanctioning non-complying members. This will ensure that

Sewpacksa making a differenceThe Sewage Package Plant Suppliers Association (Sewpacksa) held its inaugural meeting in East London in November 2010. Debbie Besseling speaks to Spike Becker, vice chairperson, about the progress the association has made over the past year.

the customers get what they need and that the authorities can deal with the suppliers with greater confi dence.

A tender has already been issued that specifi ed Sewpacksa membership as a prerequisite to tendering. What are the association’s comments on this signifi cant milestone?This is hugely important, because it is the beginning of what we as an association is striving towards. It will enable the suppli-ers to know how to deliver the required standard and it will enable the client to have confi dence in knowing that they are getting a product that meets these standards.

What are some of the association’s long-term objectives?Firstly, Sewpacksa needs to get the “buy-in” from all suppliers; they have to trust Sewpacksa to speak on their behalf. Next we must set the standards

Sewpacksa objectives

The association should be able to meet the following objectives:1. Infl uence the proposed and impending

regulations that the industry might face now and in the future.

2. Provide a united front and body that can be consulted on matters relevant to the SWWTW industry.

3. Develop certain standards of qual-ity (design, manufacture, operate and maintain).

4. Develop processes for certifi cation and accreditation of suppliers to ensure sustainability of the industry.

5. Align the standards of quality with the Green Drop and other regula-tory standards.

6. Register as a separate legal entity (a non-profi t organisation).

7. Assist members with education (CPD) and training to ensure sustainability of their businesses.

8. As a credible organisation, obtain the buy-in of Department of Water Aff airs, WISA and the broader community.

9. Adopt a code of conduct that all mem-bers are willing to abide by that pro-vides for sanctioning non-adherence.

10. Provide opportunities for networking and specialised support, such as legal and strategic input.

hey have to o speakt werds

to which all members must comply. This we hope to achieve during this year, but Sewpacksa will never stop developing the standards as the industry develops. Finally, we must get the support of the authori-ties: government at national, regional and local level, and the regulators at all levels. The private sector must also use Sewpacksa to guide them when making decisions. When we get to this level, Sewpacksa will have matured.

Sewpacksa visionOur goal is for this to be an association of like-minded professionals in the water treatment industry with a notable and sustainable impact on all aspects of water management in South Africa, ensuring clean water for its future generations.

"The industry has had a poor image in the eyes of the authorities. We aim to change this by setting standards, and measuring all members against those standards" Spike Becker, vice chairperson, Sewpacksa

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MAR/APR 2012 49

Package plant industry PANEL DISCUSSION

How have these industries evolved over the past fi ve years?Since the need for new water and waste-water infrastructure was highlighted, many new suppliers have emerged. Many innova-tive technologies are becoming mainstream, and membranes specifi cally have become much more prevalent in both water and wastewater treatment.

In terms of legislative requirements, what technologies are available to achieve special standard nutrient levels?There are a few alternatives, but biological nutrient removal (BNR) is the ‘green’ way to go. Also, using Membrane Bio Reactors (MBR) can make the BNR process more rug-ged. We have paid particular attention to adapting our SBR technology to MBR and BNR processes and now off er a full suite of options from phosphate and nitrate remov-al, right through to full water reclamation.

Where do you see the treatment of wastewater going in terms of nutrient removal?In the past there was limited legislative directive to have nutrient removal and was therefore not frequently included in process design. However, with more stringent con-sent levels being imposed, we see more BNR plants being installed.

How does Prentec view the topic of water reclamation? Do you have any recent applications that are innovative in this fi eld?Prentec has been extensively involved in wa-ter reclamation over the last 15 years, both in South Africa and abroad. The key step is to convince communities, as we live in a water scarce area, that there are many treatment options available to render the reclaimed

Adrian Viljoen, process director, Prentec

In our third round of panel discussions, we focus on the water treatment and package plant treatment industry. Four experts discuss the challenges faced in the sector, the latest innovations and the future of our water in terms of water reclamation.

Tackling the water and sewerage industries head on

water 100% safe for drinking. We are cur-rently undertaking to reclaim water from a combined sewage and polluted water source and render the product safe and ac-ceptable for reuse by a mining community.

Is enough being done to reuse and reclaim water? How does mine water reclamation fi t into the future of potable water supply?Mine water is a resource that can be rendered potable, at a cost, which is quite high. As technology improves, this cost can be expected to come down and make the reclamation of this water more competitive. Prentec is developing low cost, low impact reclamation technologies.

Do you think enough is being done to ensure safe drinking water for all?Defi nitely not as there are millions of South Africans who still do not have access to safe drinking water. There is an immediate need to deliver many satellite treatment plants. These should be self-contained, solar-powered units that require minimum resources to maintain their operation. We believe, based on technology we have developed specifi cally for this application, that it is viable to provide ’free basic water’ to communities as small as 1 000 people for under R5 per month, per person.

What challenges do suppliers in the sector face when providing quality drinking and/or wastewater treatment?South Africa has an abundance of capacity, knowledge and resources, all readily avail-able for the roll out of water infrastructure. South African water engineers are recog-nised worldwide with many benchmark developments having being made here. We hope that funding and political will

is increasingly applied to ensure that the needs are met to guarantee necessary economic growth.

Do you see new opportunities for developing more sustainable technologies in the provision of potable water?At Prentec, we are constantly refi ning old and deriving new technologies in an ever changing environment. We have developed ‘green’ self-contained packages ready to be implemented for the provision of po-table water. We look at how these can be implemented to place control in the hands of the community itself. One aspect is to provide entrepreneurs in communities with opportunities to develop as technicians and businessmen. Therefore, we deliver not only water, but know-how and capacity to sustain and grow the projects.

What has Prentec done to diff erentiate themselves in the fi eld?Established over 37 years ago, we have built a tremendous family of staffi ng, which has the experience and knowledge to provide true turnkey solutions. There are not many companies that can say the same.

Prentec’s fl agship Lephalale plant

MAR/APR 2012 51

How have these industries evolved over the past fi ve years?A lot of refurbishment of existing plants is occurring. We found that there is a lack of basic maintenance. There is also no evidence of preventative maintenance programmes. Simpler technologies like pond systems and trickling fi lters are being phased out and being replaced with more technologically advanced treatment systems. But this may have a detrimental eff ect, as the simpler technology produces a better average effl u-ent quality in the long run.

In terms of legislative requirements, what technologies are available to achieve special standard nutrient levels?Legislation requirements determine technol-ogy development. A nutrient concentration standard on all sizes of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) has had a skewing eff ect on appropriate technology development. On larger WWTP (>2 Mℓ per day) BNR process technologies is a proven practice in the industry. The BNR technologies have evolved to a level where much lower concentrations of nutrients can comfortably be achieved. In order to reduce our rivers nutrient levels, the actual amount of nutrients discharged and the down-stream eff ect should be evaluated individually to set a specifi c standard.The legislation requirement for nutri-

ent removal on small package plants (<100 kℓ per day) has had a far more com-plex technology evolvement. The relative variation on both the hydraulic and organic raw sewage characteristics is far more incon-sistent on small WWTP plants. Obtaining a sustainable solution with the limiting factors regarding minimum pipe sizes, fl ow veloci-ties, hydraulic retention times, recycle rates and many others, makes the sustainable implementation of BNR almost impossible.

Where do you see the treatment of sewage going in terms of nutrient removal?Larger WWTP: In nutrient sensitive areas re-gional WWTP will have to comply with much stricter nutrient standards that are currently required by legislation.Remote site applications: The focus in more remote locations will most probably justify a preference on sustainable reasonable quality

Zack van den Berg, managing director, Tecroveer

effl uent, rather than more sophisticated nu-trient-removal technology. Small package plants: Legislation will be-come less stringent regarding small WWTP.

How does your company view the topic of water reclamation? Do you have any recent applications that are innovative in this fi eld?For us, reclamation creates sustainability. Sustainability creates business opportuni-ties if implemented correctly. Over recent years, Tecroveer has executed more than R100 million of reclamation-based projects. Our Karee WWTP project was fi nancially jus-tifi ed by the amount of potable water saved by recycling treated domestic sewage and treated storm water.

Is enough being done to reuse and reclaim water? How does mine water reclamation fi t into the future of potable water supply?Aff ordable mine water treatment to potable standard will not only address a possible surface water catastrophe, but will also go a long way to relieve the medium-term pota-ble water demand in Gauteng. However two questions remain:• What technology and method must be

used to ensure an environmentally sus-tainable, cost-eff ective solution?

• How will these projects be fi nanced in the limited time available?

Do you think enough is being done to ensure safe drinking water for all?We congratulate national government on the implementation of the Blue and Green Drop initiatives. However, we are concerned on the current state of local municipal treatment facilities and how they are man-aged. Blue Drop certifi cation will not be

sustainable if Green drop cer-tifi cation does not follow suit. It remains a mystery that treatment plants that are not achieving the effl uent standard can achieve Green Drop certifi cation.One of the biggest challenges in the safety

of drinking water lies in the protection of the catchments and the dam reservoirs from which the drinking water is drawn.

What challenges do suppliers in the sector face when providing quality drinking and/or wastewater?The challenge is to ensure that a preventa-tive maintenance schedule is implemented on supplied equipment. New equipment that is abused and not maintained cannot perform to design requirements.

Do you see new opportunities for developing more sustainable technologies in the provision of potable water?Yes, defi nitely. Where there are challenges, solutions will certainly follow as in the case of the acid mine drainage problem in the Witwatersrand. We are currently in the last phase of completing a pilot plant that will demonstrate the cost-eff ective removal of sulphates from acid mine water.

What has Tecroveer done to diff erentiate themselves in the fi eld?Water is our passion. We believe cleaning water is our purpose in life and this is encom-passed in our vision: “Clean water for future generations.” To diff erentiate ourselves, we partner with our clients to engineer a holistic and tailor-made solution using appropriate technology to sustain quality effl uent at the best value for money.

PANEL DISCUSSIONPackage plant industry

RIGHT Top view of Wonderkop plant

MAR/APR 2012 53

How have these industries evolved over the past fi ve years?Water and wastewater treatment plants have changed signifi cantly, not in pro-cesses used, but in the physical equipment used. Membrane technologies, high rate-clarifi cation, and use of specialised media have reduced plant footprints, energy consumption and capital costs. Package plants are no longer ‘cheap and nasty’. They are advanced, robust, automated processes that outperform traditional systems.

In terms of legislative requirements, what technologies are available to achieve special standard nutrient levels? Special standard nutrient limits can be met with conventional treatment processes that are packaged in compact systems. Pre-engineered plants like MBR, MBBR and tertiary filtration can be retro-fitted to large installed plants to achieve improved nutrient discharges (nitrogen and phosphorus).

Where do you see the treatment of sewage going in terms of nutrient removal? Nutrient removal is critical to reduc-ing eutrophication in receiving waters. Sewage plants struggling to meet nutrient discharge limits now have technologies available that can be retrofi tted at low capital cost and in a short time. In par-ticular, improved phosphorus will require new approaches.

How does your company view the topic of water reclamation? Do you have any recent applications that are innovative in this fi eld?Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) and Siemens Water Technologies: Memcor sees this area as a crucial social investment. The technology is proven, and we have imple-mented several plants in South Africa and around the world. In Australia, the North-Head sewage treatment facility installed a packaged MEMCOR MBR plant to recycle 2 Mℓ/day of secondary effl uent. In the United States, a municipality in Colorado uses the compact

Rob Holmes, director, Quality Filtration Systems

PANEL DISCUSSION

TRIDENT technology to treat wastewater for agricultural and industrial reuse. Trident technology is used in a number of locations in California for ‘Title 22’ water reuse, one of the world standards for reuse.

Is enough being done to reuse and reclaim water? How does mine water reclamation fi t into the future of potable water supply?Not yet. Reuse should be considered before seawater desalination, as the costs are lower, and it requires less time to imple-ment. Even with several municipalities having taken the step, there are hundreds of opportunities to reuse municipal sewage in a benefi cial way. Decentralised, compact plants like MBR can be deployed quickly to provide up to 3 Mℓ/day of high-quality reuse water. Mine water reclamation is one of many industrial processes that are important in securing the availability of safe drinking water, particu-larly in South Africa with the huge inventory of impaired mine water. The technology to treat this water, and reuse it benefi cially exists, and many projects, can be implanted quickly using pre-engineered solutions.

Do you think enough is being done to ensure safe drinking water for all? This is a constant challenge for society everywhere. New generation, multi-barrier technologies like membrane fi ltration should be employed more readily if we want to ensure safe drinking water.

What challenges do suppliers in the sector face when providing quality drinking and/or wastewater?Municipalities are challenged with providing better services with decreasing fi nancial re-sources. Funding and a procurement process that does not encourage suppliers and con-tractors to off er state-of-the-art, advanced technologies are the major challenges.

Do you see new opportunities for developing more sustainable technologies in the provision of potable water?Certainly, combining water conservation and reuse is the most sustainable ap-proach to water management. By taking a systematic view, we can invest resources in a way that promotes sustainability of our water resources.

What has QFS done to diff erentiate themselves in the fi eld?We have focused on advanced technolo-gies that are proven internationally. We de-ploy pre-engineered systems that can be factor tested prior to site installation. We provide technologies that reduce project implementation costs, risks and time. The package plant of the future is available now. They are robust, advanced processes that out-perform conventional processes. The following people are also acknowledged for their input to this discussion: Herman Smit (QFS), Victoria Kippax (Siemens Water Technologies Australia), and Patrick DiBenedetto (Siemens Water Technologies USA)

Combining water conservation and reuse is the most sustainable approach to water management

Package plant industry

RIGHT The ultra-fi ltration membranes pre fi lter the water going into the Reverse Osmosis membranes. The plant produces 1.6 Mℓ/day

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TRENDS & PRODUCTS

MAR/APR 2012 55

How have these industries evolved over the past five years?Sewage treatment industries haven’t evolved much. Some new methods of applying the same technology have come up, but this has not revolutionised the industry. Some products promise many things, but it just does not work in the field ‒ not in Africa.

In terms of legislative requirements, what technologies are available to achieve special standard nutrient levels?Again, we have had a number of discus-sion groups and water conferences where a great deal of chit-chat has achieved very little. An association of package plants was formed a while ago in an attempt to provide a united front, but I suspect this was designed to dilute legislation on wa-ter quality. Several standard systems can already achieve special standards, and so bypass all current legislation. It is for those sup-pliers whose systems cannot achieve general standards that need enforced legislation, and even prosecution.

Where do you see the treatment of sewage going in terms of nutrient removal?Things have to improve, not just for the package plants, but in the general indus-try. The Green Drop programme gave us all a glimpse at the shocking state of our larger systems. The municipalities need to apply better care-giving as they are the biggest single cause for nutrient poisoning of our environment. Political appointments to the management and maintenance of these treatment facilities have to stop.

How does your company view the topic of water reclamation? Do you have any recent applications that are innovative in this field?We will reclaim all treated water in the end. More people are harvesting rainwater, but when the dry season ap-proaches, we will look for other sources, and our domestic wastewater becomes more palatable. Should each household be allowed to reclaim all water to reuse

PANEL DISCUSSION

Steve Nicol, owner, Scarab Technologies

for flushing, irrigation, washing cars and even air-conditioning, then this will have a huge impact on our lives. Potable water supplies will become more secure, and large municipal sewer systems will no longer be overloaded, resulting in less pollution.

Is enough being done to reuse and reclaim water? How does mine water reclamation fit into the future of potable water supply?We are still a long way off, because it is easier to waste. Only when we hit a water crisis will we catch up. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a particu-larly nasty product as it contains a great deal of heavy metals and other harmful elements to the environment and to peo-ple. This product should never find its way into the potable water supply. However, should it be treated properly, the water would be a valuable source of fresh water.

Do you think enough is being done to ensure safe drinking water for all?No ‒ it appears there is not enough value placed on drinking water. It’s more popu-lar to spend on infrastructure than to save on usage. We need a crisis.

What challenges do suppliers in the sector face when providing quality drinking and/or wastewater? We had sufficient quality water supplies, but this has been contaminated by waste-water. Assets quickly became liabilities. We now need to retain quality men and women in this industry, without politics. Too often, those who cannot fairly com-pete in the market, resort to bribing and corruption. There is no space for politics in water. It is simply too valuable.

Do you see new opportunities for developing more sustainable technologies in the provision of potable water?There are always new opportunities for those free thinkers willing to experiment.

What has Scarab Technologies done to differentiate themselves in the field?Our product has proven itself to be the most robust, simplest to maintain, and easiest to understand. We do not add any smoke and mirrors to disguise the tech-nology, nor do we cut corners. We have an understanding that should a system be supplied and installed, the technology remains the property of Scarab, and we are responsible for it, forever.

It appears there is not enough value placed on drinking water. It’s more popular to spend on infrastructure than to save on usage

Package plant industry

RIGHT Scarab system for Jacob Zuma's Nkandla residence

56 MAR/APR 2012

TRENDS & PRODUCTSINTERVIEW

Following your appointment last year, has the company had any new areas of focus?One of our main areas of focus last year was our African initiatives and we have made significant inroads into other countries on the continent. At the start of 2011 we opened an office in Ghana. We have also been strengthening our Zimbabwean office located in Harare. SRK already has established offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and our Angola practice has been going for a while. Most of our busi-ness operations in Africa are related to the mining sector and as mines cannot exist without water, the precious resource is a fundamental requirement.

Tell us briefl y about your water service off eringWater management in different parts of the world, especially under extreme climatic conditions, is critical. With a wide range of experience and expertise around the globe, SRK can put together teams who can de-velop the best approach to optimising water manage-ment for any project. Our water expertise is provided by a professional team of over 100 people. Most of our work is undertaken within the mining sector, and tends to be legislation driven. Our services include water use licences and pollution control aspects, design of water retaining structures, hydrology, stormwater manage-ment, hydrogeology, hydrochemistry and water treat-ment, and environmental and numerical modelling.Our water team has been particularly busy in Africa over the past year working in Angola, Botswana, Congo, DRC, Eretria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Tanzania, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia,

Global and African initiativesPeter Labrum took up the position as managing director for SRK Consulting a year ago. Debbie Besseling discusses his role as a leader of a diverse and extensive consulting fi rm, while highlighting the company’s business in the water sector.

Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and of course South Africa.In terms of our existing work, part of the mine water management requirements for mines in South Africa has been the implementation of regulations for sound

water management plans including stormwater, water quality, water balances and groundwa-ter. We have undertaken a number of legal and stormwater compliance audits at various mines in South Africa. The work has embraced diamond, copper, coal, and platinum mines.

Industrial sites and local industry are also becoming more compliant.

About Peter LabrumPlace of birth: Bulawayo, ZimbabweEducation: Grad Dipl Eng (Proj Man), Witwatersrand, 1988, BSc (Eng) (Civil), Natal,

1974, Registrations/Affi liations: Pr Eng (South Africa) 820180, Pr CPM, Member of SAICE, A I Struct E, Chartered Engineer, United KingdomPublications: Kirsten, HAD and Labrum, PR (1990): “The equivalence of fi bre and mesh reinforcement in the shotcrete used in tunnel-support systems’. J.S. Afr. Inst. Min Metall, Vol 90, No 7 pp. 153-171Likes: Enjoys being an engineer, and sport Dislikes: incompetence and corruption

LEFT Peter Labrum’s expertise includes design of water treatment and water supply infrastructure and dams, bridge design, general civil and structural design of mine infrastructure, project management and contract administration and mine closure cost estimates

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MAR/APR 2012 57

INTERVIEW

MAR/APR 2012 57

An area in the water field that has been challenging for a number of years and is now starting to yield re-sults is the enhanced in-situ bioremediation. Our team has introduced emulsified oils and specialised “bugs” into the groundwater. These “bugs” are degrading the contamination and lowering the risk to off-site receptors. SRK has been monitoring the success of the project.

What challenges does SRK currently face in the industry? One of our main challenges is finding skilled people, as well as attracting and retaining staff that are leaders in their field of expertise. We therefore as a company have made a significant investment in training and skills development. At home in South Africa, as elsewhere, it is important that we attract and nurture young engineers, exciting them with the challenge of techni-cal excellence in all aspects of a project. Developing people has always been at the very foundation of our company and our industry and it will remain a priority for us going forward.

What sets SRK apart from the rest?We are a diverse group of people, and therefore a lot of interaction takes place, scientists and engineers all giving their view points and various perspectives. This multi-disciplinary approach is extremely beneficial from a business perspective.The business has of necessity become more

Major achievementsName of project: Groot River Bridge on N2Location: South Africa

Project description: One of the Garden Route Arch Bridges

Project duration/date: 1980 - 1983

Value of project: US $ 4.1 million

Job title and duties: Resident Engineer

Name of project: Lebalelo Water Supply SchemeLocation: Northern Province, South Africa

Project description: Design and Contract Administration

Project duration/date: 2000 – 2003

Value of project: $ US28 750 000

Job title and duties: Director in charge of design and contract administration

corporate as it has grown during the last 38 years, but our version of corporate is different. The unique mix of the entrepre-neurial with the professional and technical aspects of the business still makes SRK a special place to work.SRK has established a global network and we have built an excellent reputation and are well respected internationally.

Tell us briefl y about your career with SRKI have over 35 years experience in civil and structural engineering and project manage-ment and have been with SRK for 23 years.

However my first encounter with the company goes back to 1979, when I spent eighteen months on site as a resident engineer for the construction of a rockfall shelter on Kowyn’s Pass in Mpumulanga.In 1989, one of SRK's founders, Hendrik Kirsten, approached me to re-join the head office in Johannesburg, and within a couple of years I became one the firm’s partners.

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Bridge, early July 1982

ABOVE Lebalelo Water Supply Scheme

MAR/APR 2012 59 MAR/APR 2012 59

Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies South Africa (VWS South Africa) has signed a cooperation agreement with Mintek, to further develop Mintek's SAVMIN™ water

treatment technology.This comes after the initial evaluation of the Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies-developed Multiflo® and Actiflo® clarifiers, merged with SAVMIN™ chemical precipitation technology. The combined technologies are potentially a more efficient, cost-competitive and productive acid mine water treatment system.Using lamella settling and ballasted floc formation, the VWS clarifiers effectively remove precipitated sol-ids from mine water with relatively low footprints. The systems require minimal maintenance, and are a cost-competitive solution compared to traditional clarifiers. A precipitation-based process, SAVMIN™ removes heavy metals and calcium sulphate to produce either potable or industrial water. This process’ waste streams are relatively clean gypsum and metal hydroxides, which could be recovered as saleable by-products. Because SAVMIN™ does not rely on membrane separa-tion technologies, the overall cost per litre has the potential to be signifi-cantly lower. According to Dr Gunter Rencken, managing director, VWS South Africa, “This system marks a long-term ap-proach to sustainable acid mine water treatment in South Africa. The synergy lies in Mintek’s mine water treatment technology, and our ability to make the technology feasible for large-scale implementation.”Abiel Mngomezulu, president and CEO of Mintek, says: “We are fortunate enough to have had financial back-ing from within government, who recognise the importance and urgency for solutions to South Africa's acid mine drainage problem. We hope this partnership with VWS South Africa is long-lasting and beneficial to the min-ing industry and South Africa.”

Sustainable acid mine water treatment technologyTo address the rising problem of acid mine water in Gauteng, a leading South African water technology company has signed a partnership agreement with Mintek. Water&Sanitation Africa fi nds out more about the long-term approach to sustainable acid mine water treatment.

Mintek and VWS South Africa began initial discussions to develop affordable mine water treatment

technologies in 2009, and, with further refinement, hope to have a holistic treatment process on the mar-ket by the end of 2013 after the completion of a full-scale pilot plant.

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STAGE 1STAGE 1STAGE 1Gypsum&Metal

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Product

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Precipitation

STAGE 3Carbonation

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SAVMIN PROCESS FLOW CHART

This system marks a long-term approach to sustainable acid mine water treatment in SA

FIGURE 1: SAVMIN process block fl ow diagram

INDUSTRYMine water

FROM LEFT: Dr Gunter Rencken VWS South Africa and Abiel Mngomezulu of Mintek signing the agreement that will help address the local acid mine water problem

60 MAR/APR 2012

INDUSTRY

UNFCCC endorses

Anglo American’s eMalahleni water reclamation plantAnglo American’s eMalahleni Water Reclamation Plant was the only mining initiative to be endorsed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Momentum for Change Initiative at COP 17.

T he UNFCCC’s Momentum for Change initiative aims to promote a workable framework to combat climate change by raising the profile of successful adaptation and mitigation

projects and effective public-private partnerships in developing countries. South African President, Jacob Zuma; United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and Lord Nicholas Stern were among the attendees at the event. Peter Gunther, Anglo American head of sustainable development for the mining and industrial business unit, commented: “UNFCCC recognition is testament to the plant’s considerable success. Since the eMalahl-eni water reclamation plant was commissioned in 2007, it has created far-reaching benefits for the envi-

ronment, the local community and its feeder collieries, and has received widespread endorsement as a beat practice model.” “The eMalahleni Water Reclamation plant was designed to take into account the remaining 20- to 25-year life of contributing mines, and to cater for post closure liabilities. Ultimately, it will help address long-term climate adaptation risks and promote a sustainable future for the region, providing better flexibility and self-sufficiency in terms of water usage,” said Gunther.eMalahleni is a public-private partnership under-taken by Anglo American’s Thermal Coal business, BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa (BECSA), and the eMalahleni Local Municipality. Situated in the Witbank

The eMalahleni Water Reclamation plant was designed to take into account the remaining 20- to 25-year life of contributing mines

Mine water

LEFT The eMalahleni water reclamation plant will provide over 30 Mℓ of potable water per day to the community of Witbank

TRENDS & PRODUCTS

MAR/APR 2012 61

INDUSTRY

MAR/APR 2012 61

Specialists In: Pressed Sectional Steel Tanks • Structural Steel • Supporting Towers • Water Storage • G.R.P Tanks

Abeco House, 6A Bradford RdBedfordview, South Africa

Tel: +27 11 616 7999 | Fax: +27 11 616 8355E-mail: Abeco@icon.co.za

Th e N a me t h a t Re a l l y H o l d s Wa t e r

ABECO

TANKS

Est. 1983Manufactured in South Africa

www. a b ec otank s . c o . z a

coalfields of Mpumalanga, eMalahleni uses the latest water purification technology to desalinate 30 Mℓ of water to potable quality per day, with plans to expand capacity to 50 Mℓ per day by the end of 2013. This ris-ing underground water is sourced from Thermal Coal’s Landau, Greenside and Kleinkopje collieries, as well as from BECSA disused South Witbank mine.

The majority of this water is then pumped directly into the eMalahleni local municipality’s reservoirs, meeting 20% of the daily water requirements of the water-stressed region, which consists of 510 000 people ‒ and the region is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country.To date, eMalahleni has treated 30 billion litres of water, and supplied 22 billion to the eMalahleni local

The eMalahleni water reclama-tion plant

INDUSTRY

62 MAR/APR 2012

municipality. The plant also supplies 8 Mℓ of potable water per day to Zibulo mine, Anglo American’s Inyosi Coal Project, BECSA’s Klipspruit mine and the Phola coal washing plant, a joint venture be-tween the two mining houses.The plant operates at a 99% water-recovery rate, and the ultimate goal is for it to be a zero waste facility through the 100% use of its by-products. It also prevents polluted mine water from de-canting into the environment and the lo-cal river system, while alleviating serious operational and safety challenges.

About the eMalahleni water reclamation plantThe plant was created owing to a R300 million joint initiative with BECSA (15% water input) and a bulk supply agree-ment with the water-stressed eMalahleni

Anglo American’s enterprise development arm, Zimele, uses some of the plant’s water for the retail bottling industry,selling it under the banner 4Life

LEFT Maintenance Aid Philemon Khumbane makes adjustments to the reverse osmosis fi lters at the Emalahleni Water Reclamation Plant South Africa

MAR/APR 2012 63

INDUSTRY

MAR/APR 2012 63

With our water treatment technology, we can make acid mine water completely usable again, even good enough to wash with. Developed in South Africa, this technology is world-renowned for its high recovery of clean water.

*Aveng Water treats approximately 50 mega litres of acid mine water from all its water reclamation plants per day.

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Local Municipality, following a decade of research and development.Further to its environmental achieve-ments, it has also created between 650 and 700 temporary jobs during the construc-tion phase, and 40 permanent positions for the running of the plant. Further, 86% of the workforce comprises historically disad-vantaged South Africans, while 91% were sourced from surrounding communities in an area of high unemployment.Anglo American’s enterprise develop-ment arm, Zimele, uses some of the plant’s water for the retail bottling industry, sell-ing it under the banner 4Life.The company’s thermal coal busi-ness is about to embark on phase two of the plant, which will see the facility desalinate 50 Mℓ of water per day, with a maximum capacity of 60 Mℓ.The plant has previously been recog-nised for its achievements, having won

two categories of the Mail & Guardian’s Greening the Future Awards (innovative environmental strategies that improve business performance and water care) and the sustainability category of

Nedbank Capital’s Green Mining Awards, during 2007. These awards seek to recog-nise mining and beneficiation companies for their contribution to sustainability and the environment.

RIGHT Workers overlook fi ltration tanks at the Emalahleni Water Reclamation Plant South Africa

t%$y W%$6yw54^ 234

64 MAR/APR 2012

TRENDS & PRODUCTS

The De Hoop Dam is located in Limpopo, which sits on the Steelpoort River and forms part of the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project (ORWRDP). The project was launched in

June 2004 when government approved the ORWRDP (Phase 2a) ‒ subject to environmental authorisation ‒ as a solution to providing water to the Nebo Plateau, where the vast majority of people (some 800 000) have very little access to potable water; as well as encouraging platinum mining in the area, which was originally restricted due to lack of water supply.According to Andrew McKeen, Ash Resources channel manager: construction, “DWA has beaten the 2010 record pour of 103 000 m3 by setting a new South African record of continuously poured Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC), totalling just over 131 000 m³ of IVRCC placed. This equates to 20 000 t of PFA over a 30-day period delivered in bulk tankers, which is a signifi cant undertaking for us.”There has already been a few records set on this massive construction project: • For the fi rst time in South Africa, a grade of ‘High Paste, High Workability’ RCC is being used.

• It’s a fi rst of its kind in the world where both immersed

poker vibration and roller compaction is used together in the placement of what is commonly known as RCC.

• Once built, at 1020 mh long, De Hoop Dam will be the biggest ‘Rollcrete’ dam as well as one of the largest dams constructed in South Africa, over the last 20 years.

Environmental managementSince construction began, there has been rigid environ-mental management control of the project, and Richard Martin, project manager from the DWA, explains that the team working on De Hoop Dam has been adhering to the environmental standards that have been put in place. “The Record of Decision (RoD) of October 2006

required that an independ-ent environmental control offi cer (ECO) be appointed by the developer, and an Environmental Monitoring Committee (EMC) be formed to monitor compli-ance. Compliance is cur-rently at 95%, as measured by the ECO in the audits.”

New record set at De Hoop DamIn November 2011, Ash Resources played a crucial role in supporting the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) and broke a new record concrete pour, using innovative concrete technology at the De Hoop Dam site. Water&Sanitation Africa reports on this signifi cant achievement.

Impressive facts about the construction of the dam• During a pour, about 250 m3 of concrete

an hour is placed, which is roughly one truck of RCC per minute.

• Over 3 000 000 t of stone was crushed at the quarry to provide the stone and sand.

• The actual quarry is the size of three rugby fi elds and is 30 m deep.

TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY

MAR/APR 2012 65

Concrete technologyOne of the biggest components in this in-novative concrete technology is the high grade classifi ed fl y ash, DuraPozz®Pro, supplied by Ash Resources, which is assist-ing in speeding up the construction work, and at the same time, saving costs on the R1.34 billion dam. In 2008, Ash Resources Matla plant began supply of DuraPozz®Pro to the project, and to date has delivered approximately 120 000 t, against an estimated total requirement of 150 000 to 165 000 t. In a nutshell, of the 925 000 m3 of concrete used on the project, 85% will be RCC incorporat-ing DuraPozz®Pro. Fly ash has virtually become a standard component of concrete mixes for water-retaining structures throughout the world. It has the benefi t of keeping the heat of hydration in mass pours to a minimum, while producing a durable, impermeable concrete with good off -shutter fi nishes. DuraPozz®Pro is also a key element in the design of a user-friendly, workable concrete mix, which is essential in major fast-track

construction projects. This factor is especial-ly relevant at the De Hoop Dam site, where crusher sand has to be used in the RCC mix. While increasing the speed of construc-tion, the ‘High Paste, High Workability’ RCC mix also provides another signifi cant advantage: it gives the option of dispensing with one of the traditional steps in dam wall building. In the past, the RCC was viewed as basically additional weight to the dam and the critical upstream water barrier was provided by constructing a skin of higher density conventional concrete. The innova-tive new RCC gives a much more imperme-able concrete that approaches the density of the conventional ‘old skin’. Simplifying the construction procedure and saving time, the same concrete mix can be poured from shutter to shutter, upstream or down-stream, and normal poker vibrators used to achieve extremely good off -shutter fi nishes.Aside from the many advantages of fl y ash on the De Hoop Dam project, it also has an important ‘green’ element to it. McKeen explains, “The amount of PFA being used in the RCC concrete mixes

to construct the wall is between 65% to 70% of the total cementious content. Production of ordinary Portland cement is inherently a major source of ‘greenhouse’ gases. Each tonne of fl y ash used as a ce-mentitious binder saves in the region of 1 t of carbon dioxide emissions.

SOUTH AFRICA

Natural Solutions to Environmental Problems

YOUR WASTEWATER SOLUTIONS PROVIDER

For more information please e-mail henkhugo@blueplanet-sa.co.za

• Phone: 082 354 0922 • Fax: 086 680 0476

www.blueplanetcorp.com

Formulated Specifi cally for Industrial & Municipal Wastewater Treatment

AquaClean™

Industrial & Municipal Wastewater Treatment Applications

TRENDS & PRODUCTS

MAR/APR 2012 67

Industrial effl uentTECHNOLOGY

T his particular poultry abattoir processes an average of 40 t of chicken per day and utilises an extensive wastewater treatment facility comprising of a series of fat traps, dissolved air

filtration units (DAF), sequential batch reactors (SBR) and two large oxidising ponds in order to treat effluent to required legal limits in terms of COD. In conjunction with this treatment, lime is added in order to control pH values. The effluent inflow COD was measured to start at 6 500 mg/ℓ. Other competing bioremediation products have been used in the past, as well as mechanical fat and sludge removal, but these have not proven entirely effective and odours, fat accumulation and sludge build up remained a problem.

Scope of workInitially it was decided to treat one SBR unit on a trial basis in order to prove the eff ectiveness of AquaClean/ACF-32 in terms of lowering COD values, as well as AquaClean SA to digest and break down accumulated sludge. Specifi cations of SBR were as follows:• Volume: 940.8 m3

• Flow through rate: 176 m3 per six-hour period• Infl ow COD: 1 096 mg/ℓ

A fi ve-week trial period was suggested, with the following treatment regime:Innoculation Dosage (Applied day 1)AquaClean/ACF-32: 45 ℓAquaClean SludgeAway: 23 ℓIntermediate dosage (Applied on days 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29 and 32) AquaClean/ACF-32: 91 ℓ (23 ℓ per week) AquaClean SludgeAway: 91 ℓ (23 ℓ per week)

ResultsOver a fi ve-week period, effl uent discharge showed a reduction in COD levels to 612 mg/ℓ as well as an almost 100% odour elimination. Accumulated sludge was also being released from both the sides and the bottom of the treated SBR unit.During the initial trial period, the treatment of fat traps was also suggested due to a build-up of off ensive odours‒ a result of heavy fat build up in the fat traps. At this stage, between 15 and 18 t of fats was being removed

Chicken abattoir case studyA role player in the South African poultry industry was facing possible fi nes due to excessive COD readings being measured from their wastewater effl uent. Debbie Besseling speaks to Henk Hugo, managing partner at BluePlanet South Africa, about its effective solution.

Over a five-week period, effluent discharge showed a reduction in COD levels to 612 mg/ℓ as well as an almost 100% odour elimination

TECHNOLOGY

The world is changing around us – everyday. Technological advances demand ongoing upgrades and solutions, upkeep and maintenance, but not ROCLA pipes. Because superb design and leading-edge manufacturing processes ensure that ROCLA provides the truly permanent piping solution.

ROCLA pipes are maintenance-free and never need upgrading – if it’s not broken, why fix it? ROCLA pipes are ready for the future.

ROCLA is ISO 9001:2008 certified and has the SABS mark of approval on all applicable products.

A Murray & Roberts Company

For technical expertise and unmatched experience, contact ROCLA now on Tel: (011) 670-7600 or Fax: (011) 472-2141Web: www.roclaproducts.co.za

Pipes that last for more than a lifetime

ROCLAOUR DIFFERENCE IS CONCRETE

3191

Wet

pain

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MAR/APR 2012 69

TECHNOLOGY

via DAF unit and disposed of by means of an outsourced waste management organi-sation at a very high cost. It was decided to treat the fat traps with AquaClean DGTT and AquaClean/ACF-32 in order to break down both incoming fats and oils, as well as the accumulated fats. Within a 24-hour period, oxidising of the fats was visible as the fats were start-ing to form globules. All odours were also eliminated.Over the following 60 days, accumulated fats were completely dissolved and the me-chanical removal of fats was no longer nec-essary, resulting in a considerable cost sav-ing. Outfl ow water from the fat traps was also much clearer with no visible blood.To compound treatment complexity, emergency maintenance had to be carried out on the wastewater facility resulting in a complete shut down for almost four weeks. During this period, wastewater was diverted via temporary piping system di-rectly into oxidising dams measuring about 40 000 m3 at a fl ow rate of 3 200 m3 per day. The decision was made to stop the dosing

of AquaClean S l udgeAway as all SBR units were being drained, and to increase the treatment of the system with AquaClean/ACF-32 due to the reduced re-tention time. AquaClean/DGTT was still applied as previously. During this period, no increase in odours was observed and the digestion of fats and oils continued at the same rate as before.Upon completion of required main-tenance, the following observations were made: • Average COD values measured at the SBR units have lowered to 53 mg/ℓ

• pH has stabilised within the 7.2 range, resulting in a substantial cost saving as the addition of lime normally used in order to control pH values have been ceased.Treatment is being continued and all dosing is applied at the fat traps (thus maximising hydraulic retention time) and the same results are being reported. The

aeration pumps have been switched off (result-

ing in a massive cost saving) as they are no longer needed because the bacteria are eff ec-tive without them. In addition, accumulated sludge is being dis-lodged and digested within the oxidising dams, and an increased bird population is being reported,

including breeding fl ocks.

About Aquaclean/ACF-32Aquaclean/ACF-32 is a highly active liquid culture consortium designed specifi cally for use in all industrial and municipal waste-water systems. It contains a blend of 12 select microorganisms with a specifi cation of 387/450 million microorganisms per mℓ. Aquaclean/ACF-32 cultures accelerate the biological oxidation of slow-to-degrade organic matter in aerobic, facultative an-aerobic and anaerobic wastewater systems, ponds, lagoons and wastewater retention tanks, signifi cantly improving overall sys-tem performance and stability.

I o n a n a l y s i s

METROHM SA (PTY) Ltd. Postnet suite 587

Private Bag X29 Gallo Manor 2052

Tel. (011) 804-0030 Fax (011) 804-0037

info@metrohm.co.zawww.metrohm.co.za

Metrohm ion analysis precisely detects ultra-traces topercent composition with a range of instruments builtto deliver results:

• Titration• Ion chromatography• Voltammetry

Through proven methodologies and superior support,you can be sure to find the solution you are looking for.

Ion concentrations from almost 0 to 100%

Metrohm ion analysisspans the entire range

Titration • Ion Chromatography • VA Trace Analysis • ProcessLab • Automation

Main constituents Ultra-traces Ultra-traces

ppm to percent ppt to percent ppt to ppm

< 100 ppm < 1 ppt < 1 ppt

[100 ppm = 100 mg/kg] [1 ppt = 1 ng/kg] [1 ppt = 1 ng/kg]

Titration Ion chromatography Voltammetry

Eck

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TRENDS & PRODUCTSTechnology showcase

MAR/APR 2012 71

LEO 1, THE MICROPROCESSOR-CON-TROLLED digital pressure peak gauge from KELLER AG für Druckmesstechnik, polls the value for the pressure variable in a process 5 000 times each second. The result: reliable detection of the dreaded pressure peaks ‒ often of extremely short duration ‒ usually caused by fast-switching hydrau-lic valves and pump units. This means that prompt action can be taken to prevent damage due to cavitation, etc. The user-friendly two-key operating system provides access to the entire range of functions: the stored max/min can be erased and reset to zero, or the device can be switched to continuous mode. The device switches off automati-cally about 15 minutes after the last key is pressed. This function extends the battery life where con¬tinuous operation is not required. After switching over to continuous operation, the battery has sufficient capacity for up to 1 400 hours

Keeping pressure peaks under control

in manometer mode, and up to 180 hours in peak value mode. The dual digital display updates twice every sec-ond, showing the measured value and the minimum or maximum value attained. In the compensated tem-perature range from 0°C to 50°C, typical overall accuracy is 0.2% FS (full scale). The LEO 1 has a Zero Tare feature that allows the user to set the zero at any pressure, so the manometer will then always show deviations from the Zero Tare value as the actual value.

With just two keys, the user can parameterise all the functions on the peak value manometer. These include a choice of five different units of measurement and neutralisation of the stored extreme values at the start of an observation period. The easy-to-handle technol-ogy is available in an IP65 housing with four practice-based measurement ranges of -1…3 bar to 0…1000 bar. The optional protective

cover allows outdoor operation in all weather conditions. This instrument is also available in an Exia ATEX ap-proved version compliant with

94/9/EC. Source: Keller-DruckLeo 1 digital pressure peak gauge

(PTY) LTD

Saving Water, Saving LivesYARD WATER METER

523 Church Street, Provisus Building, Arcadia,Pretoria, 0083, South AfricaTel: +27 12 440 9885 | Fax: +27 12 440 9751Naphtali Motaung | +27 72 736 2995info@lesira.co.za | www.lesira.co.za

COMMUNITY STANDPIPE

HANDHELD VENDING UNIT

OVERVIEWThe Intelligent Water Meter and the supporting Meter Management System (MMS) provides a revolutionary approach to Water Demand Management. The Intelligent Water Meter ensures signi cant water savings through consumption management and leak detection with the added bene t of no billing costs. Bad debt is reduced and the lower consumption contributes towards reduced demand on reticulation and treatment plant.

FEATURES• Intelligent Meter options Conventional Mode: Revenue collection via standard billing. The

client can check the status of his/her debt at any given time Pre-paid Mode: the client buys credit in advance from a vending point Post-Payment Mode: the user is assigned a negative credit limit in

litres or rand value Flat rate Mode: xed amount per month for unlimited volume• Optional metered Lifeline ow (40 /hr) when credit runs out• High air ow detection and correction• Insensitive to lightning, freezing water, ambient temperatures up to 700

C, water hammer and dirt particles in water• Optional built in radio for AMR (no loose wires or antenna)• Arrears collection via User Tag (mode dependent)

OVERVIEWThe Community Standpipe Water Meter and supporting Meter Management System (WAS) is designed to offer a solution to the provision of water at communal water supply points. It requires low capital investment and can be used in both rural areas and informal settlements. One Meter can typically serve up to 40 households. The unit consists of a Class B multi jet water meter with electronic read out and built in ow control valve. A patented valve system ensures extended battery life. The unit is meteorologically sealed and provides a high level of resistance to physical tamper and is immune to magnetic tamper. Should the meter become faulty, it can be replaced in the eld within ten minutes.

FEATURES• Eight programmable tariff steps• Physical tamper resistant. Full encryption and copy protection• Immune to magnetic interference• Meter accuracy unaffected by sand particles• High air ow detection and correction• Adjustable Free Basic Water • Daily consumption limit for water-scarce areas• Full calendar clock• Patented low power consumption system• Battery can provide 90 000 valve applications • Robust metal housing with security screws• Delivered fully assembled and pressure tested to 20 bar• SANS 1529-1 and SANS 1529-9 approved

OVERVIEWThe Handheld Vending Unit is used in conjunction with the Intelligent Water Meter and Community Standpipe. It provides the link between the Meter and the Meter Management System (MMS). A network of conveniently located Vending Units provides the customer with easy access to “point of sale” where credit can be purchased. Each transaction is supported by a receipt printed from a dedicated printer.

FEATURES• 56 MB internal data memory, LCD display• Single membrane keypad with standard key functions• Built in battery with battery charge-level indicator• Charged batteries provide 8 hours continuous operation• Re-chargeable from a 220V AC source using the supplied

charger. A car charger can also be used• High level of security with password protection• Theft risk is low as only dedicated functions are provided• Weighs approximately 350 g• Supplied with dedicated printer• Optional increased internal data memory (up to 2GB)• Optional GPRS module for automatic real-time downloading of

data and online transactions• Optional collection of capital repayments and service charges

TRENDS & PRODUCTS

MAR/APR 2012 73

Group Head Office +27 12 481 3800Email: info@velavke.co.zaWebsite: www.velavke.co.za

VV

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Vela VKE is a truly South African, multi-disciplinary,consulting engineering company committed

to transformation.

Vela VKE Board: left to right: Viwe Qegu, Arthur Taute, Mathews Phosa,Dave Gertzen, Tom Marshall, George Munyai, Job Mokgoro, Mothupi Malaka

Vela VKE has considerable expertise in the conditionassessment, rehabilitation, upgrading, maintenance andmanagement of water supply and sanitation infrastructure.

Rainwater harvesting solutions launched

ACCORDING TO JUSTIN KRETZMAR, sales engineer at Rocla, “South Africa is one of the many countries today faced with water problems, including the high cost of potable water to consumers. In Australia, there has been a shift towards water sus-tainable cities and Integrated Watercycle Management. These systems aim to conserve potable supply by implementing the rainwater capture and re-use aspects of Water Sensitive Urban design.”He adds, “With South Africa facing sanitation and water challenges, the ecoRain systems ‒ which are designed to capture clean rainwater that is then stored underground for further use ‒ could be an answer. As the source and quality of any captured water cannot be assured, the system is intended to deliver stored rainwater for non-potable applications, thereby saving costs and addressing some sanitation challenges, while conserving potable water.”

“The captured water is conveyed through numerous roof gutter down-pipes to the ecoRain fi lter, which removes all debris and waste greater than 0.5 mm diameter in particle size. Only clean water is then transferred to the concrete tank, while the coarse litter is continuously removed from

the fi lter and discharged through the over-fl ow to the storm-water drainage system,” says Kretzmar. The Rocla concrete tank is strong and durable, with a very long lifespan. Since the tank is installed underground, it will not take up valuable land, and the load-bearing capacity allows it to be located almost anywhere on site. “Underground concrete tanks are an ideal method of storing water, proving an almost germ-free environment away from light and heat. Concrete cisterns are strong, du-rable, last indefi nitely and help to neutralise rainwater,” explains Kretzmar.Sustainability of scarce resources is a global imperative, and with Rocla concrete tanks, the capability of existing water sup-ply systems will extend to keep pace with population growth. Harvested water can be used for toilets, laundry, car washing, irrigation, etc. Source: RoclaThe ecoRain, rainwater utilisation system

Technology showcase

No need for civil work and fl umes anymore!

achieve more

Solution for partially fi lled pipes

KROHNE South Africa8 Bushbuck CloseCorporate Park South,Randtjies Park, MidrandJohn Alexander Tel: +27 011 31 4 1391Fax: +27 011 314 1681Cell: +27 082 556 3934johna@krohnesa.co.za

The TIDALFLUX 4000 fl ow sensor with integrated and non-contact capacitive level measuring system provides accurate fl ow measurement in partially fi lled pipes.

It is designed to measure reliably between 10% and 100% of the pipe cross section. The integrated level sensors in the liner are in no contact with the liquid and are therefore insensitive against fat and oil fl oating on the surface.

The sensor has been designed for measuring all water and wastewater applications including groundwater, potable water, wastewater, sludge and sewage, industry water and salt water in partially fi lled pipes. Available for a wide diameter range of DN200 up to DN1600 for fl ow rates up to 90,000 m3/hr!

The TIDALFLUX 4000 causes no pressure loss and allows for bi-directional fl ow metering. With no Filters or straighteners required the fl ow meter can be installed underground and allows for constant fl ooding (IP 68).

The TIDALFLUX4000 provides years of reliable measurements as it has no internal moving parts and nothing can wear.

KROHNE - Process engineering is our world

Please see our website for more information

WATSON-MARLOW BREDEL is a leader in solving fl uid handling problems with peristaltic tube, hose pump and sinusoidal tech-nology across a wide range of processing sectors.According to Nico van Schalkwyk, Watson-Marlow Bredel SA’s general manager, “Peristaltic pumps have no valves, seals or glands to leak, clog or replace. The fl uid touches only a fl exible tube or hose ‒ it does not come into contact with the pump itself. Maintenance is confi ned to a tube or hose change that takes min-utes, and the pumps are reversible, self-priming and dry-running.”The peristaltic pumps have great advantages over other pump types, such as gear pumps and diaphragm pumps, because there are no impellers, vanes, lobes or valves to damage the product. This separation of fl uid from the pump action ensures contamina-tion-free pumping, which is ideal for shear-sensitive fl uids, viscous sludges or slurries, as well as aggressive acids and caustics. The range of pumps is suitable across many industries, such as brewing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, print and packaging, sci-ence and research, water and waste and other application areas. The 100 to 800 series metering pumps and dosing pumps have fl ow rates from as small as 1 microlitre per minute to 4 000 litres per hour. Each series type is fl exible, with a choice of pumphead characteristics, diff erent control options including PROFIBUS capability, and, as a silicone tubing supplier, Bredel also has a variety of tubing types available. With operating pressures to 16 bar and fl ow rates to 80 cubic meters per hour, Bredel pumps successfully handle the toughest applications, such as chemical metering, transfer of slurries and sludge, and abrasives such as ceramics and mine tailings, as well as corrosive media. The pump hose is the only element that comes into contact with the fl uid. There are no seals, ball-checks, diaphragms, glands, immersed rotors, stators or pistons to leak, clog, corrode and replace ‒ lowering the cost of replacement components and reducing maintenance downtime.Bredel also manufactures its own hoses to ensure perfect compression and consistent, reliable performance. The hoses are made from high-quality compounded rubbers, reinforced with four layers of braided nylon and fi nished by high-precision machining to ensure even occlusion for life. Source: Watson-Marlow Bredel

Peristaltic pumping solutions in processing

Watson-Marlow Bredel SPX hose pumps

TRENDS & PRODUCTS

MAR/APR 2012 75

Technology showcase

Air valves supplied to Jordanian pipeline

DYNAMIC FLUID CONTROL subsidiary, DFC Water, has completed the supply of nearly nine hundred Vent-O-Mat air release and vacuum valves to the Disi-Mudawarra water scheme in Jordan.The valves will be installed along the project’s 325 km pipeline to protect it against potentially damaging water surge, air build-up or vacuum as it carries water to the capital, Amman, currently suff ering water shortages and an intermittent supply.The water will be extracted from Jordan’s ancient Disi aquifer in the southern region of Mudawarra, providing Amman with 100 million cubic metres a year ‒ one third of the city’s requirements ‒ by 2013. Forecasters estimate the non-renewable resource will viably generate water for at least 50 years.The Vent-O-Mat valves supplied to this project come from a range generally recognised as the leader in terms of useful life and pipeline protection. They limit

surge and water hammer as a standard function during pipeline fi lling, when most surge devices are not yet operational, and deliver automatic protection against column separation.Vent-O-Mat valves for the Disi-Mudawarra scheme range in diameter from 50 mm to 300 mm, and were manufactured by DFC Water over a period of four months.Quality assurance was stringent, and included witness points, witness testing, and non-destructive testing of each of the 892 valves supplied. All ductile iron valves were specially coated to specifi cations suited to the harsh operating environment of the pipeline route.DFC’s Disi-Mudawarra contract follows delivery of 60 Vent O Mat valves in May 2011, worth R10 million to Qatar’s public works authority, Ashghal, for the Doha North sewage treatment and pump-ing works. Source: Dynamic Fluid Control

Vent-O-Mat production manager Lucas Venter with valves prior to shipment to Jordan

Ammonia heat pump

MAGNET HAS recently completed the design and installation of a new energy efficient hot water project at Rainbow’s chicken processing plant in Hammarsdale, Kwazulu-Natal.“The installation of an ammonia heat pump ‒ the first of its kind in South Africa ‒ has significantly improved the efficiency of the hot water system at the plant and as a result, has reduced steam consumption,” says Brian Howarth, Magnet’s managing director. The project encompasses a new system to harness the waste heat generated by ammonia compressors in the exist-ing refrigeration plant to produce hot water.The operating principle of this system is the hot ammonia gas which has already been compressed by the high stage compressors, is further compressed in the heat pump, before being condensed in the plate heat exchanger. As the gas condenses, it transfers heat to the water on the other side of the plate. The water outlet tem-perature is controlled by varying the compressor speed.The water is heated to just below the condensing temperature of the ammonia, which is typically 32oC at that operating pressure. The heat pump then heats the water via the heat exchanger to 55oC. This project achieves an average saving of 300 kW based on the plant’s current average water consumption rate and has a payback of 1.8 years. Source: Magnet

How do you successfully discover, engineer, regulate, assess and treat water? Just Ask Golder.

In a world of increasing water demand and environmental

stress, Golder has been assessing and managing surface

and groundwater resources, including water treatment

and reclamation. Our specialists work to improve the

management of water as a valuable resource to any

development or site.

Engineering Earth’s Development, Preserving Earth’s Integrity

Offices across South Africa, Botswana, Ghana and Mozambique.

Tel: +27 11 254 4800 mail@golder.co.za | www.golder.com

Wireless: practical solutions for real applicationsIMPORTANT PROCESS and diagnosis information is often stranded in the instrument: inaccessible, unused and ultimately, worthless. This valuable data can now be unlocked by using Endress+Hauser's WirelessHART solutions, allowing users to make a quantum leap in plant availability and transparency. The use of WirelessHART communication in process plants allows the user to benefi t from its advantages without any loss of integrity, such as:• monitoring of important but previously inaccessible measuring points

• asset management solutions • inventory control, in remote locations without an electrical infrastructure.

The company’s wireless portfolio comprises:• WirelessHART Adapter• WirelessHART Fieldgate DTMs and DDs for system integration • project management and engineering services to deploy WirelessHART projects.

The battery-powered WirelessHART Adapter can be added to any HART or 4…20mA device, where necessary providing the power. The adapter allows information from remote, diffi cult-to-access and mobile measuring points to be accessed centrally. This retrofi t solution is particularly cost eff ective. The WirelessHART Fieldgate collects the data and integrates it into existing plant architectures through Modbus/OPC via Ethernet and RS485. The network is self-organising and self-healing, that is, it detects broken data paths and fi nds alternative routes. Source: Endress +Hauser

Basic network architecture for wirelessHART

TRENDS & PRODUCTS

MAR/APR 2012 77

Technology showcase

“UNCOUNTABLE LITRES OF WATER are being lost in South Africa through ineffi cient metering - and sometimes no metering at all. The cold, hard fact is that eff ective conservation and the successful management of water resources is an absolute impossibility without effi cient metering,” says Basil Bold, MD of Sensus South Africa.By using more sophisticated meters, and the “smart” metering and recording systems which have become available in recent years, forward-thinking municipalities and water utilities are making signifi cant individual contributions to improved water conservation, says Bold. No matter how effi cient or accurate, smart meters alone are not the solution. The development of water networks, and within them carefully delineated metering zones integrating smart meters into the rapidly evolving architecture of data transmission, enables municipalities and water utilities to vastly improve water-measurement capability. Within these networks, individual metering zones - Bold calls them “water management packages” ‒ new technology is able to measure demand and supply, water pressures, which vary according to demand, and quickly identify any delivery problem or leakage source in each zone.Typical of this advanced technology are auto-mated water meter-reading (AMR), and its latest

Accurate water metering

development, Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI), which has taken water management effi ciency to new levels. Sensus’ FlexNet is one such system, a long-range radio networking system which rides on the back of existing AMR smart metering and smart grid applications, and which is proving a big success in urban areas of the United States and Britain.Bold adds: “The Durban COP17 conference has focused renewed attention on our water management needs and the conservation of this lifeblood resource. It is universally recognised that in a time of climate change such as now, where it’s feared that fresh water is be-

coming a threatened resource, even the smartest meter is not enough to avert water shortages in the future.“Ecological and environmental benefi ts apart, it’s only common business sense for water suppliers to develop systems that will avoid water - and revenue - wastage by ensuring effi cient water management and billing accuracy. The tools are there ‒ it’s up to them to put them to use. Saving water can be an alternative to the costly development of new water resources.”Latest example of the “smart” meters now entering the international market from Sensus is the IPerl, an electronic domestic meter which has no mov-ing parts. Source: Sensus South Africa

Sensus iPERL3

TRENDS & PRODUCTS

MAR/APR 2012 79

Autonomous, No control system, Economical,No wearing parts, Low maintenance!

This autonomous valveless gravity sand filter can be installedand forgotten. AGF has proved to be a huge success inmining, industry and water treatment were it is importantto have water free of fine solids.

If you want a hassle free system, contact:

THE ULTIMATE SAND FILTER

Valve & Allied CCTel 011 - 789 4110, Fax 011 - 886 4398email: info@vacc.co.za

Valve & allied blue.indd 1 2011/02/28 10:15:53 AM

Technology showcase

ITT HAS ENLARGED its pump rental fl eet with the addition of 24 new units to meet increasing demand for diesel engine operated pumps.Scott Gilchrist, ITT rental manager, says, “These are challenging times for electrical supply to industry and it often makes sense to automate the entire pumping system with diesel-operated engines. We are one of a few South African companies to off er this alternative, particularly in terms of pumps with such exceptional capabilities. The new pumps we have added to our rental fl eet have enabled us to increase service levels to our clients signifi cantly.”The new pumps comprise 10 Godwin Dri-Prime® CD103M pumps, open and hushpac, 10 Godwin Dri-Prime® CD150M pumps, open and hushpac, and four Godwin Dri-Prime® HL130M pumps, open set.The Godwin Dri-Prime CD103M is an extremely powerful, yet compact pump, with flow capabilities to 232 m³ per hour. This automatic priming centrifugal unit is a highly manoeuvrable portable wastewater pump with flow capabilities to 833 Imperial GPM, total dynamic heads to 52 m and solids handling to 75 mm in diameter. The unique Godwin venturi air evacuation system allows the CD103M to prime from dry conditions with suction lifts up to 8.5 m. Perfect in intermittent flow situations,

the CD103M can run dry indefinitely without damage due to the unique Godwin high pressure oil bath mechanical seal design. The Godwin Dri-Prime 150 mm CD150M automatic priming centrifugal pump has been aptly described as the backbone of the temporary portable pumping industry. With solids-

handling to 75 mm in diameter, maximum flows of 107.3 ℓ/s and 47 m of total dynamic head, and indefinite dry-running capabilities, the CD150M can be found in a wide variety of ap-plications from straight dewatering to sewage bypassing. Mounted on a trailer, the CD150M is the most manoeuvrable and versatile portable

pumping system available, making it a favourite of contractors, municipalities, industry and environmental companies

across the country.The Godwin Dri-Prime 150 mm by 100 mm HL130M is a heavy-duty, fully automatic self-priming pump, specifically offered for pumping under dis-

charge pressure conditions or high discharge lift applications. The HL130M offers flow rates up to 82 ℓ/s, total dynamic heads up to 194 m and solids handling up to 22 mm in diameter. Like all Godwin pumps, the HL130M includes the Dri-Prime air ejector priming system for fully automatic priming up to 8.5 m of static suction lift. Source: ITT Water & Wastewater

Pump rental fl eet expanded

ITT has bolstered its rental fl eet with the addition of 24

new Godwin pump sets

New range underground tanksJOJO TANKS recently launched a range of 6000 ℓ underground tanks as an addition to the existing range of tanks available to consumers in the urban market and to compliment the above-ground SlimlineTM range.Underground tanks are the answer when space and accessibility are an issue, particularly in an urban environment. An underground water storage system allows for maximum use of property, allowing for more green space and/or parking on a tight commercial site.

The new 6000 ℓ underground tanks are available in three colours: grey (for greywater), black (for black water use) and green (for fresh water and rain water harvesting). The underground tank is manufactured by means of the rotational molding process to produce a one-piece, seamless, watertight tank. The rugged ribbed design off ers superior strength for underground installation and the rib placement provides exceptional structural integrity.Source: JoJo Tanks

er er A JoJo underground tank

From ITT comes Xylem. Xylem is a world leader in the design, manufacturing and application of highly engineered technologies for the water industry. We are 12,000 people unified in a common purpose: creating innovative solutions to global water challenges. We know this is only achieved when partnering closely with our customers. We are committed to continuing the product innovation and forward thinking you’ve come to expect from the collection of market-leading brands in the Xylem portfolio. For more information on what this transformative shift can mean to your business, go to xyleminc.com.

Xylem Water Solutions South Africa (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 11 966 9300

MAR/APR 2012 81

International Water Association AWARDS

The inaugural awards ceremony and reception took place at the 2nd IWA Development Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November

2011. The Project Innovations Awards ‒ Development (PIA-D) aim to celebrate ex-cellence and innovation in water and sani-tation projects in low- and middle-income countries and will be presented biennially. The Drinking Water category was the most competitive category and received entries from all over the world. The WRP/Emfuleni project took the top award and is a good refl ection on South Africa’s expertise.This award is the latest in a long list of national and international awards won by Emfuleni Local Municipality and WRP for their Advanced Pressure Management project, which was commissioned south of Johannesburg in the Sebokeng and Evaton areas, and has been operating successfully for the past seven years. The project was commissioned in 2005 as a small-scale public-private partnership, and was one of the fi rst projects of its type to be success-fully implemented by a service provider to a municipality where the service provider carried the full costs for the construction and all operation and maintenance costs.The actual measured savings resulting from the WRP Pressure Management installation were approximately 50 000 Mℓof water over a fi ve-year period, represent-ing fi nancial savings to the municipality of more than R150 million. The energy sav-ings were conservatively estimated to be approximately 70 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, and this was one of the main considerations on which Emfuleni Local Municipality and WRP also won the prestigious African Energy Award in

Sebokeng Pressure Management Project a winnerWRP, the Pretoria-based engineering company, together with Emfuleni Local Municipality, won the prestigious IWA 2011 PIA – Development Award in the Drinking Water category.

2010. The project previously won awards for technical excellence from the South African Association of Consulting Engineers, The South African Institute of Municipal Engineering and the South African Association of Civil Engineering, as well as several awards from various international conferences over the past few years. This latest award is of particular impor-tance to Emfuleni Local Municipality, which is embarking on a new 2nd phase to the initial Water Loss Reduction Project in as-sociation with GiZ (German Government) and SASOL. In this new project, many WDM interventions will be implemented, including repair of some household leaks, normal road leak repairs, schools repair and awareness, as well as an overall community awareness and education programme.Ronnie McKenzie, managing director for WRP, says, “I believe that the Sebokeng/Evaton Pressure Management project clearly demonstrates the potential of pres-sure management for reducing leakage in areas with particularly high reticulation losses. While it is acknowledged that Pressure Management is not appropriate in all cases, it can often provide unex-pectedly high savings at a relatively low cost. Although the actual sources of the leakage are not addressed through pressure management, the intervention provides

a window of opportunity in which losses are lowered and signifi cant fi nancial sav-ings can be achieved, which can then be directed towards additional water-loss reduction activities.”This specifi c project has also been recognised both locally and internation-ally for the manner in which a small-scale public-private partnership was success-fully implemented and operated for fi ve years. The project has acted as a catalyst for further work in the area in which water losses remain unacceptably high and more eff ort is required to bring the water losses under control.

The WRP/Emfuleni project took the top award and is a good reflection on South Africa’s expertise

RIGHT The Sebokeng Pressure Management project

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MAR/APR 2012 83

Level of damsThe full supply capacity (106 m3) and level of some of South Africa’s dams as at 2 January 2012.

Total full supply capacity of dams (106 m3)

Last year 2012/01/0231 567.60 31 555.70

AcronymsEC Eastern CapeFS Free StateG GautengKZN KwaZulu-NatalL LesothoLP Limpopo provinceM MpumalangaNC Northern CapeNW North WestWC Western Cape

Info supplied by DWA

LimpopoHartbeespoort (NW) (186.44) 99.3%Olifantsnek (NW) (13.67) 92.1%Buff elspoort (NW) (10.25) 100.7%Bospoort (NW) (15.79) 102.2%Lindleyspoort (NW) (14.336) 100.1%Roodeplaat (NW) (41.158) 100.4%Koster (NW) (12.80) 95.8%Klipvoor (NW) (42.08) 101.6%Vaalkop (NW) (56.01) 52.4%Roodekopjes (NW) (102.33) 79.8%Marico-Bosveld (NW) (26.96) 93%Klein Maricopoort (NW) (7.07) 68%Albasini (LP) (28.20) 44.6%Vondo (LP) (30.45) 86.6%

OlifantsWitbank (M) (104.02) 87%Middelburg (M) (48.06) 76.7%Bronkhorstspruit (M) (56.99) 98.3%Rust de Winter (M) (28.19) 95.2%Loskop (M) (361.51) 91.5%Buff elskloof (M) (5.24) 100.1%Ohrigstad (LP) (13.45) 60.2%Blyderivierpoort (LP) (54.37) 98.2%Klaserie (LP) (5.60) 100.3%Ebenezer (LP) (69.14) 99.2%Magoebaskloof (LP) (4.84) 100.7%Tzaneen (LP) (156.53) 97.5%Middle Letaba (LP) (171.93) 8.1%VaalVaal (G) (2 603.45) 83.9%Grootdraai (M) (349.53) 72.3%Boskop (NW) (21.03) 102.4%Klipdrift (NW) (13.30) 101.1%Erfenis (FS) (206.06) 81.1%Kalkfontein (FS) (325.13) 89.5%Rustfontein (FS) (71.21) 67.1%Krugersdrift (FS) (71.48) 71.9%Groothoek (FS) (11.91) 72.7%Sterkfontein (FS) (2 616.90) 98.4%Saulspoort (FS) (15.68) 100.2%Vaalharts Storage Weir (NC) (50.68) 94.2%Bloemhof (FS) (1 240.24) 83.5%Douglas Storage Weir (NC) (16.25) 107.3%

OrangeKatse (L) (1 519.10) 70.3%Egmont (FS) (9.25) 74.1%Gariep (FS) (5 196.04) 84.1%Vanderkloof (FS) (3 171.30) 88.9%Boegoeberg (NC) (19.82) 110.5%Olifants/DoornClanwilliam (WC) (121.76) 75.3%BergVoëlvlei (WC) (158.58) 79%Wemmershoek (WC) (58.71) 77.5%Berg River (WC) (127.05) 87.6%Steenbrasdam (WC) (33.88) 69.2%Eikenhof (WC) (28.86) 92.5%BreedeBrandvlei (WC) (284.29) 58.4%Roode Elsberg (WC) (7.73) 79.9%Pietersfontein (WC) (1.98) 89.4%Kwaggaskloof (WC) (173.86) 55.8%Theewaterskloof (WC) (480.19) 77%Duiwenhoks (WC) (6.18) 88.9%Coastal riverHartebeestkuil (WC) (7.13) 89.7%Wolwedans (WC) (25.10) 95.7%Kromrivier (EC) (35.24) 95.2%GamtoosKouga (EC) (125.91) 95.4%Loerie (EC) (3.03) 68.9%SondagsNqweba (Van Ryneveld Pass) (EC)

(46.37) 91.3%

Darlington (EC) (180.83) 33.6%FishGrassridge (EC) (46.19) 38%Kommandodrift (EC) (58.11) 86.5%De Mistkraal (EC) (2.46) 86.9%Katrivier (EC) (24.68) 100.3%

Great-KeiXonxa (EC) (115.86) 101.2%Lubisi (EC) (158.00) 100.7%Doornrivier (EC) (17.93) 100.4%Waterdown (EC) (37.44) 100.6%Mvoti/Mgeni/MkomaziMidmar (KZN) (235.42) 97.3%Nagle (KZN) (23.24) 100.2%Albert-Falls (KZN) (288.14) 81.8%Inanda (KZN) (237.40) 100.9%Hazelmere (KZN) (17.86) 101%TugelaSpioenkop (KZN) (270.64) 93.6%Driel Barrage (KZN) (8.69) 96.3%Woodstock (KZN) (373.25) 98.2%Usutu/Phongolo/MfoloziGoedertrouw (KZN) (301.26) 85.1%Klipfontein (KZN) (18.09) 60.8%Hluhluwe (KZN) (25.89) 79.2%Pongolapoort (KZN) (2 267.07) 63.3%Jericho (M) (59.27) 90.7%Westoe (M) (59.52) 53.8%Morgenstond (M) (100.16) 81.4%Heyshope (M) (444.94) 98.7%Sabie/Krokodil/KomatiNooitgedacht (M) (78.41) 74.2%Driekoppies (M) (250.92) 95.1%Witklip (M) (12.52) 101.6%Da Gama (M) (13.53) 99.1%Inyaka (M) (123.66) 100.7%

MAR/APR 2012 83

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Water & Sanitation Africa is the official magazine of the Water Institute of SA and is circulated to a care-fully-targeted audience of decision makers, focusing on latest developments, news and products in the water industry. Published alternate monthly

Inside Miningtakes a look at the heart of mining in Africa, with industry experts who add a unique voice to the publication, making it the most sought after source of information in the mining industry. Published monthlywww.miningne.ws

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Answers for energy

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MAR/APR 2012 87

TIGER Initiative EDUCATION & TRAINING

T he course was held at Hartbeeshoek at SANSA facilities from 5 to 9 December 2011, while the Climate Change ne-gotiations (COP 17) took place in

Durban. Various aquatic scientists and students from African countries attended this course that entailed training on Data Dissemination Systems and Regional Water Information Systems. Following the training course, the ESA, in collabo-ration with WRC, SANSA, DWA and ITC then held the TIGER Workshop on 12 and 13 December 2011 at the Glenburn Hotel in Zwartkop.TIGER is an international initiative that was

Building water management capacity for AfricaA TIGER Initiative training course on Advanced Earth Observation Methods in Water Management was organised and co-hosted by the WRC, DWA and SANSA in collaboration with the ESA and the ITC of the Netherlands.

SANSA earth observation technology

RIGHT Projected impacts of climate change on waterSource: Global Environment outlook 2000 (GEO), UNEP, Earthscan, London, 1999

launched in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg aimed at supporting African countries to enhance water

88 MAR/APR 2012

TRENDS & PRODUCTSEDUCATION & TRAINING

management by exploiting the advantages offered by Earth Observation technology. This event represents the closure of a cycle of activities that were launched as part of TIGER II (2nd phase) in 2009. The workshop is an important milestone aiming at reviewing the activities carried out in the past few years in the context of this in-ternational initiative, and together with African partners, explores the main water management priorities for the future. Addressing the workshop delegates in Glenburn Lodge, Dhesigen Naidoo, CEO of the WRC, said, “African initiatives such as TIGER could consider the pos-sibility of a low-carbon economy while reducing overreliance on foreign knowledge and science and technology. There is a need to develop a strategy to support the national, SADC and Africa Climate Change Response Strategies in the water domain.”Diego Fernandez-Prieto of the ESA said, “The TIGER initiative was endorsed by the African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW) in 2006 and since then AMCOW actively participated in the TIGER Steering Committee. Africa is the region of the world where the need for water information is more urgent and vital.”“The TIGER’s goal is to assist African countries to overcome problems faced in the collection, analysis and dissemination of water-related geo-information by exploiting the advantages of Earth Observation technology. To date, more than 20

training sessions in Africa and Europe have been held,” Fernandez-Prieto concluded. In southern Africa specifically, one typical example of a significant contribution made by the TIGER Initiative is the Soil Moisture Monitoring project with sensors that monitor changes in soil moisture content,

u n d e r t a k e n during TIGER I by Professor Geoff Pegram of the University of KwaZulu-

Natal. The WRC is a hosting institution for the Southern Regional Office of the TIGER Initiative.

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Delegates attending the Advanced Earth Observation Methods in Water Management

There is a need to develop a strategy to support the national, SADC and Africa Climate Change Response Strategies in the water domain