MechChem Africa February 2020

⎪ Water and wastewater processing ⎪

Water reuse schemes offer win-win investment opportunities

The Durban Water Recycling Project recycles up to 47.5 M ℓ of municipal sewage each day for reuse by the city’s industries.

In the water and wastewater treatment industry, proven technologies are paving the way for a strong business case for bulk water reuse. Government needs to attract private sector funding tomeet itswater and sanitation infrastructure development re- quirements, yet public-private partnerships (PPPs) in this sector have not blossomed to their full potential, says Veolia Water Technologies’ Chris Braybrooke. While heavy water consumers can ben- efit from the lower price of recycled water, there are still major barriers to PPPs, and these need to be removed. Many industrial companies in South Africa applywater recycling technologies to reuse their process water cycle. Inminimis- ing their water bill, these companies have been able to optimise production costs, while reducing their environmental foot- print, to improve business performance. There exists significant scope to upscale such processes in South Africa, with an abundant supply of treatable effluent in the form of municipal wastewater, as well as large, concentrated industrial basinswith suitable process water demands. The effectiveness of such a scheme is demonstrated by the Veolia-built and oper- atedDurbanWaterRecyclingProject,which recycles 47.5M ℓ of municipal sewage a day to a near-potable standard for direct reuse by SAPREF and Mondi Paper. These companies benefit not just from a more than 60% saving in water tariffs, but also a significantly enhanced drought supply security. The benefits to the city are similarly immense. At capacity, the plant reduces thecity’swater consumptionby7%; the volume of potablewater saved each day

lenge, duplicating theDWRPPP, where a consortiumof investors provided capital layout, with no cost to the city. Government has acknowledged it needs the support of the private sector to meet its infrastructure funding requirements. A proven technology portfolio for water re- use is creating an abundance of potentially economically viable applications. At a time when government and busi- nesses need to optimise spend, it is impor- tant for the two towork together to identify the economic opportunities of wastewater reuse relationships between municipalities and industry across South Africa. q

canbe redistributed to220000households. It has therefore delayed capital investment requirements for future bulk potablewater supply infrastructure, aswell as for expand- ing marine outfall pipeline capacity. It has also created a long-term revenue streamfroma levy raised on the production of recycled water and reduced the city’s operating costs, with a subsequent reduced cost of water services to Durban’s citizens. Beyond its economic, social and environ- mental benefits, the DWR Project remains a model of success for public-private part- nerships in Africa’s water and sanitation sectors.

A replicable PPP model With greater financial pres- sureonbothindustryandmu- nicipalities to do more with less,thereisgreatpotentialto replicate such a PPP in many other towns and cities across South Africa. Yet doing so requires overcoming several barriers, namely: • Greater buy-in from gov- ernment to direct wa- ter reuse for industrial consumption. • Ensuring the wastewa- ter treatment plants are equippedwithmodern, ef- fective technologies, such as Veolia’smembrane bio- reactor (MBR) technology. • Sensitising the public to this long-term water se- curity guarantee. • Where financing is a chal-

February 2020 • MechChem Africa ¦ 25