MechChem Africa November-December 2024

⎪ Water, wastewater and pumping solutions ⎪

A private sector collaboration among residents, companies, Nama Koi Municipality and KSB Pumps and Valves, to restore water supply to parts of the Nama Koi municipality has brought desperate relief to the affected residents. Pump donation revives municipal infrastructure S outh Africa's water infrastructure faces increasing pressure from ageing infrastructure, climate challenges and budget constraints. So when a Northern

Cape municipality was experiencing challenges with regards to pump repair, local pump sup plier, KSB Pumps and Valves, a major supplier of pumps and equipment for water infrastructure, stepped in. To alleviate the problem, the company donated an Etanorm pump to the Nama Khoi Municipality experiencing the difficulty. According to KSB Pumps and Valves’ Upington branch manager, Andre Jonker, the donation was part of a collaborative project to restore the Overberg potable water pump station after a pump failure and other issues caused the station to nearly grind to a halt. The remaining pump had been struggling to operate at full capacity, lead ing to water shortages across the community. The pump donated, a KSB Etanorm pump, the flagship of the local pump manufacturer, is renowned for its efficiency, reliability and ability to handle a wide range of applications, including drinking water supply. The pumps, designed for longevity and energy-saving due to their high efficiency, have proven to be a versatile solution for municipalities across the country. “The donation of the pump not only restored water services but also ensured a more durable and energy-efficient solution, which will benefit the community for years to come. This joint effort highlights the power of collaboration between local businesses and municipal au thorities. Several companies and experts joined forces with municipal experts to bring the pump station back online. It is an admirable achieve ment considering that all parties contributed their time, resources and expertise at no cost,” says Jonker. Following the successful restoration of water services, Mayor Rodney Kritzinger expressed his heartfelt gratitude and acknowledged that the joint efforts had saved the municipality a considerable amount of money. “On behalf of the resident and as the Nama Khoi Mayor, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the role players who helped save almost R1-million by applying their expertise and businesses to get the Overberg pumping station up and running again,” he said. The Mayor also extended special thanks to the following individuals and businesses: • Abri van Niekerk and Tiaan van den Heever of Novatec for supplying and installing a new panel.

Louis Harper of Springbok Municipality and Adriaan Augus of Nama Khoi Municipality inspect the Etanorm pump donated the municipality,

Some of the participants in the Nama Khoi pump station project include: Louis Harper of Springbok Municipality; Adriaan Augus of Nama Khoi Municipality; Martin Fourie of KSB Mining; Mayor of Nama Khoi Municipality, Rodney Kritzinger; and KSB Upington branch manager, Andre Jonker.

• Thinus van Schalkwyk and his team from Copper 360 for repairing the pump’s axles and supplying a new impeller. • Kobus Zandberg for his organisational support. • Nico Moore of Springbok Motor Rewinds for rebuilding critical components. • Andre Jonker, Martin Fourie and the Management team from KSB Pumps and Valves for their donation of the KSB Etanorm pump, which was vital to the project. Jonker added that the restoration of the

Nama Khoi pump station exemplifies how public-private partnerships can solve critical infrastructure challenges in South Africa. The stakeholders demonstrated leadership and commitment to the communities they serve. The initiative not only resolved an immediate crisis but also underscored the importance of long-term solutions to South Africa’s water infrastructure needs. “We are proud that KSB Pumps and Valves continues to play a vital role in safeguarding South Africa’s most precious resource—water,” Andre Jonker concluded.

November-December 2024 • MechChem Africa ¦ 17