In the face of growing concerns regarding climate change, the need to meet the escalating demand and efforts towards reaching the UN-backed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), innovative approaches to wastewater management and water recovery are imperative.
According to Carl Haycock, Managing Director of Talbot & Talbot, “Treated wastewater may be a key strategy to meet the water needs on the African continent and can also help to address parallel challenges of food production and industrial development”.
The augmentation strategies developed for the catchments in South Africa include, but are not limited to, treatment and reuse of wastewater, which is critical to contributing to the drive to provide sufficient water for population growth and industrial demands.
Industrial water use accounts for approximately 8% of total water usage in South Africa. It has been projected that in rapidly industrialising countries current proportions could increase five times over the next 10 – 20 years.
Haycock said Talbot & Talbot supports industrial clients across Africa to reduce their water demand, and consequently their impact on the catchment. This is achieved through the treatment and recycling of wastewater using various technologies, some of which results in the production of biogas energy as a by-product.
Industrial wastewater recovery can reach between 60% and 85% of total wastewater discharged, depending on the quality of the effluent received for reuse and the optimisation protocols applied in operation. The water reuse by industries within their processes improves water availability in the catchment which ultimately supports social and economic development, driving the SDGs.
Although South Africa has nearly 1000 municipal wastewater treatment facilities in operation, it is estimated that only 26% of sewage is adequately treated before being discharged into rivers.
The operation of municipal wastewater treatment plants also requires a high skill level. “Through Talbot & Talbot’s technical experts including technical directors through to process specialists at the central management hub and site-specific management and staff who are responsible for the daily operation of plants, municipal, private and industrial clients across Africa are offered innovative and sustainable solutions to their wastewater challenges,” s statement from the company said.
All sites operated by Talbot & Talbot have 24-hour access to process specialist support in case of plant upsets.
Water reduction tips
Societal and environmental pressures on the industrial sectors to reduce wastewater and to treat it appropriately before discharge, is likely to grow over the coming years. In support of the recent National Water Week, Talbot & Talbot shared some basic guidelines for industry consideration to manage wastewater and improve water efficiencies:
- Start by unpacking your water footprint by identifying your current water intake, usage and discharge. This is critical in the process to identify potential opportunities for water efficiencies, savings and reuse.
- Identify opportunities to reduce your water use in your process and use wastewater in your business itself or between several businesses to form a viable symbiotic relationship.
- Treated wastewater can be used back in the process, for cooling and/or heating and rainwater from roof collection can be used for flushing of toilets or irrigation.