Reuse / Water scarcity in the province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa led to the municipality requiring assistance with treatment of domestic and industrial sewage and wastewater to near potable standard for use in industrial processes. Industrial players in the area were consuming far too high amounts of water and discharging wastewater into the ocean.
The challenge
- The City of Durban was facing dire water shortages.
- Mondi Paper mill in Merebank (Durban) realised its high water needs, as they were consuming up to 10 Ml/d second class water for almost 4 decades.
- Sapref refinery was the second highest consumer of potable water in the region.
- Continuous discharge of high COD wastewater into the ocean was becoming a huge issue.
Veolia’s solution
Through collaboration with the eThekwini municipality as well as industrial players, Veolia installed a highly specialised tertiary water treatment process, specifically tailored to meet the high water quality requirements of Durban Water Recycling's main client, Mondi Paper. The specification includes 22 parameters that are measured in the South African Water standard.
The plant, which is located in the grounds of of Durban’s Southern Wastewater Treatment Works (SWTW), was commissioned in May 2001. The plant has a treatment capacity of 47.5 million litres of domestic and industrial wastewater to a near potable standard for sale to industrial customers for direct use in their processes.
The benefits
Operation began in May 2001 and the major benefits include a reduction in the overall industrial consumption of potable water and a decrease in the amount of treated sewage being released into the environment.
Further advantages include:
- Economic advantages for all role players (Mondi enjoys a 52% saving in water tariff),
- Public Private Partnership - the first of its kind: a new contractual and financial model for providing capital for new infrastructure (eThekwini didn’t have to do a big capital outlay),
- Conservation and sustainable development of the area's water resources, thanks to the reduction of water demand,
- Perfect example of ecological transformation model where scarce resources are re-used and there is reduced stress on the marine ecosystem,
- Innovative use of water treatment processes and technologies,
- Accelerated customer growth in the area as a result of project success.
Durban, South Africa
Duration: 20 years
Type: Concession
47.5 ML/d
wastewater treated
7% reduction in consumption
24% reduction in sea outfall throughput
The success of our DWR plant over the last 20 years has created the confidence to take the concept of water reuse to another level - that of water recycling for potable water consumption and possibility for integration into the current potable water network.
Siva Chetty, DWR Operations Manager
VEOLIA’S PURPOSE: committing to a multifaceted performance
SOCIAL
Wealth creation in the supply chain: maintenance spares and consumables, services, products.
COMMERCIAL
Treatment of wastewater consistently produced high water quality to the specification of industrial users = consistent customer satisfaction.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Opportunity for ocean ecology to recover from years of overdischarge of high COD effluent. Avoidance of construction of second discharge line.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Safety is mainstreamed at all levels with ISO9001 and 14001 compliance standards that is reviewed yearly. Since inception no incidents/fatalities.