ETHEKWINI Municipality has commissioned renewable energy and water reuse demonstration pilot plants as part of exploring sustainable solutions to address ongoing energy and water supply challenges.
The demonstration plants were presented to the media on September 20 and included the reuse water demonstration plant installed at the KwaMashu wastewater treatment works and the micro-hydroelectric turbine integration system at Umhlanga Rocks Reservoir 2.
The municipality’s water and sanitation unit signed a memorandum of agreement with MEB Energy and ALTERELEC technology companies to explore innovative technologies.
ALTERELEC designed and installed a compact 56 kW micro-hydroelectric turbine integration system at the Umhlanga Rocks Reservoir 2 site. The goal is to assist the municipality to recover untapped energy present in its water distribution network.
The water reuse plant by MEB Energy treats secondary effluent to produce potable water that meets the South African National Standard (SANS 241:2015).
As eThekwini Municipality tests different technologies, the water reuse plant is the metro’s second pilot project for recycled water. The first is the remix demonstration plant, which combines water reuse and the reverse osmosis desalination process.
Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee, Thembo Ntuli said the City is being proactive to prevent a dire situation in the future as water demand continues to grow.
“It is significant that today we witness how renewable energy solutions can play a role in improving water and electricity supply. Today’s site visit comes hot on the heels of an important announcement that Durban will host the 19th World Water Conference in 2025. As the leadership of eThekwini Municipality, we are delighted to get the opportunity, not only to showcase the City, but to play a leading role in the advancement of water reuse technology,” he said.
Ntuli said the reuse monitoring programme project will produce standards and guidelines beyond SANS241 for reuse projects in the metro.
Results from the pilot projects will assist the metro in implementing its new water scheme, for which the feasibility study is underway. The renewable energy plant is in the procurement phase.
The water reuse and renewable energy projects will be undertaken through public-private partnerships, while the metro plays an oversight role.
These projects are part of the eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Security of Water Supply plan, Climate Change Strategies and KZN Reconciliation Strategies, which were adopted by the metro council.