Journalist Seeks Input: Wastewater/sanitation in South Africa (Challenges and Progress)
Published on by Miriam Mannak, Sustainable development journalist in Academic
I am a sustainable development journalist based in Cape Town and I am working for Grid Arendal, a Norwegian environmental sustainability organisation that works closely with UN Environment and other partners. I have been hired to write content for their newsletter and website, mainly around topics of waste water and sanitation in relation to the environment, people and the SDGs.
My next feature has to tackle the National Sanitation Master Plan -
http://www.infrastructurene.ws/2017/05/22/new-water-and-sanitation-master-plan-to-help-sa-achieve-2030-sdgs),/)
This Plan, a collaboration between SA and The Netherlands, aims to sustainably and structurally solve the challenges SA faces in terms of water supply, management and sanitation. My main focus will be on this plan in relation to informal settlements.
Is there anyone who would like to be interviewed?
Besides wanting to know what SA's main water and sanitation issues are (in general) and what the causes are of these problems ( particularly in relation to informal and urban settlements), I would like to know what has been done (by the public and perhaps the private sector and civil society) to help solve these issues, what has worked and what hasn't (and why), what initiatives are currently underway to improve sanitation and water management in SA (small scale and large scale, local, provincial and national), and what the implications are if sanitation and water issues remain unresolved.
I am also keen to hear about low-cost and high-impact innovations ( such as biodigesters, etc).
Thanks,
Miriam Mannak
072 8822 852 / miriam@africajournalist.org
Taxonomy
- Sanitation
- Water & Sanitation
- Sanitation & Hygiene
- Sanitation & Hygiene
7 Answers
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Having read the 'high level' aspirations for those engaged at the political level, I feel that you will need an injection of ideas at the more practical level - for instance - this list taken from a paper on Strategic Planning delivered to Accra Water:
1. Set objectives
2. Determine the existing service levels
3. Survey the existing assets
4. Undertake ‘gap analysis’
5. Examine options for improvement
6. Cost and analyse options
7. Select preferred option and consult
8. Set out investment program with costs and timing
9. Obtain funding
10. Allocate resources and responsibilities in detailed plans
11. Carry out component plans and commission new assets
12. Operate and maintain
13. ReviewFor more see:
https://felixschrodinger.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/strategic-planning/
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Dear Miriam,
From 2012 till 2014 (24 months) we (a British textile processing expert and myself) assessed a.o. the effluent treatment of 19 leading textile industries in Bangladesh for the IFC (World Bank Group) within the PaCT program. This included a WASH component for the workers and their family living close to these industries. We found that the best wastewater treatment results at the lowest costs are achieved by adding the domestic wastewater (after minimal pretreatment) to the industrial one. Clean treated wastewater for reuse can be achieved by advanced biological treatment at low cost. Also the common production and distribution of potable water is most cost-effective. In addition, small scale anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste can provide gas for cooking with the liquid digestate going to the common wastewater treatment.
Regards, Bruno
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Dear Miriam,
I am working as a research coordinator for the German NGO BORDA (Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association) in Durban, South Africa.
We conduct our main research activities on Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Technologies here in Cooperation with eThekwini Water and Sanitation as well as the Pollution research Group of the University of KwaZulu.Our main focus for South Africa is DEWATS and constructed wetlands for housing schemes and
If I can be of any help, or enable contacts over here, I am happy to do so
regards
Bjoern
1 Comment
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Hi there, thank you for your comment. I would love to chat to you. What you do sounds like a great addition to my story. Could you please email me your contact details so I can call you? My email is miriam@ africajournalist. org
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Hi Miriam,
Congrats for the initiative. As a company providing wastewater treatment services, maybe you will be interested in our technology. We are using an ecological treatment method (Constructed Wetlands), as it is a low-cost system, environmentally friendly and with minimum operational and maintenance problems and costs. Soon we start the construction of a facility in Joburg. I would be happy to provide you more info.
Alex
1 Comment
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Hi Alex, thank you for your comment. I would love to chat to you. What you do sounds like a great addition to my story. Could you please email me your contact details so I can call you? My email is miriam@ africajournalist. org
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Dear Miriam Mannak ,
Congratulations on tackling such an important topic!I would suggest you to contact Grant Gibbs, the Executive Director of Hippo Roller, an expert with ample experience in solving water and WASH related issues in South Africa and beyond.
You can read and watch the interview The Water Network team had with him here and find out more about Hipo Roller here.
Also, I would suggest you to contact Vishakha Rajput, the COO of The Water Network, who has been working with water professionals from around the world and has extensive experience in collaborative research and connecting people within the water sector.
I think those would be a good starting points!
Best,
Duško Balenović -
PS - with regards to informal settlements the two most important innovations are:
- the India Mk2 pump and
- the Hippo Roller
In the years to come the introduction of low cost solar powered pumps will come to the fore.
1 Comment
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BAsed on what evaluation report?
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Hi Miriam
During my short spell in SA I came across two issues. Compiling a training plan with a water company we identified the need for training at seven levels within the organization. These are detailed in my paper at:
https://felixschrodinger.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/the-seven-levels-of-qualification/
Secondly, unlike some of the Commonwealth nations, SA does not appear to have embraced 'asset management'. We all know about what happens when you don't maintain assets in the short term but what about their eventual upgrade or replacement. It's not necessary to go as far as ISO55000 to achieve a practical system and there is much to be learned from Australia and NZ as well as the UK water sector. My paper on this subject can be found at:
Get back to me if you want more.