Innovative water treatment technology to address KZN water challenges

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has commended the Water Research Commission’s (WRC) ongoing investment and efforts to provide innovative technological solutions to water challenges through the launch of the Vortex Settling Basin (VSB).

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has commended the Water Research Commission (WRC) for its continued investment in innovative technologies to address South Africa’s water challenges.

A VSB is a type of water treatment system that utilizes a vortex flow pattern to remove sediments, suspended solids, and other pollutants from water. 

It operates on the principle of centrifugal force, allowing heavier particles to settle at the bottom of the basin while cleaner water is discharged from the top. 

The VSB effectively removes heavy sediment particles through its vortex action, causing the sediments to settle in a cone shape. These particles can then be extracted by gravity, while the clearer water flows out over a discharge weir. 

“This technology will help the municipality with an energy-efficient solution for sediment removal, ensuring a reliable water supply with minimal maintenance. The vortex is at 90% efficiency, which means there will be more water to treat, thus increasing water security in the area. The technology will also ensure good water quality because the turbidity of water will be addressed,” the Deputy Minister said.

Mahlobo made the remarks at the recent official handover and launch of the VSB demonstration at the Thukela River abstraction works in Middledrift, Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

The launch marked the beginning of a demonstration phase, during which the system’s effectiveness will be closely monitored for potential wider implementation. 

The VSB has a pump capacity of 8.6 mega-litres per day and will benefit a wide range of stakeholders, particularly those reliant on surface water abstraction for agricultural, municipal, and industrial purposes. 

The Deputy Minister assured community members that the municipality has gained a cost-effective technology, to be used also to facilitate more desilting by removing sedimentation in the dams. 

He highlighted that Madungela was chosen for the demonstration for several reasons, including the large contributing catchment downstream of the existing Spioenkop Dam, resulting in high sediment concentrations; the pump station abstracts raw water directly from the Thukela River and has no gravel trap, and current sediment extrusion is by hydro-cyclones; therefore, a good comparison with VSB performance will be possible. 

Mahlobo urged the community to protect the VSB as it will be beneficial to them. 

WRC Chief Executive, Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, emphasised that the work done by the commission has important implications, especially for rural communities who will now have access to reliable potable water. 

"This kind of work is critically important for the WRC, as it demonstrates our ability to translate theoretical scientific innovations into practical applications—not just at laboratory scale, but also in real-world settings. 

“We are hopeful that this innovation will culminate in an economy where all municipalities and bulk water suppliers recognise and adopt it as a groundbreaking technology that has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and capacity of water treatment systems across the country—particularly benefiting rural communities, where access to reliable and sustainable water services is often limited,” Molwantwa said. - SAnews.gov.za

Attached link

Taxonomy

• Water Efficiency
• Sanitation
• Water Treatment Systems
• water treatment
• sedimentation
• Water, Waste Water Chemical & Treatment