Technical Tours: 11 June 2024

1. Durban Water Recycling (DWR)

A highly specialised tertiary water treatment process, specifically tailored to meet the high water quality requirements of DWR’s main client, Mondi Paper. Located in the grounds of Durban’s Southern Wastewater Treatment Works (SWWTW), the plant was commissioned in May 2001. The plant has a capacity of 47.5 million litres that treats a mix of domestic and industrial wastewater to a near potable standard for sale to industrial customers for direct use in their processes.

2. Integrated Decentralised Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS) and Low Flush Urine Diversion System as a Sustainable Onsite Sanitation and Resource Recovery System for Rural Schools

Low flush urine diversion toilets connected to a decentralised wastewater treatment system (DEWATS) provides safe and hygienic sanitation to approximately 800 learners at Julukandoda Primary School while providing an opportunity for nutrient recovery from the treated effluent for the farming cooperatives in the KwaDulela Area. Many studies have proved the potential of urine and treated wastewater for agricultural use with regard to improved soil properties, crop nutrient uptake and yields.

Although, still in the construction phase, this integrated system has the potential to improve the quality of education and health for learners. In addition, the innovation will present an opportunity to create jobs and generate income to the community through agriculture using the nutrient recovered from the system. The use of human excreta waste for crops such as nursery plants and ornamental trees could help to the transition the system towards the circular economy where ornamental plants produced in rural communities are sold to cities and the trees (indigenous and fruit trees) are used for restoring ecological infrastructure, and sustainable and resilient ecosystems.

The business opportunities are possible through the use human excreta waste as source of fertilizer and fertigation water. The project also aims to farm vegetables in open land using the nutrient resources recovered from the sanitation facilities for irrigation. A tunnel will be installed, that will benefit the agricultural cooperatives who will grow seedlings. A borehole will also be installed to ensure that there is regular water supply for the toilets and to mitigate the water supply challenges currently faced by the school.

3. Siza Water Re-use Plant

Siza Water Company (Pty) Ltd. provides water and wastewater services to residents in the Dolphin Coast region of South Africa. They operate a state-of-the art water recycling plant that augments the water supply to its customers.

5. Non-sewered sanitation technology at a rural school

Clear Recirculating Toilet (a type of Non-sewered sanitation technology) that treats wastewater generated from a school in eThekwini Municipality. The treated effluent is recycled for toilet flushing.

The EnviroLoo Clear Recirculating toilet is a treatment system that recycles treated effluent and does not require a continuous water supply or sewer connections. The blackwater from the toilets is treated through a membrane biological reactor which separates pollutants. The treated water is then disinfected through ozone circulation and reused for flushing the toilets.

Mandosi Combined School is a school located in the rural parts of eThekwini Municipality and has an enrolment of approximately 1000 learners.