Non water borne sanitation and wastewater
FEATURE 29
By
Rory Macnamara
While traditional wastewater has been the staple diet of the plumber , with the slow collapse of the country ’ s water infrastructure , alternatives must be considered .
To provide perspective as to how the plumber can broaden his / her offering we drew on a number of references and resources , namely Calcamite ; SANS 10400-Q : Non water borne means of sanitary disposal ; and Plumber magazine . The idea of carrying on as normal regarding potable water is not feasible anymore bearing in mind the fast developing of urban townships and the rural areas , which between the two are encroaching on each other .
These have not had access to free-flowing water for wastewater disposal for years and the population growth especially in the urban areas cannot cope . Couple this with the lack of technical capacity in municipalities and DWS — the alternative must surely become the norm .
Grant Neser , CEO of JOJO Tanks speaks to this topic :
“ The recent water crises around the country should make all South Africans consider not only how we desperately need to protect our sources of fresh water but how we treat wastewater and reintroduce it to the environment .”
Calcamite / JoJo
Biomite .
South Africa ’ s wastewater treatment systems are failing , with many in such a dire state that the Human Rights Council called for government to declare the situation a ‘ national disaster ’. Earlier this year , the Green Drop report stated that over 39 % of wastewater treatment works — 334 from 955 — are classified as being critical .
Water and sanitation are intrinsically linked , without proper wastewater management the quality of water drops to low levels across the water cycle , polluting it and making it unfit to be used for drinking and growing the food we eat .
It ’ s not just about the water that comes from your tap but how the water you have used is reintroduced into the water cycle that affects so many others . Just this year , the department of water put out a statement that one of the main sources of domestic and river pollution stemmed from municipal wastewater treatment works , sewer blockages , poor operations and maintenance as well as pollution from mining operations .
The solution is to ensure the water you put back into a municipal system , for example , is of the highest standard . That is why JoJo , as part of its evolution to a complete water solutions company , acquired
Calcamite / JoJo
Septic tank .
Calcamite , who provide practical , fit-for-purpose onsite wastewater and sanitation solutions .
“ With government struggling to build and maintain wastewater treatment plants to cope with the increase in the construction of
March 2023 Volume 29 I Number 1 www . plumbingafrica . co . za