FEATURES 19
Sustainable sewage systems
Compiled by
Tanya Olckers with technical input from Steve van Zyl , Technical Director , IOPSA
The United Nations Environment Programme stated in a 2019 report that more than 80 % of the world ’ s wastewater , and 95 % in least developed countries , is released into the environment without being treated . According to the report , 2.4 billion people on the planet do not have access to improved sanitation . The consequences of this are obvious , and alarming .
United Nations South Africa has released these six goals to be achieved by 2030 : 1 . Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all .
2 . Achieve access to adequate and equitable access to sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation , paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations .
3 . Improve water quality by reducing pollution , eliminating dumping and minimising the release of hazardous chemicals and materials , halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling safe reuse globally .
4 . Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of fresh water to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity .
5 . Implement integrated water resources management at all levels , including through transboundary co-operation as appropriate .
6 . Protect and restore water-related ecosystems , including mountains , forests , wetlands , rivers , aquifers and lakes .
According to Nick Horne from EcoTanks , there seems to be an uptick in consumers looking for alternative solutions . “ Rainwater storage tanks remain the most common products in our range ,” he says , “ Water pumps and filtration are catching up . Our domestic and commercial wastewater treatments system has also gained a tremendous amount of traction in South Africa .”
Supplied by Steve van Zyl
IOPSA ’ s Steve van Zyl inspects a tank .
He may well be onto something there as South Africa continues to watch its infrastructure crumble a day at a time . “ We believe that becoming self-sustainable with energy provision , and with water backups and storage is the only long-term approach ,” says Horne .
Septic tanks are defined by SANS 10252-2 as chambers that receive and retain sewage so that the waste material can be sufficiently decomposed . Septic tanks must discharge into French drains . French drains are absorption fields that are made up of a trench that is filled with material that is suitable to drainage and is used to get rid of liquid effluent from a septic tank .
A conservancy tank , as defined by SANS 10252-2 , is a covered tank that receives and temporarily retains sewage , which needs to be emptied at regular intervals by honey suckers and disposed of properly by treatment plants .
Supplied by Calcamite
A Calcamite unit .
With installations of either of these , the plumber needs to take serious note of the requirements laid out in SANS 10252-2 . The installation of these tanks must be approved by a local authority prior to any work being done .
SANS 10400-P : 2010 provides the requirements for conservancy tanks , septic tanks and French drains and any installation of any of
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June 2024 Volume 30 I Number 4 www . plumbingafrica . co . za