Research
Brexit causes water industry doubts municipalities news
DPI Plastics
Martine Goodchild , marketing manager of DPI Plastics .
DPI Plastics to sponsor inaugural AMWN Conference
DPI Plastics will sponsor the inaugural African Marine Waste Network ( AMWN ) Conference in 2017 as its lead corporate social responsibility ( CSR ) project .
A leading manufacturer of PVC and HDPE water reticulation and drainage pipe and fitting systems , DPI Plastics is a key supporter of AMWN ’ s activities related to reducing marine waste and debris threatening South Africa ’ s coastlines and marine life .
The AMWN was launched in July 2016 by the Sustainable Seas Trust ( SST ), Plastics SA , and other partners in Port Elizabeth , Eastern Cape . The network is the first dedicated approach to addressing marine waste at a pan-African level .
Plastics SA , of which DPI Plastics is a key member , represents all sectors of the South African plastics industry , including polymer producers and importers , converters , machine suppliers , fabricators and recyclers . It plays an active role in growing the industry and addressing all plastics-related issues .
“ Further to our conservation efforts , we are also looking internally at our products and how to reduce , reuse and recycle wherever possible ,” DPI Plastics marketing manager Martine Goodchild says .
This resulted in the manufacturer ’ s latest product innovation , Ultrapipe , in which the virgin inner core of a multilayer pipe is replaced with a recycled inner . “ Ultrapipe is a more material- , resource- , and energy-efficient product when compared to its SANS 1601 predecessor ,” Goodchild notes . u
Among the issues raised by members of British Water are concerns about funding for infrastructure , investment in research , and environmental regulation , in the aftermath of the vote for the UK to leave the European Union .
The association reveals that the results of a member survey showed many unanswered questions following the result of the vote . The study asked the 185 members of British Water how optimistic they felt about the future , both in terms of their own companies and the water industry as a whole .
Concerning how they expect the result to affect their own business , 42 % were highly optimistic , 20 % were highly pessimistic , and 38 % said it was too early to say . In terms of the future implications for the industry as a whole , only 25 % said they felt very positive about the future , 25 % said they felt very negative , and half of all those who responded said they were uncertain about what would happen after the UK left the European Union . u
29 Asia – Pacific countries lack water security
Asia and the Pacific are a “ global hotspot for water insecurity ” — this is according to a report from the Asian Development Bank .
The study of 48 countries ’ water security shows an overall improvement in the region ; however , the rapid economic growth predicted points to a continuing rise in demand for water . The number of countries categorised as ‘ water insecure ’ was 29 out of 48 ( 60 %), compared to 38 out of 49 ( 78 %) in 2013 , the last time such an analysis was produced .
The report uses a five-level national water security index from low to high : hazardous , engaged , capable , effective and model . In this year ’ s report , five countries fell into the ‘ hazardous ’ category : Afghanistan , Kiribati , Pakistan , India , and Bangladesh . Six were classified as ‘ effective ’: New Zealand , Australia , Singapore , Japan , Brunei Darussalam , and Hong Kong . None were classified as ‘ model ’.
Economic growth across Asia and the Pacific is expected to average 5.7 % in the next two years , with water demand growing in step . The region is expected to host 22 mega cities by 2030 , and the population is predicted to rise to 5.2 billion by 2050 . u
Water Sewage & Effluent November / December 2016 9