Desalination to augment supply in SA by 2030

Desalination-a viable option?

Port Elizabeth – South Africa could be getting up to a tenth of its drinking water from the sea within the next two decades, the Department of Water Affairs said on Monday.

“We’re looking to have about 8 to 10% of South Africa’s water to come from desalination by about 2030,” said deputy director-general of national water resources and infrastructure, Cornelius Ruiters.

Speaking at the Implementing Environmental Water Allocations (IEWA) conference in Port Elizabeth, he said the city being looked at to start such a large-scale project to remove salt and produce potable water was Port Elizabeth.

“At the moment Nelson Mandela Bay (Port Elizabeth) is one of the coastal cities we’re looking at, the other is Cape Town.”

Asked what the cost would be, he said it would likely run into billions.

“I’s going to be huge investment. We still have to work out the economics – it’s going to be billions,” he said.

The department currently supplies about 4.6 billion cubic metres of drinking water a year. One tenth of this – the proportion the department proposes be produced through desalination – is 460 million tons of water.

Taken from news24

Desalination is one way of addressing the predicted water shortage here in South Africa.  Our water systems are currently overtaxed and experts are warning of immanent danger concerning our supplies which means that we need to all take some concrete action when it comes to saving water at home and at work.  Water Rhapsody provides water saving systems that are practical, durable and promote the saving of water through a minimal change in lifestyle to our clients.  Grey water reuse and rainwater harvesting are systems which have increased in popularity over the years because of their two fold benefits:  the positive spin-off for our environment and their ability to remove our clients from reliance on municipal water supply.

If you are interested in getting a quote for our systems or just some advice on how to save the most amount of water at your home, contact ANDREW MALHERBE for more info.