Pictured: ERWAT’s Managing Director, Pat Twala

ERWAT is a Section 21 (non-profit) company that serves three local authorities, of which the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is the main stakeholder.

The company celebrates its 20th anniversary and with that 20 years of wastewater management excellence in South Africa. ERWAT’s mandate is to render a costeffective wastewater treatment service on behalf of local authorities in eastern Gauteng. Through consolidation, the company manages the whole spectrum of wastewater in the region. The company was registered after a strategic decision to regionalise the function of wastewater treatment, main outfall sewers and reuse systems. As it stands, ERWAT successfully manages and operates 19 wastewater treatment works, treating a combined capacity of some 700 Ml/d of wastewater. The company services the needs of two metropolitan municipalities, one district municipality, more than 2 000 industries and some 3.5 million people.

Significant scope and increased capacity
ERWAT has successfully divided its region of operation into three main drainage districts, namely DD3 (the upper regions of the Crocodile River), DD5 (Blesbokspruit) and DD6 (Rietspruit). “At the time of its establishment, ERWAT designed a facilities development plan (FDP) to assess growth in the area and plan for additional capacity where needed. The company’s strategic focus is to provide the right sized works in the best geographic location, at the lowest cost, incorporating the most appropriate available technology,” says ERWAT’s MD, Pat Twala. ERWAT regularly reviews the current FDP 2025 model – taking into account and remaining on par with the strategic direction of its parent municipality, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM). The FDP now also forms part of the service delivery agreement between ERWAT and the EMM. A few years earlier, ERWAT’s regionalisation approach and strategic focus on the optimisation of capacity led to the closure of smaller wastewater treatment plants. The company also built new plants, while expanding existing footprints. According to Koos Wilken, executive manager of development at ERWAT, three regional treatment plants were refurbished and extended, including Hartbeesfontein, Olifantsfontein and Waterval. A new regional plant, Welgedacht, was completed near Springs in 2003, with a treatment capacity of 35 Ml/d. Increasing demand in the Springs area has led to a further expansion of the Welgedacht plant from 35 Ml/d to 50 Ml/d, notes Wilken. Over the past 20 years, these regional expansions successfully led to additional water capacity of 153 Ml/d – a significant contribution to extending water capacity at local level. According to Twala, the financing of extensions and construction of new plants remains one of ERWAT’s biggest challenges. “The success of future projects, as with those of the past, will continue to depend on the availability of funding. The company’s parent municipality, EMM, will continue to play a crucial role in securing future funding,” he informs.

Prominent R&D and industry player
ERWAT strives to keep abreast of the latest trends in wastewater research management through regular liaison and contact with other institutions, such as the Water Research Commission (WRC), water institutions, academia, as well as government departments such as the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). ERWAT is a member of the International Water Association (IWA) and a patron member of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA). The company continues to contribute to the water industry through an ongoing focus on research and development. Experts in the fields of biochemistry and environmental science are continuously doing research to the benefit of the total water industry. A research and development policy enables the company to be a leader in the field of wastewater. Through this approach, ERWAT can empower clients to modify or optimise existing plants to function cost effectively and promote a better process and technology understanding. In addition, ERWAT has maintained a 10-year agreement with the University of Pretoria as well as other specific research projects to support a Chair in Wastewater Management. Through this agreement, numerous postgraduate and doctorate students are able to continue their studies in the wastewater field and make valuable contributions through their relevant research projects. “At the moment, we are negotiating with universities to continue this initiative,” states Twala. “ERWAT is also exceptionally proud of the consolidation of smaller, individual laboratories at wastewater treatment plants into one centralised laboratory,” he notes. ERWAT Laboratory Services is ISO/ IEC 17025 accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS). The ERWAT laboratory recently extended its services to include the identification of waterborne pathogens (PCR analysis), GC-MS analysis, as well as automated photometric low-range specialised chemical analysis on potable water and boreholes. The laboratory also established an industrial section to render industrial effluent services to all spheres of government and the private sector. In addition to the above, the laboratory continues standard chemical and microbiological laboratory testing services for the analysis of water, wastewater, activated sludge, sewage sludge and soil.

Remaining committed to quality
ERWAT’s vision is to be the water company of choice. The company’s mission statement reflects the provision of sustainable, affordable, quality water services through innovative, effective organisational practices. ERWAT therefore strives to meet the evergrowing demand for improved quality in the industry, while maximising available infrastructure and optimising resources. Wilken emphasises that ERWAT will have to meet the growth challenges of the EMM as well as those of other local authorities. “The company can expect even bigger challenges regarding Green Drop status accreditation, compliance legislation, environmental requirements, efficient energy consumption, and effective allocation and utilisation of funds in the future,” he says. “Ensuring the long-term sustainability of the company will depend on managing potential threats, such as high input costs, replacement and upgrading of ageing infrastructure and obtaining funding. However, the management structures are confident that we would be able to rise to these challenges as boldly and successfully as we have done in the past 20 years,” Wilken concludes.