Status on municipal waste water treatment works

1. Presentation to the Portfolio Committee: Water & Environment Status on municipal waste water treatment works Presentation byMr H Muller Acting Chief Director: Regulation 26 - 27 January 2011

2. Presentation Content • Target Risk-based Regulation (Wastewater Services Regulation) • Catchment-based Risk Abatement • Green Drop Certification Update • Addressing Wastewater Challenges through Regulation.

3. 1) Targeted Risk-based Regulation • Based upon the UK (EA) approach to ensure that Cumulative Risk Ratings (CRR) for each WWTW is calculated to inform a risk-based targeted approach to addressing shortcomings. • Purpose: • The Department will be in the position to generate intelligence on each WWTW. • Used to inform multi-sectoral support, planning and enforcement initiatives. • All municipalities were furnished with this information to assist them with their own planning processes. Using their respective CRRs as a tangible improvement target which is plant-specific. • Current Green Drop Assessment information is being used to update the CCR information (this to provide the all-important trend-indication)

4. Targeted Risk-based Regulation Require a credible and scientific information base re the status of the entire municipal wastewater treatment in SA. This approach revealed performance in the following fields: • Treatment Technology • Design Capacity (hydraulic) and Receiving Flow • License Status • Plant Classification • Longitude/Latitude • Reg 2834 skills required versus actual • OHS appointments and compliance • Effluent Quality compared to permitted standards • Receiving water resource CRR = (Design Capacity Risk X Receiving Volume) + Skills Risk + Effluent Quality Risk

5. Risk Synopsis of WWTWs in RSA(As per 2009 CRR Information)

6. Catchment – based Risk Abatement Programme • Two Catchments are currently targeted for risk abatement approaches to positively affect effluent quality: • Berg River: • 6 WSAs involved. UK experts assisted to determine risks and developed abatement plans for these municipalities. 3 however required motivation by means of the pre-directive route to implement plans. • Hartbeespoort: • 6 WSAs involved. Munics showed great commitment to implement the W2RAP approach. • The impact of package plants is currently being determined and targeted as well. 30 package plants discharges into this catchment. • Pump-stations, dilapidated collector networks and diffuse pollution (informal settlement and agriculture run-off) are found to remain challenging factors.

7. Targeted Risk-based Regulation &Green Drop Certification • While the Risk-based approach provides risk related information on the actual operations of a wastewater treatment works (WWTW), Green Drop Certification focus on the overall management efficiency levels regarding wastewater services. • Both programmes are in its infancy but are complementing each other in facilitating a sustainable paradigm shift in municipal wastewater services. • A Wastewater Risk Abatement Plan (W2RAP)Guide is being developed jointly with WRC. (Currently tested in City of Cape Town & eThekwini Metro); This to be part of Green Drop Requirements.

8. Preliminary 2011 Green Drop Performance Update Note that this is based on preliminary results and that moderation (quality control) is yet to be concluded. These results serves as an early indicator that the DWA incentive based regulation approach may be a relevant and appropriate regulatory model to ensure turn around and raising performance in the municipal wastewater industry. The results exceed expectations, but will be verified to ensure that a credible Green Drop Report is ready by June 2011 for release by the ministry. NB: 887 systems were assessed in comparison with the 449 were assessed in 2009

9. Benefits of the Green Drop Certification Programme • Provides guidance towards effective wastewater service management. • This will serve as a long term investment towards minimisation of capital expenditure due to improved Asset Management. • Informs wastewater planning initiatives. • Enhancing accountability.

10. Green Drop Stocktaking Exercise In Aug ’10 at the Municipal WQ Info sessions 121 municipal officials partook in the Stocktaking exercise

11. Indication that GDC programme is positively impacting on a variety of disciplines in the municipal wastewater fraternity

12. Addressing the Wastewater Challenges

13. Enforcement • Through the implementation of the Enforcement Protocol, the Department is engaging with non-complying Organs of State. • Unsuccessful cases are handed over to the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement (CME) unit, to administer the prosecution process, where so required. • Number of criminal cases……….

14. Phosphate Load Reduction • The findings of WRC Report TT446/10 (Investigation of positive and negative consequences associated with the introduction of zero-phosphate detergents in SA), informs the current consideration being given to prohibit phosphate-based detergents locally. • Such a step will reduce Phosphate loading of WWTWs and reduce the prevalence of eutrophication. (also prevent the costly upgrade of treatment infrastructure to address stricter PO4 Limits).

15. Emergency Response Facility • The Department established an Emergency Response Facility (ERF) in 2010 to assist municipalities with Treatment Process and Management optimization. • Thus far this facility assisted 6 Municipalities (wrt Wastewater) including Madibeng (NW), Improvement was recorded during the last assessment. • It also provides assistance with the implementation of crucial Blue Drop and Green Drop findings at municipal level.

16. Water Boards Intervention/Support • In the Free State and North West water boards such as Bloem Water and Magalies Water got involved to rectify problematic wastewater services. • This would be on the similar basis as the Drinking Water Quality intervention of Rand Water in Delmas (Victor Khanye)

17. Partnerships • National Treasury • targeted Ngaka Modiri Molema DM (North West) to investigate funding requirements and a means to address Wastewater shortcomings (infrastructural + O&M). • In coordination with DCoG, investigating new infrastructure funding models. • The Siyanje Manje initiative of DBSA supports DWA in its Targeted Risk-based and incentive based regulation approaches. • SALGA is developing a strategy to assist municipalities to achieve Blue Drop and Green Drop certification as well as to address the infrastructure shortcomings with adequate decision-making on appropriate infrastructure. • Supporting DCoG with the Local Government Turn-around Strategy.

18. The Way Forward – Green Drop Certification • The Green Drop Report is now being compiled together with recalculation (update) of the Cumulative Risk Ratings. • Department in partnership with WISA is arranging the 3rd Municipal Water Quality Conference (28-30 June 2011) in Cape Town. • Reports will be ready for release in June 2011.

19. The Way Forward – Green Drop Certification • The Green Drop Information System (GDS) was rolled-out to all municipalities and is currently utilised by 34% of WSAs as Effluent Quality Management and Reporting tool. The Department is endeavouring to increase this figure over the next 6 months to at least 60%. • Through Regulation instilling a renewed sense of responsibility towards Wastewater Services management within the accountable authorities.

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