MEDIA RELEASE
REVOLUTIONARY ELECTRO-COAGULATION TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR SOUTH AFRICA'S WIDE RANGE OF WATER TREATMENT PROBLEMS
Mobile plant technology can be used for mining, industrial, municipal, agricultural and rural community applications; pilot plant already imported and successfully demonstrated in South Africa
Johannesburg, September 20, 2011…A revolutionary electro-coagulation process that has already proved highly successful in a variety of applications in the UK, Ireland and Europe will provide a cost-effective solution for South Africa's wide range of water treatment problems, including Gauteng's much-publicised Acid Mine Drainage problems.
Based on well-known and proven electrochemical processes, controlled by innovative, robust electronics, the system removes a wide range of contaminants from water - such as manganese, arsenic, radio-nuclides and algae, – through an environmentally-friendly, software controlled, energy-efficient and mobile plant system.
Developed in Wales, the Johannesburg-based 1 Source Group has negotiated exclusive South African rights for the technology which has for several years been used at more than 30 sites across the UK and Europe to treat Acid Mine Drainage, polluted water, sewerage and drinking water. UK users of the system include the petrochemical industry and nuclear power plants which utilize it to treat their radioactive contaminated cooling ponds. "Instead of using chemicals, our process utilizes electro-coagulation to change the nature of pollutants in water. This method deals with heavy metal salts found in Acid Mine Drainage water which need to be removed for the water to be used safely without adding to the volume of the original problem," said Martin Madlala, Managing Director of One-Source-Water, a member of the 1 Source Group.
While the South African government has allocated funds to treat Acid Mine Drainage only in Gauteng's Western, Eastern and Central basins, the solution currently being considered relies on pumping water out, treating it by adding large volumes of lime, and attempting to reduce future water ingress. Although the application of lime reduces the PH balance of the water, it only tackles one symptom, leaving several others, a toxic legacy, still requiring careful treatment afterwards. Sludge also needs to be disposed of in the post treatment process and because large volumes of chemicals have been added, the volume of this sludge is also very large.
"When treated in this way, the water is still polluted and needs further treatment to extract other contaminants. The solution One-Source-Water is proposing resolves this multi-dimensional problem as it targets multiple salts that are dissolved in water," said Madlala, adding that the technology is far cheaper to commission and operate, much less harmful to the environment and considerably quicker to install than alternative treatment options available.
Process can be used to improve safe water access in rural areas
Significantly, Acid Mine Drainage, site run-off treatment, groundwater treatment and environmental remediation are just a few of the problems that this technology-based solution can address.
South Africa is a water-stressed country and has a wide range of water-related challenges. It is important to note that the system's mobile units – which can be transported on the back of a truck and powered by a generator or a small solar array – can be used to increase potable water access in rural communities. This includes rural settlements, agricultural enterprises, clinics, schools and other facilities where water needs to be treated for contaminants before it can be used.
"This technology will have a major and positive impact on the quality of available water, increasing rural communities' access to clean and safe potable water for a variety of uses," said Madlala.
Sewerage and desalination plants also targeted
Other facilities that can benefit from this electro-coagulation solution include sewerage works and desalination plants. At sewerage plants, mobile units can be used to post-treat the waste stream – a process called tertiary polishing - after it has been through the treatment plant, enabling throughput to be much cleaner and more user-friendly. This is a major benefit as many of South Africa's sewerage and water treatment plants are struggling to cope with rising demand placed on limited and ageing infrastructure.
In coastal areas, where desalination plants have been commissioned or are being considered, the technology can play a vital role in dramatically reducing the operating costs of these plants. Pre-treating water by electro-coagulation makes desalination a much more viable and affordable proposition over the longer term.
Pilot plant has been successfully demonstrated locally; Future Plant Production expected in South Africa
Demonstrating their confidence in the technology's potential in South Africa – and elsewhere in Africa – 1 Source Group and the Welsh principal, manufactured a pilot plant in Swansea, Wales, which has been brought into South Africa and has been successfully demonstrated in Gauteng. Given sufficient demand in the country, it is expected that mobile plants will be manufactured within South Africa.
"With the variety of applications possible, we believe that there will be strong demand for the units from the mining, industrial and agricultural sectors and also from municipalities and the public sector and Non-Government Organisations seeking to improve the living conditions of people in rural areas," said Madlala.
ENDS
Editors Notes:
One-Source-Water
Led by the dynamic Managing Director Martin Madlala, One-Source-Water is a division of the 1 Source Group of South Africa. One-Source-Water operates in three distinct segments, Mining, Public Infrastructure (sewage and potable water) and Private (farms, hotels, Industry). One-Source-Water technology will have a major and positive impact on the way in which South Africans access, treat and use water. One-Source-Water's international partners have been developing and supplying electrocoagulation technology for more than ten years. In partnership with UK based designers, and developed in Wales, the Johannesburg-based 1 Source Group has negotiated exclusive South African rights for electrocoagulation technology which has for several years been used at more than 30 sites across the UK and Europe to treat acid mine drainage, polluted water, sewerage and drinking water. UK users of the system include the petrochemical industry and Nuclear Power-plants which utilise it to treat radioactive contaminated cooling ponds.
1 Source Group
As an organisation, we solve complex business and infrastructure problems. The 1 Source Group, based in Woodmead Johannesburg, is a world-class stable of capability, technology augmented by world-class technology, consulting and business partners. We are a new generation, Broad Based Black Economic Empowered Company, focused on delivering real returns by leveraging business experience with our experience in Transaction Advisory Services, Capital Raising, Corporate Structuring, Consulting, Infrastructure and Asset Management, Infrastructure Development and Technology, Systems Integration, Facilities Management, Marketing, Design, Implementing and Project Management. Members of the 1 Source Group include, One-Source-Water, 1 Source Business Logistics, 1 Source Systems Integration, 1 Source Design and Development, 1 Source Marketing, Single Source Security and Source Energy Solutions.
Issued on behalf of 1Source Group by : Jenni Newman Public Relations
Issued by : Jenni Newman Public Relations (Pty) Ltd
Khensani Mthombeni
Account Manager
011 506 7342
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please Leave a message