With no end in sight for loadshedding, it’s important for municipalities to start engaging in energy-efficient mechanisms in their water and wastewater infrastructure. Indications are that, on average, water and wastewater accounts for some 17% of energy consumption in a South African metro. In terms of electricity consumption alone (ie, excluding liquid fuel use for vehicles), the proportion is far higher – often representing as much as 25% of the entire municipality’s electricity bill.
“We have found that the aeration stage is one which consumes a lot of energy as it requires large pump systems. Municipalities may not always pay attention to this aspect and may neglect to overhaul due to the expensive nature of more energy-efficient systems. However, what is important to remember is that although the expense may be high initially, the cost saving in the long run will be worth it,” explains KSB Pumps and Valves’ Hugo du Plessis, senior project engineer.
“Inefficient pump systems will not be able to keep up with the ‘backlog’ of water when loadshedding occurs. We are willing to assist with site energy efficiency audits as a full solution provider in transitioning to more energy efficient systems which will not only result in cost savings, but there are also other benefits for the municipality such as: no spillages, a reliable uptime, decline in downtime as well as better water quality,” Hugo concludes.
