Water and Wastewater Treatment and Infrastructure in Africa

Water, wastewater infrastructure crucial to sustaining ecosystems

Author: Schalk Burger, Published on April 19^th, 2013

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/water-wastewater-infrastructure-crucial-to-managing-environment-creating-jobs-2013-04-12
Image: http://pmps.co.za/water-waste-water-treatment-dosing-pumps

According to the article, advancements in water treatment facilities and infrastructure like the one below will result in healthier river systems and improved water quality.

Summary: Water and wastewater infrastructure has become the main priority in sustaining South Africa’s environment through enhancing wastewater treatment and water management methods and skills. Supplying rivers with the water needed for operating depends on the development and management of dams, while the infrastructure of wastewater treatment is critical in separating human waste dispenses and environmental functions. Within South-Africa, lack of wastewater treatment is depleting the water’s quality and disabling their river systems’ abilities to manage pollutants and contaminants, which results in increased expenses for the companies that extract this water. The Green Drop initiative of wastewater treatment has become the most important water management movement in the past five to ten years due to the significance of wastewater treatment acting as a “buffer” between human and environmental health. The advancements and construction of new and existing wastewater treatment facilities would be the most efficient way of improving water quality and river health. Water researches state that if upgrades are made to boost the efficiency of wastewater treatment over time then it will have a dramatic effect on the health of South Africa’s river systems. The researchers also note that the management of water infrastructure is key in the management of the environment.

Opinion/Reflection: I agree that innovations in wastewater management and treatment are critical in the maintenance and health of river systems, and that if time is put into treating contaminated wastewaters, then it will overall be extremely beneficial to both those who drink it and to the river systems from which it comes. I think it is extremely wise to invest in water quality enhancements, and that more wastewater treatment facilities should make the same investment when it comes to improving the quality of water and helping the environment. Water is critical to life, and if the ecosystems that we get our water from are suffering due to our own waste dispenses, then it is our job to restore the quality of water and the health of water-based ecosystems.

Questions:

1.)    What are the costs of not investing in advancements and upgrades when it comes to wastewater treatment and infrastructure?

2.)    What do you think the benefits will be of these investments after a long period of time? Could there possibly be any setbacks from these advancements?

3.)    Do you think that the enhancements and upgrades in water quality treatment will result in having to pay more for clean water?