Clean water on wheels

WATER scarcity is commonplace in South Africa, and for the most part we all do our utmost to save this precious commodity where possible. Being water-wise is ingrained in many of us – whether it is collecting shower water for flushing, or grey water from washing machines for our gardens, reusing water has become second nature.

Taking this idea a step (or several) further, Hino Isando and Werner Pumps and Equipment teamed up to create the first working waterrecycling truck in South Africa. Built on a tough Hino 700 2838 6×4 chassis-cab, it uses water, which it recycles, to clean sewerand storm-water lines.

Each recycling truck eliminates the wastage of 168 000 litres of water during every eight-hour working shift, and includes both wet- and dry-suction capabilities. All the components on the truck, barring the high-pressure- and vacuum pumps, which are imported from Switzerland, are produced by Werner Pumps in Springs, Joburg. The in-house design team used Autodesk Inventor 3D modelling software to create their designs. The CAN bus electronics system and all hydraulics are assembled in Springs as well.

The truck was designed specifically with tough African conditions in mind, and many of the components used in the manufacturing process have been upgraded for improved durability. ‘We try to produce as much as possible ourselves so we can support our customers better and quickly resolve any issues that may occur,’ says Sebastian Werner, managing director of Werner Pumps. ‘We are also the only company in this industry with an ISO 9001 rating in South Africa and have been checked by Toyota Japan, who sent engineers over here to inspect what we do.’

Considering the vacuum pump’s serious suction power of 3 100 m³ per hour, it is exceptionally quiet as a result of its contact-free rotor design. Similar trucks use a topmounted boom that rotates through only 255° – the boom on this truck on the other hand, can rotate a full 360°. The singlecylinder pressure transformer pump can jet 350 L/minute at a prodigious 205 bar.

The 12 500 litre on-board water tank, which can be tipped

40° upwards, is made of anticorrosive 304-grade stainless steel, and a tank-cleaning nozzle is included to eliminate any excess debris that might be left behind.

To be more user-friendly, and safe, the water-recycler unit can be operated using a wireless remote control, and real-time location monitoring allows the vehicle to be viewed via mobile devices at all times.

The first unit took around six months to design and then manufacture, but future vehicles will take a lot less time as the manufacturing- and assembly processes become more refined. Werner explains that roughly 30 people work on each truck while it’s being assembled.

Werner Pumps has already received significant interest in its innovative product from other countries such as India, Mauritius and Kenya. The truck pictured is privately owned and currently rented out to customers, including the Emfuleni Municipality in Gauteng. It was also used in a Vaal River clean-up.

/ BY LUKE FOLB / With fresh water being such a scarce commodity, it only makes sense that cleaning trucks such as this one are able to recycle and reuse their own stored water. This locally built truck can prevent the wastage of 168 000 litres of water during an eight-hour work shift.