Search for new source of H2O may be in the toilet
SOUTH Africans may have to get used to the idea of drinking and using retreated sewage to deal with future water shortages.
As gross as this might sound, it is one of the long-term options being considered by the government to secure the country’s water. While the treated water might not be used as potable water — intended rather for use by industry — using it as drinking water is a possibility.
Sputnik Ratau, a spokesman for the Department of Water and Sanitation, confirmed that “recycling and reuse of water” was being considered as a longterm solution.
Other options, he said, were rainwater harvesting, further use of ground water, desalination of sea water and treatment of acid mine water. Building new dams and increasing the capacity of others was also being seriously considered.
But it is the reuse of treated effluent that is likely to be met with the most resistance. Ratau conceded that this would require a change in thinking.
“When you’re thinking ‘effluent’, you’re thinking it can’t be used again — yet there are so many uses that have come up over the years. It is about taking it from one level to the point where you can use it for other things.
“We have to ask how far we can take it. Can we take it to industrial use only, or can we take it to potable level?” he said.
While retreatment of water is being considered, in the more immediate term, it was desalination of sea water that was being prioritised.
“Desalination is becoming a more attractive option, especially to meet water requirements close to the coast,” said the Water Research Commission’s Lani van Vuuren, who said it could be implemented fairly quickly.
The cost would be “high but affordable”, said Van Vuuren.
However, the real solution could be much simpler: use less water.
“We are wasting water in our own homes,” said Van Vuuren. “The average per capita use in South Africa has increased from 252 litres per person per day in 2005, to 257 litres per person per day. This means that much more needs to be done to educate consumers about the value of water.”