Water Sector Support
DELAREYVILLE PROCESS CONTROLLER
ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE
The water sector in South Africa is faced by challenges beyond the scope of classical engineering. Virtual Consulting Engineers adopts an interdisciplinary approach to solve water and wastewater problems in the public sector in particular. Our team aims to support Local Government and Water Boards, by drawing inspiration from diverse skills in the fields of corporate governance, administration of water law, labour related issues, social facilitation, education and training, environmental sciences, microbiology, health sciences, water chemistry and engineering.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Through collaboration of its in-house specialists and network of partners, Virtual Consulting Engineers offers the following services to water and wastewater utilities:
- Water Use License audits and status quo investigations for treatment processes
- Plant regrading and optimisation in terms of hydraulic and processing capacity
- Maintenance contract management and professional process control
- Process controller training and workplace skills development
- Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop system administration
- Water research and development projects
We have created a library with water quality data, typical plant information, scholarly articles and textbooks, as well as innovative contract documentation for the implementation of operation and maintenance contracts.
PROJECTS
Operation and Maintenance of Treatment Works (2010 – 2013)
Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality
Virtual Consulting Engineers implemented a turn-key turnaround plan in North West Province for the operation, training and emergency maintenance of wastewater treatment systems for 16 months at Lichtenburg (20Mℓ/d), Itsoseng (5Mℓ/d), Coligny (3Mℓ/d), Ottosdal (3Mℓ/d), Delareyville (4Mℓ/d), Sannieshof (1Mℓ/d) and Atamelang (1Mℓ/d) to achieve general authorisation effluent standards.
Separate collection and treatment of urine (2010 – 2014)
Water Research Commission / CSIR
Characterization of domestic wastewater at the source by retrofitting no-mix toilets and waterless urinals to divert and analyse urine, faeces and greywater at an office block. Treatment of separate waste streams was researched at the Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town. Published by Water Research Commission as TT 586/13.
Anammox in the old Daspoort trickling filters (2010 – 2014)
Water Research Commission / CSIR
Water Research Commission / CSIR Investigation into the extraordinary removal of nitrogen at the Daspoort trickling filters (commissioned in 1913) by means of using in-situ and ex-situ methods, that resulted in the discovery and description of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation bacteria (Anammox) for the first time in Africa, with results published in Water SA, Vol 40 (1).
Operation and Maintenance Management (2011 – 2014)
Department of Public Works / Correctional Services
Virtual Consulting Engineers developed performance based contract documentation with O&M Manuals, and managed the operation and maintenance of sewage pumping mains, wastewater treatment works and water purification works at various prison facilities, including Glencoe and Ekuseni Youth Centre (KZN), Zonderwater (Gauteng) and Geluk (Mpumalanga).
Hydraulic and Organic Regrading of Works (2015 – 2017)
Ekurhuleni Water Care Company
Wastewater was characterized with a special sampling campaign, for regrading of hydraulic and organic loads, with steady state models and dynamic simulation for treatment plants at Carl Grundlingh (5.5Mℓ/d), JP Marais (15Mℓ/d), Jan Smuts (4.5Mℓ/d), Rynfield (10Mℓ/d) and Vlakplaats (hydraulic 335Mℓ/d, organic 55Mℓ/d). New Operation and Maintenance Manuals were written.
Water Safety and Risk Abatement Planning (2015 – 2018)
MISA / Lekwa and Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme and Local Municipalities
Virtual Consulting Engineers drafted process flow diagrams and compiled asset registers to develop Wastewater Risk Abatement Plans for Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme and Lekwa Local Municipalities (Volksrust, Vukuzakhe, Perdekop, Daggakraal, Amersfoort, Wakkerstroom, Standerton and Morgenzon). Water Safety Plans were developed in similar fashion for Standerton and Morgenzon.