NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1023
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28 JUNE 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 11)
1023. Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) Whether the water produced at the pilot plant producing potable
water from effluent abstracted from the oxidation pond system in
Alexandria in the Eastern Cape will be pumped directly into the
townâs water supply system; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details;
(2) Whether similar systems for the production of potable water from
effluent are planned for other water-scarce areas; if not, why
not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1248E
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REPLY:
(1) No, the pilot water recycling plant at Alexandria sewage
oxidation ponds is not presently connected to the Alexandria
Townâs water reticulation system as the pilot plant is still
undergoing evaluation and modification.
⢠It is planned that a minimum of three months of intensive
monitoring is required to confirm the reliable performance
of the pilot system prior being connected directly into the
town water system;
⢠There is no special policy on authorizing the recycling of
sewage water directly to potable water for human
consumption; and
⢠It is understood that sufficient funding has not yet been
secured to construct the pipeline necessary to blend the
recycled water in a fair manner.
(2) The National Water Resource Strategy encourages the recycling
and reuse of water and a number of Water Sector role players are
watching the progress of the pilot plant with interest.
However, there are no special plans to replicate the process on
any large scale until the success of the Alexandria pilot plant
has been tested.
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