Richards Bay’s big businesses tighten their taps
Industry leaders jump in to save water during the worst drought in five years.
AS Zululand battles with its worst drought since 2009, key industries are taking extra precautions to limit their water use.
‘Reduce, reuse and recycle’ has become the modus operandi at many of Richards Bay’s prominent companies to help help prevent Lake Mzingazi’s alarmingly low water level from dropping further.
One of the various innovative management systems adopted is Richards Bay Coal Terminal’s (RBCT) method of salvaging storm water runoff from coal stockyards and roadways, saving up to 75% of fresh water.
‘Concrete lined surface drains collect the runoff from the coal stockyards and convey the dirty water to 20 settling ponds strategically positioned on site,’ said RBCT Corporate Affairs Manager, Gcina Nhleko.
‘Solids settle out, get collected at the settling ponds and are pumped to the storage dams with a capacity of 40ML each.
‘The dams are lined with an impermeable membrane to prevent contamination of ground water and to ensure the maximum volume is stored for reuse.’
This process has proven to save the terminal approximately R200 000 per month on water typically used to suppress dust, wash down conveyors and clean other plant equipment on site.
Mine minimises
Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), an intensive water user, also has a robust strategy in place to maximise its recycling opportunities.
Its smelting plant reuses water 21 times before it is directed to the mining ponds, which also captures storm water runoffs and rain water from Lake Evans.
‘We communicated to all employees the need to reduce, recycle and conserve water both at work and at home,’ said RBM Communication and Community Relations General Manager, Fundi Dlamini.
‘The mine has reduced its water consumption by using all the process water coming from the smelting and processing sites.’
Mondi Richards Bay’s staff was also put on high alert.
An urgent message sent out by management instructed that plant equipment would no longer be washed and pulp spills were to be collected in skips.
Mondi employees were also told to report leaks immediately, monitor all tanks to ensure no overflow occurs and raise the alarm if any water contamination takes place.
BHP Billiton Head of External Affairs, Aroon Patel, said Billiton is currently collaborating with the City of uMhlathuze Municipality on assessing options for reducing its water requirements.
