Assessment of the Viability of the Reuse of Sedibeng District Municipal Secondary Effluent in Southern Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

Population growth, urbanization, water resources pollution, environmental awareness, uneven distribution of water resources and water scarcity have necessitated water reuse especially in arid and semi-arid countries. Influent and effluent data of chemical and biological analyses from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the Sedibeng district municipality (SDM) were used to assess the viability of water reuse. Available worldwide water reuse criteria of Water Reclamation Plants (WRPs) for different reuse options were used to characterize the SDM’s four WWTPs for potable water, power and steel industrial water reuse. Only WWTP4 does not meet the influent design criteria of the New Goreangab WRP in Windhoek, Namibia of 43 mg/ℓ and the DWAF general limit of discharge of 75 mg/ℓ used by Beaufort West WRP in South Africa for COD. WWTP2 and 4 do not meet the DWAF general limit of 25 mg/ℓ for suspended solids. Some of the water ...