ECO-LOGICAL TECHNOLOGY
OZONE SYSTEMS-DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL
Eco-Tec

44 Klooflands Road,                              Cell  (+27) 83 625 0276
P.O. Box 613, Kloof, 3640                     
Durban, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa   Tel/Voip: 087 654 7348

Proudly South African
info@eco3.co.za

WasteWaterWatch

Each day we find the same topics making news, and ask how come old stuff is always newsworthy.  James Bond, in QUANTUM OF SOLACE, was not risking his life and country to chase after secret documents, galactic nuclear weapons, or voluptuous long legged Russian spies (ok - exclude that). The story was all about water - clean water. 

Public meetings, conferences, workshops and discussions have been designed to get enough concerned people together to change unlawful laws and filthy habits, related to water. And after every meeting we see little change.  Lot-sa talk (and carbon emissions), but not much else. 

We started our last newsletter with comment on global warming, and that each and every 6 billion of us creates body heat. Jim wrote to us, saying that each of us also creates carbon dioxide (a green house gas) like no other single earthly item. He went on to say that the South African government now wanted to tax it's citizens (motorists?) for "carbon emissions".

Is this a "breathing" tax? Ed 

Oxymorons (or simply morons)

The list of germ killers below that claim to be safe for septic tanks.

There are not many of us out there that have not heard of global warming.  Green house gasses, Ozone depletion, ice caps melting, & de-forestation are all part of our lives.  2000 years ago there were an estimated 200 million people on this planet, and the world was in balance.  We now have nearly 7 BILLION people.  The fact that each one of us contributes to the imbalance, using cars, coal fired / nuclear powered generators, all adds up.  But what about people themselves.  On average, every  body  contributes 5 degrees of heat to the ambient temperature around us, and we continue doing this non-stop - 24 hours a day - for 70 years.

This is a generator of gi-mammoth proportions. 

Oxymorons (or simply morons)

The list of germ killers below that claim to be safe for septic tanks.

The year in already half full (or half empty if you are a pessimist) and we know that the next six months will fill up even quicker. 

And, for those environmental pessimists who believe the end is near -  Relax. We have good news.

See tail piece.

We have received no comment. However, so unique is Biobox, this picture shows a logo of a dung beetle, borrowed from another supplier - Scarab. Ed

The new eThekweni Water pipeline from Umlaas Road to the western area of the Greater Durban area is progressing well. Rated the most ambitious water project yet undertaken in this part of the world, the R 800 million pipeline will deliver 400 million litres of water per day.

There can be little doubt.  The authority have heavily  splurged on water related projects, ensuring the population are well catered for.  Tax and ratepayers should feel a little more comfortable knowing that not all the money was spent on street renaming, defunct public bus service, and once off soccer stadiums.

We also need to look at the environmental impact of this project, which does not look not so green.  The 400 million litres per day will be removed from a relatively clean source, kept clean in the pipeline, so that it will reach several destinations in good condition.  The ultimate destination is the Inanda Dam catchment area, a point the water would have reached anyway, without the pipeline, and without the contaminated pollutants. The pipeline simply bypasses the badly polluted area.  And therefore, the removal of 400 million litres of clean water from a polluted area reduces, considerably, the dilution of pollution in the river. In such concentrations, the pollutants could now destroy the whole river ecosystem.  

And there is some more bad news. 400 million litres of clean water, given to a population that either does not know the value, or does not care, will transform a Blue drop into a Brown Drop (or long drop). And then, considering the track record of Durban's management, there will not be the allowance for treating this huge burden of additional sewage.

The country is in a panic to get delivery of services, for political reasons. The early ANC government put a tap in every village, and won votes. The fact that clean water was transformed into untreated sewage did not worry the authority, or the public. Some 10 years later, we are seeing a repeat. 

It should be noted that the Duzi canoe marathon uses some of this water in the famous race, but maybe, now, the paddlers will opt to run the race instead.

We need to save our water resources, instead of spending. When water no longer fills this pipeline, and the river is dead, it will be too late.  

Oxymorons (or simply morons)

The list of germ killers below that claim to be safe for septic tanks.

This was sent in to us by Michelle, Gary and Peter.

Peter asked if white suited us.

*********************************************

Its official.  As reported in the latest edition of Water Sewage and Effluent, septic tanks (or rather soakaways ) are outlawed by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF).  WSE quoted "septic tanks posed a threat to the surrounding environment"  It'd been a long road, but we are nearly there.  We will tackle Durban Metro on this issue in due course. (also see tail piece).

We have been quite critical on some issues of sewage treatment. One package plant supplier complained that this negativity was bringing the industry into disrepute and, in some cases cast their products and services in bad light. Their reputations are at stake.

We feel that it is time to explain why we have taken this issue so seriously. 

We started this newsletter after the 2003 Durban Metro moratorium, because we wanted the public to know more. I recall Mark Ross from Lilliput requested from Durban Metro that information offered to the public should be restricted, as the public already knew too much, and most information was being manipulated to paint a gloomy picture.  Rather than keep the public ill-informed or even misinformed, we felt that the whole saga needed to be exposed, and those suppliers that were protected, and even supported, could no longer hide from the public.  We were very fortunate to have been included in the moratorium process, because it gave us some very privileged and intimate information.

If our subject had been lawnmowers, roofing tiles, or the new president, it would not have mattered if there was a dud on the market.  But, as we are in the water industry, the public really needs to know what is good and what is not. Water is our life and our environment.  

So why do we place so much attention on package plants? Why do we not leave it up to our town councils to do their job, and to make sure our sewage water is treated properly?

Wastewater is always going to be a grudge duty for our public services. It is a messy job that is problematic, very costly and has become an embarrassment. The skills required for municipal wastewater treatment are either underestimated, or ignored, resulting in pollution never seen before.  The infrastructure, generally, is unmaintained (sometimes unmanned), obsolete and overloaded, where much needed funds have been spent on slick train-sets and 1st world football pitches.  It is time for the authorities to off load their responsibility for wastewater treatment, officially.

The only alternative is package plants.  Some will service communities, suburbs, neibourhoods, blocks of flats, housing / golfing estates . . . 

Even as far as one per household.  

With on site systems in place, so that no sewage leaves the property, sewer lines can be abandoned, and pumpstations shut down.  The existing sewer works would still be used for city sewage and industrial wastewater, but as the flow (load) is greatly reduced, these large facilities could produce a far better quality final effluent, than we are seeing now.

Then, there is water recycling & saving.  Durban Metro are nearing completion of a R 880 000 million program on replacement of aged clean water pipes within the city, which, as reported, will save up to 10% water. Package plants will save up to 40%.

This will happen.  There is no other option.

Why has it not already happened?

In the case of Durban Metro, no one really knows. But, as there are about 660 000 households in Durban, and based on the success rate of existing systems, we would have a potential of 650 000 failures.

This is why we have taken a prominent stand on what the market place is offering.  We need to get this right, before we have a million systems to fix.

And, finally, there is the politics of it all. 

 Job creation.

Should Durban adopt a "One house  - one Plant" policy, this would create an additional 5000 short term jobs and about 1000 permanent ones. 

Maybe Jacob Zuma will achieve his promised 500 000 jobs by year end. 

Oxymorons (or simply morons)

The list of germ killers below that claim to be safe for septic tanks.

**********************************************

Now that our elections are over, we will expect to see a lot more showering in government.  This could mean that we will see a reduction water usage, and also a reduction in Aids.

The SA elections were held on the same day as Earth Day, and suggest there is some hidden meaning. Despite the showering and the AIDS, SA population is expanding faster than infrastructure, electricity  and water supplies can be provided. Already the world's resources are in "deficit".

The world bank says:

• The world’s population is growing by 200,000 people a day.
• In the next 35 years, 2.5 billion people will be added to the current population of 6 billion.

We have referred to Dr Anthony Turton several times in our newsletters.  Dr Turton is indeed an accomplished person, who has published many water (and other related) articles, the list being a chapter on it's own.  A gem.

Please visit Anthony Turton's website to see his true depth http://www.anthonyturton.com/

Dumped from the government (CSIR) for speaking out about the water crisis, we finally managed to track Dr. Turton down, and sent him our latest newsletter.

We were asked to investigate a leak on a package plant, at Tweni Mews, on the KZN South Coast.

The plant was a Lilliput system, and the tank had sprung a leak on the weld.  The one rib had also showed a sign of fracture.

We wrote to Lilliput, as below:

Within a week, which included a public holiday, the plant had been inspected, emptied, tank welded, and was ready for refilling. JoJo also went to site and inspected the tanks.

Miemie, the South Coast agent wrote to us, as below:

Thanks Miemie.  Again, these comments give us clear indication that we are heading in the right direction.  But, we have always felt that we need to have balanced reporting, and that when we have been critical of a product, person or project, we must also be prepared to acknowledge when 'wrongs' are 'righted'.  In this case, Lilliput knew what was expected of them, and they performed.

To the Lilliput team  - Mark and Neville. Thanks. Ed 

Our authorities continue to promote the use of septic system which include soakaways and long drops (VIP's) because they are better than nothing. Durban metro have gone away from VIP's for "environmental" reasons.

Then this report, from the mother of all polluters, the USA, under the new administration of Obama.

------------------

The funding announced today will be allocated to 193 projects and create or save an estimated 12,385 jobs. They are the first of many projects that will receive Recovery Act funds to improve rural water and waste disposal systems. For example, the Yuma County Improvement District in Arizona has been selected to receive $14.6 million to connect approximately 1,000 homes to a municipal treatment system. The project will reduce groundwater contamination from failing septic systems and improve the water quality of the Colorado River.

Courtesy of www.waterandwastewater.com

There is a difference between politicians 'talking sh*t' ,and producing 'verbal diarrhoea'.

Maybe Obama knows the difference and is acting on it. Ed 

Racist Water Pollution

We received a comment from a company, within the water treatment industry, that a government department would not deal with them because they are white. This deserves some reaction from us.

Pollution is a national problem, a crisis.  It affects each and everyone of us, black and white.  However, the massive pollution we now see is a direct result of the government we now have.  A government which feels that submarines, soccer stadiums and high speed trainsets are more important than what comes out the tap, is in serious trouble.  When someone comes knocking saying they can help, the last thing that should be asked is what race they are.

Pollution is racist.  One only needs to look at all those sick people in cholera ridden Zimbabwe, and who overflowed into South Africa - they were all black people.  And those that can afford to drink bottled (purified) water are not township dwellers, but  people in high positions who's policies exclude white help.

Sewage is also racist!

We have grey water and black water. Nothing white.

Germ Killers

Oxymorons (or simply morons)

The list of germ killers below that claim to be safe for septic tanks.

	Product	Active ingredient	Manufacturer
1	Jik	Sodium Hypochlorite	Reckett Benckiser
2	Harpic toilet cleaner	Benzalkonium Chloride	Reckett Benckiser
3	Jeyes Bleach	Sodium Hydroxide	Adcock Ingram
4	Domestos	Sodium Hypochlorite	Unilever

 

Water - Time Capsules

This is a view from Interlaken Guest House, which overlooks Island Lake in Wilderness, Western Cape.

 

All Flushed Away

Now the elections are over, and our predictions were correct, we could not let this one pass.  

Courtesy - Brandon

*********************************************

 

April 2009

 

Since just before Christmas, we have done a fair bit of travelling, from Cape Town to the Okavango Delta and covering over 15 000kms - on a quest to find solutions to water related problems. 

While 'recharging batteries', one thing hits home now more than ever before,

What a wonderful world.

I just can't seem to imagine earth without water, despite being reminded every single day.

Do we know what earth looks like without water?

Yip.  Look at the moon.         Scary!

---

As we only really appreciate things when they have gone, the Wastewater Watch  has added another feature to the newsletter and website, which will remind us in the years to come, of what we had. (see Water - Time Capsules)

Report Back

Within a week of the publishing of the March WwW, in which we included a report on the Clear Edge clinic system, that supplier had revamped his website, with all new content.  The offensive system was not only removed from site, but was quickly removed from cyberspace.  The website now offers referrals and testimonials from clients and owners.  We will follow up on these, and report back.

---

Mark Ross and Neville Nixon, from Lilliput, have suggested that their systems failed after we have visited them, and suppose this is acceptable comment from these two individuals.  We will, therefore, also be blamed for the failure in Mali, a huge project on a gold mine in the desert, initiated and condoned by professional consultant, Gary Brown (Dikubu Environmental).  We have never been to Mali.

We will also be blamed for the failure of a system on a diamond mine in Messina, also initiated and condoned by Gary Brown.  We have only been there once, and long before the plant was even installed.

We know we are unique, even considered super heroes by at least one reader, but we are simply not that good. Should the Lilliput team need to blame someone, maybe they should point a finger at Gary Brown, either for making Lilliput look bad, or possibly Lilliput making Gary Brown look good.

Either way, Gary has the right colour.Ed

Water Elections

As this is the last newsletter before the SA elections, the voting public have mentioned water more often than anything else, except crime, on their wish list.

Very rarely is water related story not included in a news bulletin, or programs Fokus/ 50-50 / and Carte Blanche.  Why is there so much attention on water, despite the Water minister claiming there is "no crisis".

==========

Is it because water is now scarce? (clean water - that is - we have more than enough of the polluted stuff).

On the subject of elections, we predict a water related party will win the election - see tail piece. Ed 

Water Penalties (or Penal Ties?)

We thank Debbie, from George, for this report. 

"Professor Faizal Bux commended the Ethekwini municipality for imposing strong penalties on industrial companies that discharged effluent into the natural water resources".
 

We contacted Chris Fennemore  BSc(Hons), Pri Sci Nat, FWISA
Manager: Pollution & Environment Branch (Durban Metro) for answers.

We asked,
"Please advise which companies have been penalised and what products / by-products were they discharging into the water course."

Chris said that there were "ramifications" in giving this info, but would see what he could do.  He also asked for our (my) credentials.  - Wednesday, March 25, 2009 2:42 PM

**************

"Once again you have not shown your credentials." - Thursday, March 26, 2009 12:29 PM

**************

"You are splitting hairs.  Credentials include experience (Achievements) and professional qualifications/ education.

I see that we cannot even begin to start a dialogue since you evade even the  simplest question.  I think three times of asking is enough.  Please don't waste my time any further". - Friday, March 27, 2009 12:02 PM

---

I was under the impression one does not need to be a professor to ask questions, and if this was a plan to discredit the Wastewater Watch, it clearly failed. Chris - we do not need to have credentials to ask you anything and we are under no obligation to offer you any info.  However, as a public servant (a servant of the public) you are obliged to give us the info we request.  If you do not have the answers, just say so! 

Oh, and as you are employed by the ratepayers, you were not wasting your time, but ours.  On the subject of credentials, has anyone asked what qualifications are needed to be head of state.  

Looks like none - see tail piece

---

Durban Metro is fast becoming the last resting place for bum engineers, managers, mayors, technicians, and bus companies.  However, when retirement becomes reality, there is one special place in which all Metro staff will find quite comfortable in their "sunset years". Ed

   

Enjoy!

Ground Water

The western Cape, and in particular the garden route, has seen some devastating dry conditions for several years now. Boreholes, dams and other water sources have all but dried up. What little water that is still available is either polluted or threatened.  Much of the area is still on septic tanks and soak aways.

We would like to appeal to the public. Firstly, please do not discharge your waste into a soak away - there is a possibility that this wastewater will end up in someone's icecubes. Secondly, please support the groundwater associations - there is a probability that you will need their future support.  These dedicated professionals and volunteers have been gathering information which will keep us alive. Our local Groundwater Association (click here) will give you details of a local branch near you. 

Kearsney College Tank Failures

We featured Kearsney College's Lilliput system last month in which several tanks had failed. As JoJo are the largest supplier of tanks in the country, and supply several package plant manufacturers, we asked them for their opinion.

Above - early fracture.                       Below - result

JoJo's response :

 

"Dear Steve
Your mail dated 31 ultimo refers.

Regrettably the photo's do not show all the details that I need to establish the specific cause for failure, but the following however is very clear :

1.   All the cracks on the tanks begin at all the spots where the tanks were welded;

2.   The welded joints are so close together that the movement of the one pipe straight ahead and the other sideward pipe puts enormous stress on the tank;

3.   The coupling members between tanks are not supposed to be linked in the way depicted on the photo's, meaning directly (straight) from the one tank into the other.  The tanks stretch and shrink all the time due to heat and cold, and also because of the product that is pumped into and from the tank.  Tanks should be linked with a manifold system.

4.   A tank's natural movement should not be restricted in order to allow the tank to "live" and such limitation is the main reason why tanks crack.

I trust that the above answers your questions.  Should you have further enquiries, you are welcome to contact me in order to assist you."
 

---

We are unaware of any tank failures on either Clear Edge or Scarab systems.  It must then be assumed that Lilliput's engineering design is/was flawed.  If this has not been corrected, there are a large number of systems in the field that would need to be recalled. Ed

 

Germ Killers

Oxymorons (or simply morons)

The list of germ killers below that claim to be safe for septic tanks.

	Product	Active ingredient	Manufacturer
1	Jik	Sodium Hypochlorite	Reckett Benckiser
2	Harpic toilet cleaner	Benzalkonium Chloride	Reckett Benckiser
3	Jeyes Bleach	Sodium Hydroxide	Adcock Ingram
4	Domestos	Sodium Hypochlorite	Unilever

 

Plaxo

Try Plaxo. This software allows you to change your contact details, address or occupation without losing touch.

It's brilliant and it's free. Link below. 

https://www.plaxo.com/signup?page=2

And No.  We do not get commissions. Ed

 

New products - Enchantrix

"Our products have been made with love and respect for our fragile planet and her inhabitants. They have been formulated to be effective and safe for you, your family and the environment," from their website.

Please visit their website  www.enchantrix.co.za and feedback would be much appreciated.Ed

Water - Time Capsules

During our travels, we have collected important water related photo evidence of what our world looks like right now. Each photo was taken with a simple digital 'instamatic' and the only real skill required was to care.

The Sundays River, Eastern Cape.

(the photo was taken on a Sunday which is coincidental . . .) 

The (d) rooling Party

In a couple of weeks, South Africans will go to the polls to elect a new government, and it appears water will play a major role.

The Shower Party

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Water is Simply too Valuable to Waste