ASSURING SUSTAINABLE PROVISION OF WATER SERVICES, FOR LIFE.

Bloem Water supplies potable water to Water Services Authorities in line with the South African National Standards (SANS) 241:2015 which outlines the acceptable drinking water quality standards. The Entity complies with quality standards and assurance is provided both internally and externally relating to microbiological, physical, aesthetic and chemical determinants at the point of delivery.

Bloem Water ensures transparency on water quality standards through its partnership with the Institute of Groundwater Studies of the University of the Free State, which regularly tests water for quality assurance.

Water Treatment Works

Treated Volume (m3)

 Percent Compliance with SANS 241:2015

  Microbiology            Operational            Chemical

Rustfontein                                 18 236 780                               99.9 %                      96.9 %                   99.9 %

Groothoek                                   Not Operational                       Not Operational        Not Operational      Not Operational

Welbedacht                                46 942 590                               99.2 %                      95.7 %                    99.9 %

Bethulie                                      537 351                                    99.9 %                      97.8 %                    99.9 %

Gariep                                        351 428                                    99.9 %                      97.8 %                    99.9 %

Philippolis                                  172 389                                    99.9 %                      97.8 %                    99.9 %

Jagersfontein                             310 793                                    99.9 %                      96.1%                     99.9 %

The Raw Water quality differs per catchment area. The table below gives a list of WTW and the quality of Raw Water in accordance with the latest testing results. The following challenges of raw water quality in the Organisation are monitored and managed timeously:

System                         Catchment                       Impoundment                                  Raw Water Quality                                         Description of Water Quality challenges

Welbedacht                    Caledon River                 Welbedacht Dam                            Average turbidity: 1000 NTU

May – Sep’17: water appeared yellowish-brown in colour and high algae content

Oct - Mar’18: high levels silt in the water

Knellpoort Dam                              No sampling on the dam

The water appeared greenish, high algae content.

Bethulie                        Orange River                   N/A                                                     Good

In general, the quality remained good, during the raining season the NTU rises.

Gariep                              Orange River                  Gariep Dam                                     Average Turbidity:  50 NTU

The water appeared slightly green

Philippolis                   Orange River                    N/A                                                    Good

 In general, the quality is good, during the raining season the NTU rises.

Jagersfontein                 Riet Rivier                        Kalkfontein Dam                            Average Turbidity:   22 NTU

The water appeared light greenish in colour and at times milky with very low turbidity.

Rustfontein                 Modder River                   Rustfontein Dam                           Average Turbidity 88 NTU

 No water quality challenges.

Groothoek                      Kgabanyane River         Groothoek                                       Not Operational

The plant was not operational during the financial year.

During the year under review the Entity has met the set target of 13% as per the Shareholder Compact. Water losses were well-managed in all treatment Works to reduce further losses. Non-revenue water is recorded in the water model to monitor and calculate the losses monthly. In the total system input of 88 257 255 million m³ for the 2017/18 financial year, water losses amounted to 10.01% of which 2.03% were apparent losses and 7.98% were real losses. An increase of 1.57 % in water losses was observed compared to the previous year, this is due to progressively ageing infrastructure. However, the actual water losses were still below the shareholder set target of 13%.

System Input                               Authorized Consumption                               Billed                                      Revenue Water

 Water Losses                                                 Apparent Losses

88,257,255                                   79,420,555 (89.99%)                                    77,928,771 (88.30%)                77,928,771 (88.30%)

Unbilled                                 Non-Revenue Water

1,491,784 (1.69%)                10,328,484 (11.70%)

 

 8,836,700 (10.01%)

1,790,374 (2.03%)

Real Losses

 

 7,046,325 (7.98%)

The Organisation prides itself with its preventative maintenance strategy, through its annual scheduled Winter-Maintenance Programme that is fully budgeted for. The maintenance programme is carried out in consultation with its stakeholders, including the Municipalities and Communities. Risk management is observed, and risks are effectively mitigated in the operational assets of the organisation.

Amongst the major risks identified are the ageing infrastructure, insufficient Capex funding and high energy costs. The ageing infrastructure challenge continues to hamper the future water demand targets as stated in the Greater Bloemfontein Reconciliation Strategy.

In this regard the Organisation has adopted a risk-based maintenance management approach and has initiated a programme on asset condition monitoring and assessment of Infrastructure.

 

Bloem Water Pipeline Reaction Team was formed in recent years to perform in-house maintenance and manufacturing of pipe components for purposes of maintaining the ageing infrastructure.  It also responds to the main pipeline (PCP) maintenance challenges within an acceptable turnaround time and presents new innovative ways and shortening the time worked on site. This has ensured uninterrupted water supply to Municipalities.

Bloem Water plants are equipped with automation systems across all its regions. This enables the smooth operations, proactive warning, time saving on travelling and energy efficiency costs. The systems used in all WTW are Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Telemetry Systems, Field instruments and Supervisory Controller and Data Acquisition (SCADA) units. These systems are continuously being updated.

*Click here to download Water Quality Report 2019/2020

WATER QUALITY

Water Quality Compliance SANS 241:2015

LABORATORY SERVICES

RAW WATER

Raw Water Quality per Catchment

Caledon River raw water quality

WATER LOSSES

Water Losses in m3 for the period: 2016/07/01 to 2017/06/30

Maintenance of Infrastructure

Pipeline Reaction Team/Workshop

Manufactured Components

System Automation

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