GENERAL Electric (GE) has been honoured with the 2010 WateReuse Equipment Manufacturer of the Year Award in Washington DC, recognising the multinational's outstanding commitment and contributions to the water reuse and desalination industry.
The award acknowledges the commitment, performance and application by a specialty-equipment product or manufacturer. GE is a leading global supplier of water treatment, wastewater treatment and process systems solutions. The company provides proven technologies and solutions for water treatment and reuse and continues investing significantly to enhance current products and develop further technological advances.
Graeme Kilfoil, Sales Leader Water & Process Technologies, GE Power & Water in Sub-Saharan Africa said the company aimed to provide the latest water reuse technology solutions to assist customers successfully tackle the critical issue of water scarcity -- a growing concern globally, but more specifically within sub-Saharan Africa where a myriad of social and economic factors were contributing to water scarcity.
The announcement comes as water scientists are predicting a shortage of easily accessible sources of freshwater such as surface and ground water as early as 2015. Many areas within South Africa were already approaching the balance between fresh water supply for municipal use and fresh water supply for industry. Other areas experience drought and were approaching the levels at which there was insufficient water for human consumption.
Kilfoil said South Africa's energy sector annually consumed 1, 5-2% of the country's freshwater and both the mining and energy sectors had adopted a ZLED policy in which reasonable steps were taken to prevent polluting water resources. This was set to boost investments in water and wastewater treatment technologies.
He said a vital water source was the reuse of municipal wastewater. Sewerage was sent to a common wastewater treatment plant; treated biologically to certain specification and could be further treated to produce a quality of water fit for industrial process or drinking.
Currently the Durban Water Recycling project purifies 40000m3 per day of biologically treated municipal wastewater and sells the water to major industrial users. The model has shown that wastewater reuse was not only technically sound, but also financially viable and had changed the thinking on wastewater reuse in South Africa.
"GE Water is committed to contributing towards the alleviation of water scarcity and energy demand," he said.
WateReuse Association executive director Wade Miller said as a global leader in the areas of water reuse and desalination, GE was "very deserving" of this award. Technologies and tools from the company had helped many communities develop sustainable water supplies.
"GE technology is designed to optimise total water and process system performance; safeguard customer assets from corrosion, fouling and scaling and protect the environment through water and energy conservation," he said.
A non-profit association, the WateReuse Association engages in legislative advocacy; conducts education and outreach and provides an opportunity for organisation and membership for the water reuse and desalination communities.
Kilfoil said GE offered a diversity of technologies for the global water treatment industry ranging from desalination to cooling water solutions, mobile water to petrochemical solutions and water recovery to boiler water solutions.
One leading product was the ZeeWeed ultrafiltration technology that separates particles, bacteria and viruses from water or wastewater with the technology being used in nearly 1000 plants internationally to produce superior-quality drinking water and to meet or exceed stringent wastewater treatment and water reuse standards. This technology has the largest installed base in both industrial and municipal reuse markets here in South Africa.
Other technologies include filters, membranes and chemicals for seawater and brackish water; electrodialysis reversal technology for the recovery and reuse of saline water; reverse osmosis desalination systems; thermal evaporation and build-own-operate services.
Kilfoil said the issue of how best to preserve water was a major concern for South Africans, including the business community. These included water quality, availability and accessibility, specifically in rural areas.
"However, despite water treatment and reuse technology existing to address this global challenge, the motivation to employ these technologies was too often lacking. In South Africa it was often less expensive to withdraw water from a river than to treat it and reuse it," he concluded.
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About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.
Thuli Phiri
GE Global Growth Organization
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