Background

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) in South Africa covers Port Elizabeth as well as the towns of Uitenhage and Despatch. The area is experiencing serious drought conditions, so there is an urgent need to save water and reduce the base load on the grid through technical and institutional improvements, especially in the current pumping regimen.

Purpose

To increase energy and water efficiencies in the municipal water and sanitation systems of the metropolitan area of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) by improving pumping efficiencies through various technical interventions. The project will also draw on replicable projects from other major South African cities.

Main Activities

• Collect pump-station data and create database; assess pump stations; design and cost out needed interventions
• Compile operational manuals for the pumped water and wastewater system
• Enhance municipal capacity through selection and training (including mechanical, electrical, plumbing skills) of local "caretakers" to maintain pump stations
• Develop a performance based contracting model for efficiency interventions in municipalities, that includes a five year "operate and maintain" requirement and commitment to carry out the recommended efficiency improvements
• Establish a measurement and verification programme
• Highlight project results and promote replication of the methodology in other South African metropolitan areas

Expected Impact

• Reduction in the total annual energy consumption for the total cycle from raw water to wastewater in NMBM’s 74 pump stations  by at least 10%; currently totalling 77,117 MWh per annum.
• Annual CO2 reduction equivalent to 7,542 tonnes /year (using electricity/CO2 emission factor of 0.978 Kg CO2/kWh) on a continuous energy savings of 0.88 MW
• Improved financial standing for the municipality
• Possible replication in other metropolitan areas such as Cape Town, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane, and eThekwini, for national-level benefits to South Africa