Water Treatment Residuals (WTR) in South Africa

In the case of South Africa, water security is threatened due to the adverse impact of climate change, degradation of wetlands and water resources, and population growth and urbanisation which is stressing water supply facilities.

Pooling knowledge and resources to address global water challenges is at the forefront of Innovate UK’s agenda for sustainable development and wider UK water sector ambitions.

As such, the UK and South Africa are collaborating through the Rand Water Open Innovation challenge to identify circular economy solutions to addressing water security challenges and develop cutting-edge and cost-effective technologies that enhance water security both nationally and internationally.

The collaboration between Innovate UK and the FCDO exemplifies the power of partnerships in addressing critical global challenges through Global Alliance Africa. By fostering innovation and supporting initiatives like the Rand Water Open Innovation challenge, this partnership has driven transformative solutions that not only address South Africa’s water security issues but also create opportunities for technology transfer and sustainable development across the region. Together, Innovate UK and FCDO are demonstrating how global collaboration can deliver impactful outcomes for communities and industries alike.

– Dr Nee-Joo Teh, Head of Global Alliance, Innovate UK Business Connect

The challenge

In 2022, Africa’s largest bulk water utility, Rand Water, launched two Open Innovation (OI) challenges with support from Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa to develop innovative, environmentally sustainable solutions to the management and disposal of Water Treatment Residue (WTR) within their supply chain.

The two challenges faced are:

1. Accelerate the Concentration of Water Treatment Residue focused on developing an innovative approach to accelerate the WTR drying process that would also allow for reusable water to be extracted at the same time. The winning solution provider, Freshworks, created a centrifugal system that filters out micro-particles from fluids without any loss of flow. This works as a selfemptying and self-cleaning process, allowing reusable water and waste product to be separated efficiently.
2. Innovative Solutions to the Beneficiation of Water Treatment Residuals focused on identifying a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to utilise the dry WTR and unlock potential commercial value from the chemical compounds found within the residue. Rand Water produces 500-600 tonnes of residue daily, underscoring the significant scale of this challenge. Following a competitive process, AC Biode was selected to develop a solution that upcycles the WTR “sludge” into a high value, versatile product called CircuLite.

Phase two

The partnership between Rand Water and Fresh Works Ltd to test and develop the centrifugal system has recently entered its next phase. The two companies are currently partnering on a further Innovate UK Global Alliance sponsored programme, the Water Lead Customer Programme, which will see Freshworks take its solution out of the lab and set up a large-scale pilot at the Rand Water site – testing both the practical application of the solution on site and its use at scale in South Africa.

The innovations developed across both challenges also have value for the water industry more broadly. As the largest bulk water utility in South Africa – and on the African continent as a whole – technological innovation spearheaded by Rand Water has the potential for tech transfer to other water utilities nationally and regionally.

The whole process showed us that it’s important to be in touch with the network of Solution Providers and to have your finger on the pulse of what is happening. Our goal is to become pioneers in the field. Already, our innovations have led to other water utilities seeking guidance from us.

– Judith Seopa, Scientific Innovation Consultant, Rand Water

About Global Alliance Africa

The Global Alliance Africa project is a six-year project funded by UK International Development through Innovate UK (GCRF) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Find out more about the programme at the link below.