Company Announcement - International engineering and project management consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV and WEC Projects Pty (Ltd) have signed an agreement for Nereda® wastewater treatment technology in South Africa. The agreement was signed recently in Johannesburg in the presence of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mr Mark Rutte as well as a number of South African Government Ministers and dignitaries including the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne Brown and the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane.

Nereda is an innovative wastewater treatment technology that has proved to be more efficient, sustainable, kinder to the environment and with lower operating costs than conventional methods of waste water treatment. The plant requires a four times smaller footprint and the process consumes half the energy compared to conventional installations. It is entirely based on natural processes, requiring no chemicals and features aerobic granular biomass with faster settling times than conventional aerobic systems

Royal HaskoningDHV and WEC are currently cooperating in the implementation of Nereda technology at the Hartebeestfontein Wastewater Treatment Works aimed at improving the capacity of the plant by 5Mℓ/day using existing infrastructure. The Hartebeestfontein plant is currently under construction for ERWAT (East Rand Water Care Association) in Gauteng. This will be the third Nereda plant in South Africa and the first in Gauteng Province – the other two – also 5Mℓ/day each - are at Wemmershoek and Gansbaai in the Western Province.

Salani Sithole, Managing Director, Royal HaskoningDHV South Africa, states, “Since its commissioning the innovative wastewater treatment works at Wemmershoek, in South Africa’s Western Cape, has been performing above expectations, providing final effluent quality in excess of “General Limit” standards set by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Said Karl Juncker, Managing Director of WEC Projects, “The rest of the world has embraced Nereda technology, and for very good reason. Nereda is cost effective, sustainable, requires a small footprint and is easy to operate. These attributes make it a perfect fit in the South African wastewater treatment market. In order to deliver solutions to our country’s sewage treatment challenges, we need innovation, and Nereda is that innovation. WEC Projects, together with Nereda is excited to lead the way. Signing this agreement is not only a huge milestone in the life of WEC Projects, but a significant development for South Africa’s wastewater treatment sector.”

René Noppeney, Royal HaskoningDHV Global Director Water Products & Innovation added “This agreement is a significant step that will make a difference to the wastewater market in South Africa. I am confident that after the first three Nereda installations in South Africa many others will follow. We are delighted that WEC has decided to become our partner.”