Since partnering with US water technology firm Zoeller in 2010, Stellenbosch-based company Maskam Water has sold and installed some R10-million worth of water treatment plants and pumps in South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya and Nigeria.
Moreover, the company this week launched a self-contained sanitation unit that it had developed in partnership with local firm Absolute Ablutions using technology imported by Zoeller.
The Advanced Ablutions container unit was a mobile ablution facility that allowed wastewater to be treated and reused on-site in the flushing process.
The system operated by recycling shower and basin water for toilet flushing and recycling this once again for flushing after it had been treated.
The system required water and electricity, but could be solar-powered if required. Total power consumption was in the order of 200 W.
Maskam Water was the sole importer to sub-Saharan Africa of Zoeller technology, which the US Consulate-General in Cape Town described as an example of the success of the US government’s Doing Business in Africa campaign.
US President Barack Obama last year announced that some $7-billion in new financing was available to support US exports to and investment in Africa.
“This win-win partnership is creating jobs in South Africa and the US. Equally important, this business is having a meaningful impact on communities, improving critical infrastructure here and elsewhere in Africa,” commented
US Consul-General in Cape Town Teddy Taylor.