To help organisations reduce their water footprints by implementing methods of recycling wastewater and, in return, create a sustainable future for themselves and the environment, multifaceted media, corporate marketing and information company Marcus Evans held a two-day training course on industrial wastewater management earlier this month.

“Managing wastewater in an organisation is currently a pivotal factor owing to increased water scarcity in Africa. This can be especially important for companies as they face heavy criticism from government, the media and society for contaminating the already threatened water supply.

“More organisations are realising that treating and recycling wastewater will set them up for success in the long term. East Africa is a rapidly expanding economy and its increased industrialisation means there is great potential for environmental disaster. There should be a multilateral approach to waste- water management,” says Marcus Evans.

The course, which was presented by Kenya-based nonprofit trust The Bureau of Environ-mental Analysis International CE and National Environmental Management Association registered trainer Patrick Karani, was held on March 21 and 22 at the Sea Cliffe Hotel, in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Guest speakers included carbonated drink manufacturer SBC Tanzania health, safety and environmental manager Richard Mgambwa and global energy company Puma Energy health, safety, security and environmental manager Jonathan Mmari.

Course numbers were limited to allow for greater one-on-one interaction with the trainer, and a precourse questionnaire was sent out to all participants to establish what their training needs were and to ensure that they benefited from the course.

The event was aimed at training attendees to improve different methods for treating wastewater, embrace various methods of reusing and recycling waste- water within an organisation, and focus on implementing a constant monitoring and auditing process to ensure the best water-management processes are followed. It also focused on gaining from cost-saving methods for wastewater treatment for long-term sustainability, reducing the cost through managing corporate water footprints effectively and preventing treatment system overflow and blockages by undertaking regular monitoring.

Training was carried out through a combination of educational presentations and case studies, productive in-session assignments and allowing participants to collaborate for effective learning.

Day one of the course was split into five sessions covering topics such as incorporating efficient treatment use and reuse of water by using water footprint guidelines, conducting frequent audit processes to conserve water in an organisation while saving operational costs, using favourable wastewater recycling methods for a plant, mitigating high carbon-emission levels by using carbon trading and achieving compliance status by reviewing significant effluent-quality regulations.

On day two the following topics were covered: constructing an effective treatment facility to enhance wastewater-treatment processes, working with biological-treatment systems to successfully remove contaminants from wastewater, embracing chemical treatments as an alternative for wastewater-treatment processes, controlling activated sludge to obtain favourable sludge disposal costs and achieving long-term asset maintenance by promoting effective troubleshooting processes while preventing system downtime.

The course was endorsed by Kenya-based Water Services Providers Association and was marketed towards delegates from industries including heavy indus- tries, food and beverage and manufacturing, and representatives from government agencies and associations.