The Board of Directors announced that Kennedy Chihota has been appointed as MD of the Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT) with effect from September 1.
The newly appointed MD is well qualified to take over the reins of ERWAT, holding an honour’s degree in civil engineering, a masters degree in water resources engineering and management, a masters degree in business administration and a masters degree in engineering.
He is studying for a master’s degree in property development.
Chihota is registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa as a candidate engineer and registered with the Institute of Civil Engineers as a graduate engineer.
He has a wealth of experience not only in civil engineering but also in local government.
ALSO READ: Watch: Residents urged to stop discharging waste water onto roads
Having been previously employed by the City of Ekurhuleni as divisional head of projects and divisional head of strategic planning, Chihota brings a unique set of skills, perspectives, and relationships to lead the water care company into the future.
Building on the achievements of ERWAT, a municipal entity, his leadership will contribute to honing its strategic direction and fulfilling its responsibility to provide bulk wastewater conveyance and treatment to 2 000 industries and more than 3,5 million people.
ERWAT is the custodian of 19 water care works designed to treat a combined capacity of almost 1 000 megalitres (M ) of wastewater, both domestic and industrial, per day.
The Department of Water and Sanitation recently awarded ERWAT seven Green Drop awards from a total of 22 awards countrywide for excellence in wastewater treatment.
“I am excited about the challenges we face in a rapidly urbanising environment and look forward to partnering with stakeholders to provide sustainable, affordable, quality water care and resource recovery services, said Chihota.
Dr Natalie Skeepers, the chairperson of the ERWAT board of directors, said they are delighted to appoint Chihota into this position to take ERWAT to new heights.
ERWAT Water Care Works and the areas they serve:
Benoni
The Benoni WCW is designed to treat 16M of industrial and domestic wastewater per day from the Actonville, Apex and Benoni central areas.
The Rynfield WCW is situated southwest of the Van Ryn dam and treats 13M /d of raw sewage from the Benoni, Cloverdene and Rynfield areas. Both biological filtration and activated sludge are employed as treatment processes.
The Daveyton WCW, located 5km from Daveyton, is designed to treat 19M /d of raw sewage from the Etwatwa areas. This WCW was one of the recipients of a Green Drop award and was announced as one of the top three best-performing wastewater treatment systems in the country.
The JP Marais WCW is situated in Benoni and treats industrial effluent and raw sewage from the Benoni, Boksburg, Daveyton and Modderbee areas. This WCW was one of the proud recipients of a Green Drop award.
Boksburg
The Vlakplaats WCW is situated in Vosloorus and has a designed capacity of 83M /d. The works presently treat effluent from Boksburg and Vosloorus as well as Tsakane, Duduza and Brakpan.
Springs
The Ancor WCW is situated in Springs. Built in 1936 and upgraded on several occasions over a period of time, it is designed to treat 15M /ds of wastewater from the Springs and Kwa Thema areas.
The Welgedacht WCW is situated in the Springs area with a design capacity of 95M /d to treat influent which is 20% industrial and 80% domestic.
Brakpan
The Jan Smuts WCW is situated in Brakpan. It was built in 1938 and upgraded and extended on several occasions over a period. The design capacity of the works is 6.1M /d for effluent from the Brakpan, Dalview, Dalpark and Vulcania areas.
The Tsakane WCW is situated in Tsakane just outside Brakpan and was designed with a treatment capacity of 10.8M /d in 1975. HYBACS Technology (SMART UNITS) was added in 2017 to expand the capacity of the plant to 20M /d.
Kempton Park
The Hartebeestfontein WCW receives effluent from industries in Spartan and Isando as well as households in the Kempton Park area.
The Olifantsfontein WCW treats wastewater from most of the communities and industries in Thembisa, Olifantsfontein and Ivory Park, as well as sections of Kempton Park.
Germiston
The Dekema WCW is situated in Katlehong and receives its raw sewage from parts of Germiston, Alberton and Katlehong.
The Rondebult WCW is situated in Germiston and falls within the DD6 drainage district. It was built in 1937 and currently has a capacity of 36M /d. The works receive raw sewage from Germiston and Boksburg. Germiston, Alberton, Kathlehong, Vosloorus and Boksburg.
The Waterval WCW is the biggest works operated by ERWAT and is situated close to the Klip River. The plant was originally built to serve parts of Germiston, Alberton, Kathlehong, Vosloorus and Boksburg.
Due to continued and rapid growth in the southern area of Ekurhuleni, it became crucial to make provision for additional capacity in this regional wastewater treatment works and further extensions are planned.
Nigel
The Carl Grundlingh WCW is situated north of Nigel and is designed to treat 5M /day of raw sewage from the Dunnottar, Sharon Park and Marievale areas. This WCW was one of the recipients of a Green Drop award.
The Herbert Bickley WCW is situated south of Nigel town on the Heidelberg Road and treats up to 15.1M /d of industrial effluent and raw sewage from the Nigel, Duduza, Alra Park, Mackenzieville and Jameson Park areas. This WCW was one of the recipients of a Green Drop award.
Heidelberg
The Heidelberg WCW is situated south of Heidelberg on the Vaaldam Road. Built in 1963, and upgraded and extended on several occasions over a period of time, the designed capacity of the works is 5.4M /d of industrial effluent and raw sewage from the Heidelberg areas.
The Ratanda WCW is situated southwest of Ratanda town on the Vaal Dam route and is designed to treat 4.7M /d of raw sewage from Ratanda. Conventional activated sludge is the main treatment process. This WCW was one of the recipients of a Green Drop award.
ALSO READ: How to install water tanks at home
