Cape Town scraps proposal for ‘extremely expensive’ desalination plant
10 Oct 18 by desalination
A proposal for a desalination plant in Cape Town, South Africa, has been scrapped amid claims that it is "extremely expensive" as an option to fulfil the city’s water demand.
Ryan Ravens, chief executive of Accelerate Cape Town, the corporate business forum, told radio 702 Live, “the reality is that desalination is an extremely expensive option. We got lucky, and had more rain than expected, and that has bought us a year or two where we can step out of crisis mode and look at medium- to long-term planning.”
The city received higher-than-expected rainfall during the winter months June, July, and August 2018, which has eased the water shortage there.
“It makes sense to pause a permanent desalination structure and evaluate the costs,” Ravens said.
Cape Town installed three temporary desalination units in 2017 at the height of a drought-driven water supply crisis, at Strandfontein, V&A Waterfront, and Monwabisi. The three plants collectively produce 16,000 m3/d, compared to the city’s total demand of 550 million m3/d.
Ravens added: “The reality is that when you look at the amount we need … the desalination capacity is insignificant versus the cost.”
Comments
Login on register to comment
Related content
Desalination
A world leader committed to preserving resources through desalination and reuse
The Group designs
Desalination
Leading expert delivers online masterclass on membrane fouling
There is only one week left to register for this exciting new format of online event and deepen your understanding of membrane fouling in only one hour.
Desalination
Singapore International Water Week Turns 10 Years: Celebrating a Decade of Accomplishment in the Global Water Industry
The Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) is the world's premier platform to connect the water industry for innovative solutions and sustainable urban water management. The biennial event gathers stakeholders from the global water industry to share best practices
Related supplier content
Desalination
Xylem reuse system to up potable water supply in Los Angeles
Water technology company
Desalination
Sterlitech offers new ultrafiltration membranes
Laboratory products and membrane testing firm Sterlitech is offering Synder Filtration's recently developed ultrafiltration membranes
Desalination
Osmoflo reports concentrate reduction success
Australian desalination company Osmoflo has reported success with site tests of its concentrate reduction technology for reverse osmosis (RO) plants. The firm said its Brine Squeezer system increased recovery from 80% to 95% in a mine wastewater recovery pilot.