Vision, Mission & Aims
The Hammarsdale Sustainability Project
The Hammarsdale area in KwaZulu-Natal is dominated mainly by the textile industry. These textile industries have never made much attempt at being environmentally-friendly, and this has resulted in the Hammarsdale Wastewater Treatment Works (HWWTW) becoming overloaded with colour and salt. The pollution is then passed on to the Sterkspruit river, which runs through a number of farms and dams downstream.
The eThekwini Municipality bought the HWWTW from Umgeni Water in July 2003, and devised a plan to start reducing the effluent discharged from the factories. A new tariff rate was implemented for businesses in the area and the plan included:
1) if a business implemented best available techniques (BAT) and improved efficiency, they would receive a 30% reduction in their tariff from the municipality.
2) If the company also complied with the new discharge standard,
they would receive a 70% reduction on their old Umgeni tariff.
Companies are encouraged to be more proactive in effluent control, as
this will help them save money. The companies are given effluent
quality standards they are expected to meet in order to qualify for the
tariffs, and are monitored regularly. As well as the textile companies,
a local Rainbow Chicken Abattoir also became involved in the project,
and is currently reducing its effluent load.
Innovation
The innovation lies in the negotiation of a win-win situation for
all involved. The businesses achieve lower tariffs through compliance
with the standards set; and the municipality achieves better quality of
water for those in the area. It also achieves lower running costs for
the HWWTW, as lower effluent means less work for the water works.
Effectiveness
Thus far, 2 companies have received their BAT concessions, and 1
more is in the process of applying; 1 company has also attained its
effluent discharge standard, with 3 others busy applying. An
improvement in the water quality has also been noted.
Poverty Impact
Poorer communities are often subject to the worse standards of
pollution; they are also more likely to use water from the rivers for
washing, cleaning and drinking - and the effluent discharge is
hazardous to the community's health. Businesses that attain the lower
tariffs are able to ensure the jobs of their employees, which prevents
future job losses.
Sustainability
The project helps to improve the sustainability of the textile
industry in the area by reducing operating costs. The lower running
costs for the HWWTW also helps to ensure its sustainability.
Replication
The project is replicable in other areas; the main challenge is in finding the correct incentive for the local industries (in some places, lower tariffs may not be possible.)
Partnerships
• Ethekwini Municipality
• Norwegian Co-operation programme
• Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
