George Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa – Reservoir augmentation used during drought
George Municipality is located within the Garden Route District of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It contains three towns: George, Uniondale, and Haarlem. The areas of Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay and Wilderness form part of George. George has a population of around 300,000 people. Southern Africa is an arid region which faces serious challenges for the future if it cannot reduce its reliance on rainfall-dependent sources of water.
During a period of drought in 2005-10, when facing water shortages, George decided to investigate and then implement indirect potable reuse. The Outeniqua Wastewater Treatment Plant treats used water to a very high quality with ultra filtration and disinfection. The plant produces 10 million litres (2.6 million gallons) per day of water that during drought periods, is returned to the main drinking water storage for the area, the Garden Route Dam.
The plant was in use from 2012 until 2017, when the drought ended. The purified recycled water represents around one third of the town’s drinking water demand.
The plant is currently being upgraded with an additional 10 million litres (2.6 million gallons) per day Biological Nutrient Removal plant, and George Municipality is investigating whether it remains available for use to supplement the drinking water supply in future, to meet the ongoing challenge of water availability.
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