Development of low-maintenance self-sustaining
biological (passive) systems for the treatment of contaminated mine and
industrial effluents
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Pulles Howard & De Lange Inc |
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Proposal number: |
32130 |
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Focal area: |
Value-adding |
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Project duration: |
3 years |
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Total funding: |
R 8,827,000 |
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Funding year 1: |
R 1,048,000 |
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Funding year 2: |
R 2,472,000 |
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Funding year 3: |
R 5,307,000 |
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The availability of clean water
supplies is one of the most difficult problems facing South
Africa, particularly within the Gauteng area. As basic services
such as access to fresh drinking water and water-borne sewage are
being extended to the whole of South Africa's population, the
demand on these scarce water resources is growing rapidly. Much
research has been undertaken in the past that demonstrates very
clearly that in those areas of the country that have a very well
developed mining industry, the pollution of the national water
resource is dominated by the contribution from the mines. An
additional problem associated with mining activities is that the
pollution often has very long term consequences that will continue
for decades (if not centuries) after the mines have closed. This
means that not only the present population suffers from such water
pollution problems, but that our children will inherit these
problems from us.
Passive water treatment
technology is considered the most promising option for the
long-term treatment of effluents discharged from closed mines.
Substantial research has already been undertaken in the past on
this technology. The project will focus on the key advantage of
passive treatment technology, that is, it is substantially cheaper
to install and operate than conventional water treatment
technology, thereby ensuring that the long term costs of combating
mine water pollution are reduced. |
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Project Coordinator: |
Mr W Pulles
Phone: +27 (0)11 726 7027
email: phd@phd.co.za
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Public reports / Newsletters:
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