The National Water Tribunal has dismissed an appeal brought by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against the Department of Water and Sanitation granting a water licence to Indian mining company Atha-Africa Ventures for the Yzermyn coal mine development, in Mpumalanga.

The CER appeal was heard by the tribunal on four separate sittings, totalling nine days and spanning nine months.

Engineering News, 27 May 2019

Transformation deal enhances Talbot & Talbot's position in the water sector

Black-owned investment holding company Thesele Group's acquisition of a 35% stake in South African water and wastewater solutions provider Talbot & Talbot opens the door for Talbot & Talbot to access opportunities in the South African public sector and positions the company well among its peers in the domestic market. 

The acquisition has enabled the water solutions provider to improve its broad-based black economic empowerment rating from Level 8 to Level 2.

Engineering News, 28 May 2019

Lesotho Highlands Water Project to shut down for maintenance

The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority, in conjunction with the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, is planning a shutdown of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project water transfer and delivery tunnel and associated systems during October and November. 

The shutdown will allow the two entities to effectively perform maintenance work that will ensure the conveyance system continues to operate optimally.

Engineering News, 29 May 2019

Global innovation challenge launched to tackle irrigation water loss

As part of its commitment to reducing its environment footprint, global sugar producer AB Sugar has opened a call for ideas to tackle irrigation water loss through the Innovate Irrigation Challenge, an initiative launched in partnership with WaterAid and the Centre for Industrial Sustainability at the University of Cambridge.

The winner of the challenge will have the opportunity to potentially work with AB Sugar and its partners to test the viability of their idea in the field.  

Engineering News, 29 May 2019

Construction of desalination plant result in dispute in Cape Town

The Cape Town City Council is caught in a legal battle with Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) regarding the V&A Waterfront desalination plant.

QFS is accusing the City of failing to acknowledge or accept its legal responsibilities as the water services authorities and to comply with the relevant regulations.

QFS was commissioned to install the V&A Waterfront desalination plant as part of Day Zero emergency measures last year.

ESI Africa, 31 May 2019

Rand Water to cut water supply to two municipalities over unsettled debt

Two municipalities in Mpumalanga that breached their contracts to pay bills owing to Rand Water will have their water cut down to a trickle.

This will be the second time in six months that residents of the Govan Mbeki Municipality, which serves towns like Secunda, Bethal, Embalenhle and Trichardt, will have to cope with less water as Rand Water plans to cut its supply by about 80%.

Engineering News, 31 May 2019

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