Help 1 million South Africans Save Water & Energy

Pump Station Inspections

Eight additional pump stations were inspected and assessed since our last quarterly report.  The team has worked to capture electrical usage data for each of the selected pump stations, aiming to secure 10 years of historical electrical consumption at each pump station. The length of time is considered important in in order to establish long term trends.

Equipment Purchases and Training

Specialized testing equipment was purchased for measuring flows and recording electricity usage at the selected pump stations.

• Fluke Power Monitor (Model 1735 Power Logger)
• Khrone Ultrasonic Flow Meter (Model Optisonic 6400)
• Sensus Loggers (Cosmos Data Loggers Model CDL – 2U))
• High Pressure Pressure Transducers
• Time Ultrasonic Pipe wall thickness gauge (Model  TT 100)

New Equipment Makes a Difference

Using the new equipment, five pump stations were assessed, measuring instantaneous flows and electrical consumption to establish operating efficiency levels. Thanks to the purchase of the equipment, the team was able to finalize the measurement of flows and electrical usage at the water pump stations, and obtain the necessary data for each pump station. Assessment reports can now be drafted.

Difficulties are being experienced in measuring flows at the sewer pump stations due to the lack of Magnetic Flow meters at these pump stations. A contingency plan has been put in place to measure flows using the purchased ultrasonic meter. This involves digging holes at appropriate points to expose the pipe to enable the portable ultrasonic meter to be strapped to the pipes. 

Representatives of Sensus, Khrone and Fluke trained staff members in using the purchased equipment. The team then visited actual pump stations and used the equipment to measure flow and electrical consumption under normal operating conditions. 

An initial assessment with findings for one of the water pump stations shows that there is opportunity for improving the efficiency of that pump station, but perhaps even more importantly how and when the pump station should operate. Unnecessary operation of the pump station during peak periods has a significant impact on the cost of electricity purchased by the municipality from the bulk national supplier, being Eskom.

• September 2012 Update pictures (DOCX)