Municipal water treatment plants scoop excellence awards

GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality's water treatment works departments scooped four major awards at the Western Cape Process Controller Awards held in Saldanha.

The Civil Engineering Directorate won the Best Water Treatment Works with a design capacity greater than 10Ml/day for the George New Water Treatment Works; Best Water Treatment Works with a design capacity less than 10Ml/day for the Uniondale water treatment works and was runner-up for Best Water Treatment works with a design capacity less than 10Ml/day for the Wilderness water treatment works.

In addition, Suzanne Laido was runner-up in the category Best Process Controller at a Water Treatment Works with a design capacity greater than 10Ml/day.

Mayor Leon van Wyk said Council is extremely proud of winning these excellence awards. "These awards are stellar achievements and testimony of our team's hard work over the last 18 months to constantly improve our water quality," he said. "Well done to our teams, you make us proud."

Portfolio Councillor for Civil Engineering Services Jacqulique von Brandis was equally proud of the team thanked everyone for their hard work.

Director of Civil Engineering Services Jannie Koegelenberg congratulated every team member who contributed to turning the respective water works into winners. "I am proud of everyone who puts in the hard work and extra hours to make service delivery possible to the residents of George," he said.

The awards are hosted annually by the Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation and consist of 12 standard categories and three special awards. Hartenbos Water Treatment plant was named Best Wastewater Treatment plant in the Western Cape.

The categories are as follows: Best Internal On-site Process Monitoring Laboratory, Best Municipal Laboratory (Operational and Compliance), Best Water Treatment Works less than 10Ml/day, Best Water Treatment Works greater than 10Ml/day, Best Wastewater Pond System, Best Wastewater Treatment Works less than 5Ml/day, Best Wastewater Treatment Works 5 – 10Ml/day, Best Wastewater Treatment Works greater than 10Ml/day, Best Process Controller Water less than 10Ml/day, Best Process Controller Water greater than 10Ml/day, Best Process Controller Wastewater less than 10Ml/day and Best Process Controller Wastewater greater than 10Ml/day.

The Ronald Brown Award and Tony Bowers Award are the special Process Controller Honours Awards.

NAME MISSING IN BACK ROWIn front from left are Senior Manager: Water Treatment Geoffrey Bredenkamp, Mayor Leon van Wyk and Clr Jacqulique von Brandis. Back: Superintendent: New Water Treatment Works Uniondale and Haarlem Melvin Koopman: and Superintendent: Old Water Treatment Works Wilderness Gerrit Goliath.

Award winners from George Municipality, from left: Fesiwe Xhengwana, Suney Leeuw, Sherwin Hannie, Ntombekhaya Tembu-Makuyekwe, Winston Meiring, Hadrian Jansen, Susanne Laido, Curtley Meas, Siphokazi Papiso, Maxwell Appels, Mxolisi Lingani and Gerrit Goliath.