Reverse Osmosis Plant

by | Dec 9, 2019 | Blog, Water | 8 comments

As I was receiving mixed messages about the state of the RO Plant, I asked Redmond to arrange a visit for me. This was of special interest, as I had been on the Albany Water Board with Johan de Wet and Ron Ball, until it was taken over by Amatola in about 2009.

I had heard that the RO Plant was poorly maintained, with numerous LEAKS, lots of RUST and ELECTRIC CABLES lying in water.

LEAKS

• I found only 3 leaks – In a plant which I estimate has well in excess of 500 pipe joins, this didn’t seem too bad.

None of them were more than dripping, all from worn O-rings. 1 was in a section which is about to be replaced entirely and thus not worth fixing. The other 2 O-rings are to be replaced as soon as the plant is turned off.

RUST

• I found rust on some of the flanges in the section about to be replaced and at the bottom of some of the stands in the rest of the plant.

The stands were supplied during the refurbishment in 2009. As stainless steel was beyond the budget at the time, galvanized stands were ordered. George from Amatola, has since found that we were swindled, as there is no galvanizing under the paint. These are to be replaced by stainless steel stands soon.

ELECTRIC CABLES

• I could find no electrical cables lying in water.

What impressed me were 2 things:

  1. The large number of improvements and innovations which had been implemented since the Albany Water Board was replaced in 2009.
  2. The fact that George knew every bolt, pump and pipe in the plant and was brimming with enthusiasm. To lose him – or even demotivate him – would be a disaster for the whole area.

One must not forget that the RO Plant operates in highly corrosive conditions. Sea water…………

In my opinion, the production seems to be consistent. The problem appears to lie somewhere in the consumption, which, surely, is more Ndlambe’s rather than Amatola’s concern.

George Poole, KOSRA Chair
KOSRA WORKING FOR YOU!

8 Comments

  1. Most reassuring. Thanks for taking the trouble.
    Much appreciated.
    Regards
    John Charter
    River Road Bushmans

  2. Thanks great to hear such commitment to care for our limited resources.Please convey my appreciation to George and his team.

  3. Please pass on our appreciation to George for his commitment to water provision for Kenton, Bushmans and surrounds.

  4. Very good news especially now!
    Thanks for your rffirts

  5. As I see it the reliable delivery of the water produced by the RO plant is Ndlambe’s responsibility rather than Amatola Water where George has done an outstanding job. The system of delivery from the RO plant seems to be fragile and in a bad state of repair. We also do not seem to have enough storage for the water that the RO plant can produce and why in this day and age of outages are we still solely relying on an electric pump?

  6. Your visit so much appreciated George. Thank you for excellent feed back to us Members.

  7. Its very reassuring to know that the RO Plant is in good hands. Despite the fact that they were supplied in 2009, is it not possible to name and shame the supplier of the “ungalvanized” stands?

  8. Great to hear that things are not as bad as anticipated, and that George is enthusiastic and clued up on the plant. Well done to both Georges!

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