Project Description
Following rapid catchment growth, East Rand Water Company(ERWAT) required an upgrade from 10 MLD to 20 MLD at its Tsakane WwTW. The existing works comprised a single biological nutrient removal (BNR) reactor which could not be taken out of service for long periods of time.
Bluewater Bio, through its local partner Headstream Water, supplied 12 SMART units to enable the upgrade. The SMART units were arranged with stainless steel inlet and outlet channels, all of which were pre-assembled and tested in the factory prior to delivery. Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) reduced the time on site and project risks and ensured a high quality of manufacturing.
Installation of the SMART units took just 3 weeks.The HYBACS upgrade was commissioned in early 2018 and, in April 2018, the works achieved Green Drop status by demonstrating consistent compliance with the regulatory standard.
Project Name: | Tsakane WwTW |
Client: | East Rand Water Company (ERWAT) |
Capacity: | 20,000 m3/day |
Main Contractor: | Headstream Water |
Project Scope: | 12 SMART units |
Project Highlights
- Upgrade existing BNR plant from
10 MLD to 20 MLD - Supply and install 12 SMART units
- Commissioning and post-commissioning
support services

Tsakane WwTW Process Details
Design | Actual | |
Average Flow | 20,000 m3/d | 17,200 m3/d |
Peak Flow | 40,000 m3/L | 28,000 m3/L |
Population equivalent | 77,000 PE | - |
COD concentration | 75 mg/L 90%ile | 27.8 mg/L |
TSS concentration | 30 mg/L 90%ile | <10.6 mg/L |
Amm-N concentration | 7 mg/L 90%ile | 0.47 mg/L |
NO3-N concentration | 9 mg/L 90%ile | 3.5 mg/L |
OP concentration | 0.9 mg/L 90%ile | 0.24 mg/L |