Technical factsheet for energy efficiency in primary and tertiary treatment technologies

The document outlines specific power consumption (SPC) benchmarks for primary and tertiary wastewater treatment technologies in South Africa. It identifies that while these stages are not energy intensive, efficiency can be improved through peak demand management, equipment idling, and UV disinfection upgrades, with potential energy savings of up to 50% for UV systems.

• Wastewater treatment and water supply account for approximately 17% of the total energy used by South African municipalities.
• Primary treatment technologies have varying benchmark specific power consumption (SPC) rates: Archimedes screw pumps range from 0.016 to 0.034 kWh/m3, screens or sieves are at 0.010 kWh/m3, and grit removal ranges from +/- 0.005 (Pista type) to +/- 0.008 (aerated). Oil and grease removal and primary sedimentation both have a benchmark of +/- 0.01 kWh/m3, provided a scraper mechanism is used.
• Tertiary treatment energy intensity varies by technology: maturation ponds consume no energy, chlorination is +/- 0.02 kWh/m3, UV disinfection is +/- 0.058 kWh/m3, and ozonation is the most energy intensive at +/- 0.077 kWh/m3.
• Specific energy efficiency interventions for these stages include peak demand management and idling equipment (saving 5-10%), and UV disinfection upgrades—such as installing low pressure high output systems and lamp intensity adjustments—which can yield energy savings between 10% and 50%.

APA

GreenCape (n.d.). Technical factsheet for energy efficiency in primary and tertiary treatment technologies. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Factsheet-3_Energy-Efficiency-in-Preliminary-and-Tertiary-Treatment-Technologies-.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Technical factsheet for energy efficiency in primary and tertiary treatment technologies. n.d. https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Factsheet-3_Energy-Efficiency-in-Preliminary-and-Tertiary-Treatment-Technologies-.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Technical factsheet for energy efficiency in primary and tertiary treatment technologies |url=https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Factsheet-3_Energy-Efficiency-in-Preliminary-and-Tertiary-Treatment-Technologies-.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencapendtechnical, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Technical factsheet for energy efficiency in primary and tertiary treatment technologies}}, institution = {GreenCape}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Factsheet-3_Energy-Efficiency-in-Preliminary-and-Tertiary-Treatment-Technologies-.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }