Sovereign Foods is one of South Africa’s largest poultry producers and relies on significant volumes of water to sustain its operations. The company’s primary production facility is situated in the Kariega region of the Eastern Cape Province –a region that has ailed under prolonged and recurring drought conditions, as well as inadequate and failing water infrastructure.
In July last year, the water crisis in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, where Kariega is situated, had reached catastrophic proportions, with the average combined capacity of the region’s five main water supply dams dropping to 14.7%.
Recognising the severity of the impending crisis, Sovereign sought a proactive solution that would secure not just the viability of its business, but also the livelihoods of 1,300 individuals in an area grappling with crippling unemployment.
The solution devised and implemented by Talbot involved the design and construction of an effluent treatment facility which recovers and treats 1,2 million litres of wastewater to potable quality every day. This reduces the company’s dependence on external water sources by a staggering 73%.
By recovering, treating and reusing the lion’s share of its water, we make an additional 35 million litres of drinkable water available to the municipality per month. This is a significant benefit for the residents of Kariega and its surrounding communities.