Key Responsibilities:
Groundwater treatment design
- Characterise raw water from boreholes, surface sources, or blended sources; specify the analytical scope required for design.
- Select and size unit operations: pretreatment (screening, sedimentation, coagulation/flocculation), filtration (multimedia, granular activated carbon, membrane), disinfection (chlorine, UV, ozone), softening, demineralisation (RO, ion exchange), and advanced oxidation as required.
- Produce mass and energy balances, hydraulic profiles, equipment specifications, and operating philosophy for the plant.
- Verify compliance with SANS 241 (potable), DWS general and special limits, and any fit-for-purpose standards specific to the client's use case.
Process documentation across all six ECSA stages
- Stage 1–2: Inception briefing, raw water assessment, treatment options analysis, capex/opex feasibility, basis of design.
- Stage 3–4: Developed design, P&IDs and PFDs, equipment data sheets, specifications, BoQs, tender documentation.
- Stage 5–6: Construction support, commissioning, performance verification, O&M manuals, close-out.
Safety, compliance, and quality
- Lead or participate in HAZOP studies; integrate findings into SOPs and control philosophy.
- Apply applicable SANS, ASME, and EN standards; document deviations with engineering justification.
- Engage with DWS on Water Use Authorisations (NWA Section 21 use entitlements) when groundwater abstraction is involved.
Cross-disciplinary coordination
- Coordinate with civil engineers (foundations, drainage, civil works around the plant), mechanical engineers (pumps, blowers, piping), electrical / C&I engineers (instrumentation, SCADA, MCC), and Company (implementation).
- Translate process requirements into clear deliverables for other disciplines; resolve interface issues.
Productisation & methodology
- Codify treatment-plant design rules into reusable templates, design tools, and equipment data libraries.
- Contribute to Companies design standards and quality system.
- Develop Python or Excel-based optimisation tools where useful (RO recovery, ion exchange regeneration cycles, chemical dosing, etc.).
