Dams across Limpopo have risen to full or above capacity, causing localised flooding as heavy rains across Limpopo and Mpumalanga continue, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) warned on Thursday. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/limpopo-dams-remain-at-critical-levels-as-heavy-rains-continue-2026-01-22
Author Archives: EcoImpact
South Africa’s water–security challenges are tightening at every link of the value chain, but engineers warn that the most overlooked threat is at the very beginning – in the form of waste treatment, says portable sanitation company Sanitech MD Robert Erasmus. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/decentralised-treatment-a-critical-water-safeguard-2026-01-16
With climate change intensifying droughts and reducing freshwater availability, population growth placing increasing pressure on existing resources, and industrial demands pushing water consumption to new heights, global water scarcity has emerged “as one of the most pressing challenges of our time” says industrial engineering and manufacturing firm Sulzer desalination infrastructure sales head Antonio de la Torre. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/company-powers-every-step-of-desalination-process-2026-01-16
While concerns about the circular economy have largely been centred around climate change, sustainability targets, and the global e-waste crisis. South Africa’s unique issues mean businesses often prioritise more urgent matters like crime, power constraints, inflation, and operational uncertainty. https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/how-it-asset-disposal-can-drive-south-africa-circular-economy-405669a
Operators of historic waste disposal facilities in South Africa have been called upon to apply for waste management licences (WMLs) for the first time since the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (Nemwa) came into effect 16 years ago, according to a group of Webber Wentzel attorneys. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/historic-waste-sites-must-apply-for-licences-16-years-after-waste-act-law-firm-advises-2026-01-15
The Rustenburg Waste Tyre Depot, visited by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts, is not representative of the dire state of depots across the country, says tyre recycling initiative Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa). https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/governance-failures-turning-waste-tyre-depots-into-public-health-environmental-hazards-redisa-2026-01-09
Magalies Water, Glencore and the Bakwena Ba Mogopa Community, along with the Rustenburg local municipality, have jointly launched Phase 1 of the Bethanie-Modikwe bulk water pipeline project. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/magalies-water-glencore-and-the-bakwena-ba-mogopa-community-launch-water-pipeline-project-2026-01-08
Producer responsibility organisation Polyco has invested R1.89-million in waste service provider New Earth Recycling, strengthening one of South Africa’s only dedicated recyclers of post-consumer and agricultural polystyrene (PS) and expanding the country’s limited domestic processing capacity of this plastic type. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/polyco-injects-r189m-into-polystyrene-recycler-2025-12-18
To help to deliver 300-million additional litres of drinking water to residents through its New Water Programme, the City of Cape Town (CoCT) is progressing several water projects, including namely the Philippi Wellfield project and the R1.3-billion Macassar Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) project. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/coct-water-projects-benefit-several-communities-2025-12-12
