Projects & Case Studies
Explore selected projects and study experiences across water, wastewater, waste management, infrastructure planning, process engineering, feasibility support, optimization, sludge management, and resource recovery.
This page presents project experience transparently in two categories: project experience prior to founding WATEN, and project experience delivered through WATEN Process Engineering (Pty).
WATEN Consulting Projects
Selected projects and studies delivered through WATEN Process Engineering (Pty), including specialist subconsultant and lead process engineering assignments on feasibility studies, technical reviews, sludge planning, infrastructure concepts, and municipal or utility programmes.
Emfuleni Local Municipality Sludge Management Plans
As subcontracted PSP lead process engineer, developed sludge management plans for Emfuleni Local Municipality’s three wastewater treatment works — Sebokeng, Leeuwkuil, and Rietspruit — including mass balances, routing scenarios, digestion and dewatering options, and an operations and maintenance improvement roadmap.
Delivered a structured sludge management planning and operational-improvement basis for municipal wastewater treatment works.
Modular WTW Repurposing Concept
Produced conceptual process design, as part of an appointed PSP, to repurpose the former Illovo sugar mill and ash dams into a modular water treatment works and clear water plant in phased capacities of approximately 13, 27, and 40 ML/day. The work considered footprint, hydraulics, and reuse implications.
Provided a technically grounded concept for phased water-treatment development and strategic infrastructure reuse
Integrated Waste Management Facility Feasibility Study
As a specialist process engineering PSP subconsultant, provided input on process options and technical considerations for the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies of integrated waste management facilities at three landfill sites for the City of Johannesburg (Pikitup).
Expanded WATEN’s portfolio into waste-management infrastructure and circular economy-related technical studies.
Water Reclamation Plants Feasibility Studies
Acted as lead JV process engineer for the Rand Water/Midvaal Municipality's Meyerton and Douglas Dale Dolomite Water Reclamation Plants feasibility, design, and construction project. The assignment involved specialist process-engineering input into water-reclamation planning and technical development.
Positioned WATEN as a specialist subconsultant in advanced water reclamation and feasibility-stage process engineering support.
Project experience
Prior to establishing WATEN
Selected projects and studies led or supported by Karabo Nthethe in senior process engineering, infrastructure planning, and environmental services roles before founding WATEN Process Engineering (Pty).
This includes work undertaken as client lead process engineer and in divisional leadership roles responsible for process engineering, WWTP optimisation, sludge management planning, and infrastructure development.
Capacity Re-Evaluation of 19 Wastewater Treatment Plants
Successfully implemented the capacity re-evaluation of 19 wastewater treatment plants of different sizes and technologies through data analysis, modeling, and process redesign. This work supported improved understanding of plant performance, design capacity, and process improvement requirements across multiple facilities.
Strengthened the technical basis for capacity planning, optimization, and upgrade prioritization across a multi-plant wastewater portfolio.
Wastewater Regionalisation Master Plan for the City of Ekurhuleni
Initiated and coordinated the development of wastewater treatment plants regionalisation planning and a 50-year master plan for the City of Ekurhuleni. The work supported long-term planning for sequenced upgrades, decommissioning, and regional infrastructure routing
Provided strategic direction for long-term wastewater infrastructure planning and staged capacity development.
Nereda and HYBACS Wastewater Capacity Upgrade Programmes
Developed and served as the client’s process lead engineer in wastewater treatment design-build capacity-upgrading projects, including a 5 ML/day Nereda retrofit at Hartebeestfontein WWTP and a 10 ML/day HYBACS retrofit at Tsakane WWTP.
Supported innovative technology-led treatment-capacity expansion and process modernization in municipal wastewater treatment.
Various Wastewater Treatment Plants Upgrade & Commissioning Projects
Served as the client’s process lead engineer in multiple wastewater treatment capacity-upgrade and sludge-management projects, including the design and commissioning of two final settling tanks at Hartebeestfontein WWTP, a 50 ML/day Waterval and Welgedacht WWTP upgrade, and 50 ML/day anaerobic digester upgrades at Waterval WWTP.
Contributed to plant expansion, sludge-management infrastructure development, and commissioning-focused implementation.
ERWAT Sludge Management Strategy & Operational Plan
Developed and implemented comprehensive wastewater sludge management strategies and operational plans, including the sludge management strategy for ERWAT wastewater treatment works and an associated five-year operational plan. This work also supported sludge beneficiation and the development of the PPP initiative.
Strengthened sludge management and beneficiation planning, operational direction, and resource-recovery positioning across a municipal wastewater utility.
Need similar support for your project?
Contact WATEN to discuss a related project, feasibility study, technical review, sludge-management requirement, or infrastructure-planning and development need.
