At the UPP Group, we are all about revolutionising and transforming the way South Africa does plumbing – from training to service.
Over the years, we have played a central role on many specialised projects, working on big construction projects such as shopping malls, schools and residential estates, as well as implementing smaller-scale plumbing contracts, handling commercial maintenance and consulting on specialised industrial projects – many involving the need for filtration and waste management solutions.
For us, the saving of water as a resource is critical, so we regularly consult with clients, suppliers, inspectors, technology leaders and other industry specialists in an attempt to harness our collective wealth of experience and use it to address the issue of water conservation and how to make green technologies the norm.
Our approach is to follow a project management ‘life cycle’ that encompasses six stages. Here, we unpack this approach by way of an example of a project that we were recently asked to consult on – a site in Germiston, on the East Rand, that has an old mine shaft full of water that the client wants to access and put to possible use.
Evaluate – We visited the site to assess the needs of the client and take a look at the state of the shaft and its exact location. We also extracted a water sample from a depth of 500m for quality testing.
Analyse – The mine water was tested in a lab and found to be both dirty and metal-laden. With these results we could determine if the water could be filtrated and, if so, what kind of filtration system would be needed.
Design – We presented the client with three options that involved pumping the water out of the shaft and through a filtration system for irrigation purposes only or using a better filtration system that would result in potable water and/or combining the potable water option with waste management, so as to extract irons from the waste as well.
Develop – All costings and drawings detailing the operation and design of the filtration plant were supplied to the client, including expected cost savings and other variables.
Implement – Depending now on the client’s decision, we would, in collaboration with our supply partners, see to the installation of the plant and all its workings.
Monitor – After implementation and in line with the SLA, we would ensure that the plant is maintained and in working order, while also monitoring the return on investment. First prize would also undoubtedly be the satisfaction of knowing that this water is now of use and no longer stagnating underground.
There’s always a need for plumbers with the right qualifications and experience – especially ones that not only come up with solutions that fix a problem or help plot a way forward, but that also respect water and make its preservation a priority.