CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
PROFESSION / SPECIALIZATION
NATIONALITY
YEARS EXPERIENCE
DR. M VD MERWE-BOTHA (PHD, PRISCINAT, FWISA)
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Van der Merwe-Botha, Marlene
17 February 1968
Specialist: Water, Wastewater and Municipal Support
South African
11 years
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL STATUS
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Aspects International (ISO 14001): EARA accredited Environmental Auditor (1999-2003)
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SA Council for Natural Scientific Professionals: Registered Professional Scientist - Pri.Sci.Nat 2006
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Technicon SA : National Certificate - Water Pollution Control (1995)
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Free State University, Environmental Bacteriology Research: * PhD in Microbiology (1994) - Microbial ecology and Anaerobic Reactor Design
* B.Sc.Hons in Microbiology (degree obtained cum laude)
* B.Sc. (Microbiology and Physiology)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
1996-2006 : Member/ Fellow Member - Water Institute of South Africa
1996-2006 : Professional Environmental Scientist - SACNSP
1998-2006 : Assessor for Water SA on submitted publications
1995-2003 : Committee member: Management & Institutional Affairs
1998-2003 : Chairperson - WISA Anaerobic Processes Division
2002-2003 : Secretary and EXCO member - WISA Management & Institutional Affairs
1998-2004 : Councilor – WISA Council
2001-2004
2003-2006
2005-2007
2005-2007
2005-2008
2006
: Director – WISA Board of Directors
: Member - SALGA
: President of the Water Inst of Southern Africa (WISA).
: Chairman of the WISA Council and Board of Directors
: Member: Special Advisory Council to the Minister (DWAF)
: Upgrade to Fellow Member
EXPERIENCE AND POSITION ACTIVITIES
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Specialist: Water, Wastewater Technical and Municipal Support (June 2006 – Current)
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Director: Water and Sanitation (April 2003 - May 2006)
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Deputy Director: Wastewater Treatment (2002 – 2003)
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Chief Chemist: Wastewater Treatment (1997 – 2002)
Strategic and General Management:
Strategic planning for WISA and local authority, zero-based and accumulative budgeting, financial expenditure (CAPEX/OPEX), project management and cash flow, license
applications, tender and procurement of projects, staff management and employment, skills development and transfer, training programs, mentorship and personal employee
growth. Strategic planning, equity implementation, municipal systems support, performance management, integrated (asset) infrastructure management, WSDP and master
plan development, GIS/MIS applications, stores control, maintenance management, etc requirements. Partnership establishment (DBSA, Rand Water, Mvula Trust, Alliance to
Save Energy, ENERGYS, PAWS, etc). Specialist planning and project management of community water and sanitation, water demand management, mercury contaminated
water sources, industrial effluent management, etc). Experienced in customer care, communications, database development, IDP and WSDP drafting and implementation, tariff
reviewing and implementation. Project management in accordance with the MIG PMU requirements, responsible for cashflow, project team performance, EPWP, GIS/MIS,
training and skills development – management.
Wastewater Purification:
Biological nutrient removal and trickling biofilters, OSEC, bromine and chlorine disinfection practices, anaerobic digestion of primary sludge, beneficial use of sewage sludge via
instant lawn cultivation, management of electrical-mechanical equipment, interpretation of chemical and biological data, implementation of a Maintenance Management System,
implementation of technical training software induction courses, municipal partnership agreement (Randfontein WCW) with related services in terms of analytical, process,
maintenance and operations, industrial monitoring and tariffing, auditing, personnel and financial management, as well as upgrading and extensions (civil, mechanical and
electrical). Investigation, participation and advising on PPP (private public participation), MSP (municipal services partnerships) and ring fencing projects. Special projects
including bench-, pilot- and commercial scale application of anaerobic digestion to treat industrial effluent, biogas utilization, greenhouse practices, protozoa as biological
indicators of treatment.
Environmental, Water Quality and Industrial Analysis:
Environmental pollution control, monitoring and reporting of various natural resources, reservoirs, storm water systems, groundwater and industrial/mine effluents. Organising of
workshops, forums, mini-conferences and technical tours. Quality assurance and ISO / environmental auditing projects. Water quality testing, analysis and interpretation.
Environmental studies on instant lawn and soils irrigated with class D sewage sludge. Consultation on specific effluent treatment practices. Tariff formulation and
implementation. Water meter reading, flow balance determination and interpretation of results. Spillages handling, assessment and clean-up practices and reporting (RBCA).
Industrial effluent organic/hydraulic load contribution to water care works. Industrial inspections and NATSURV implementation of industrial sector.
Sanitation, Wastewater and Water Supply, Design, Construct and Maintenance:
Management of services: Systems (hard and electronic) development and implementation, fault finding and solving (systems), pumpstation evaluation and upgrading, security
assessments, risk and asset assessment, safety and health management, oversee planning, design and construction of capital infrastructure projects, oversee maintenance and
operations of reticulation system, procurement of capital projects, construction of various infrastructures, water demand management and water loss management, water
prepayment, bulk water purchase and reticulation, urban/peri-urban and rural sanitation options and implementation, IDP and budget planning, implementation and monitoring.
Research and Development:
The isolation and use of selected bacterial strains for treatment of hazardous /difficult biogradable wastewater. Anaerobic digestion as pre-treatment option of a gelatine
industry effluent. The use of bromine and chlorine as bacterial disinfectant of final sewage effluent-cost effectiveness, disinfecting efficiency. The influence on different heavy
metals on biological systems. Biogas recovery and utilisation, using membrane separation technology, (cooperation with India, China, and SA AEC). Evaluation and
implementation of biogas technology: alternative to natural gas- community development, reticulated or bottled gas, membrane purification systems, individual/community
digesters, vehicle fuel, electrical power generation, chemical production. Membrane purification of carbon dioxide, and subsequent manufacturing of dry ice. Vehicle
conversion and application of methane as vehicle fuel. Horticultural benefits of biosolids (flower, vegetable, herb farming, tree cultivation, composting). Landfill biogas
utilisation and leachate treatment. Instant lawn cultivation using digested biosolids, monitoring of soil and ground water pollution as result of this practice. Various groups of
aerobic, anaerobic and facultative organisms studied. Biotechnological applications of naturally- and statistically selected bacterial species. Construction, optimisation and
operation of laboratory-scale. pilot-scale and full-scale anaerobic digesters (hybrid digester and anaerobic filter fixed-bed digester) and toxicity testing. Effects of organic shock
loadings on digester performances. Microbial population studies (aerobic, anaerobic and faculative) and species diversity, community diversity, equitability and calculated
median organisms (CMOs).
CONGRESS ACTIVITIES (from 1996)
Various national ans international publications and paper presentations (available form author).