Imiesa September 2012

The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africaa

Winn of the 2011 PICA Winner Non-p Non-professional writer of the year

IMESA

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

MERCEDES-BENZ Powers pothole solution in th he h e

Water in Africa Sustainable operations

SASTT Trenchless technology

Housing Finance solutions

“We provide a complete service for precast reinforced hollow core slabs” Melinda Esterhuizen, Echo Group marketing director

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MEDIA

300 000 metres of

TRENCHLESS PIPE Successfully Installed

RENOVATE EXISTING PIPES BY: +2' 7456+0) .+2.+0+0) 74' /$+'06 74' +$.1% :2#0&# +$.1% +$.+0' +$.1% 161.1% +2' #6+0) INSTALLATION OF NEW PIPES BY:

14+<106#. +4'%6+10#. 4+..+0) 7+&'& 1%- 4+..+0) 14'5 1( EFNN// '0)6*5 72 61 HNN /'64'5 +%416700'..+0)

Countrywide 08600 66 344 +0(1u64'0%*.'55T%1T<# 999T64'0%*.'55T%1T<#

CONTENTS

VOLUME 37 NO 9 SEPTEMBER 2012

pipe 12 Popular jacking

9 Water pioneers The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

63 Regenerating disaster

60 Housing plans Winner of the 2011 PICA Non-professional writer of the year

IMESA

Water in Africa 14 Water in Africa:

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ͻ MAINTENANCE ͻ SERVICE DELIVERY

Products and services 75 Strategic par tnership for power companies

sustainable operations

78 Government perspective 18 CGTA assigns local government task team Powers pothole solution T

Water in Africa Sustainable operations

SASTT Trenchless technology

Panel discussion Water resources management

MERCEDES-BENZ e

New CMA Awards for excellence

Industry perspective 19 Pipe industr y now proudly heavy

Housing Finance solutions

“We provide a complete service for precast reinforced hollow core slabs” Melinda Esterhuizen, Echo Group marketing director

P16

35

The Rare Group Hennie Roets

37

SBS Water Systems Mava Gcinizibele Gwagwa:

39

Quality Filtration Systems Herman Smit

41

Vela VKE (SMEC Group) R Griffioen

43

NuWater South Africa John Holmes

45

Housing 57 Assisting housing deliver y 60 Free housing construction plans

Structa Technology Hercules Rossouw

47

Pipes pumps and valves 63 Ekurhuleni assisted in

Breede Overberg Catchment Management Agency Phakamani Buthelezi

49

Aquadam Anton Liebenberg

51

Abeco Tanks Duane Ramos

53

metals free

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Cover Story John Williams Commercial Vehicles in Bloemfontein has handed over five new MercedesBenz Axor 2628/45 trucks to road surface specialist Velocity Road Rehabilitation South Africa.

Regulars 3 Editor’s comment 5 President’s comment Cover article 6 Mercedes-Benz Axor: Powering pothole solutions

Water and wastewater 21 Water for all towns and villages 30 Turnkey reverse osmosis solution 32 Pretoria’s fountains still the cleanest water around

33 34

Protection for pumps A water treatment works with a difference

regenerating ‘disaster zone’

News 9 The new water pioneers Project news 12 Popular pipe jacking

in the

HOT S SEAT

67

Valve cer tification to boost sales

SASTT 71 Sliplining ageing water pipeline infrastructure

Melinda Esterhuizen of Echo Group: “We provide a complete service, from professional design to the manufacture, delivery, installation and grouting of precast reinforced hollow core slabs”

16 IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

1

24 - 26 October 2012 GEORGE 031 2663263

www.imesa.org.za conference@imesa.org.za

EARN 2.5 CPD POINTS BY ATTENDING THE

2012 IMESA CONFERENCE Theme: Engineering for Change Share ideas and experiences with over 650 municipal engineers & stakeholders.

Discover the latest in technology with over 75 confirmed exhibitors!

Papers are being presented by experts in each field, with two international guest speakers.

Acknowledge the best in the industry by attending the Excellence Awards & Opening Function!

Network and socialise with suppliers and customers during the conference and at the informal Gala Function at De Vette Mossel.

Enjoy an extended weekend in the beautiful Garden Route with your partner â&#x20AC;&#x201C; see website for details of the spectacular Companions Tour on offer!

Choose your Technical Tour from a selection of Award Winning projects or the rare opportunity to visit PetroSA:

Coastal Stormwater: Award Winning Wilderness Project

Re-use of Waste Water: George Ultra-Filtration Plant

New Water Sources: Mossel Bay Desalination Plant

Safety / Acquisitions: PetroSA

To register or for comprehensive information visit www.imesa.org.za

EDITOR'S COMMENT

PUBLISHER Elizabeth Shorten ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ferdie Pieterse EDITOR Richard Jansen van Vuuren HEAD OF DESIGN Frédérick Danton SENIOR DESIGNER Hayley Mendelow SENIOR SUB-EDITOR Claire Nozaic SUB-EDITOR Patience Gumbo CONTRIBUTORS ER Hay, K Riemann, G van Zyl, I Thompson, Candice Landie PRODUCTION MANAGER Antois-Leigh Botma PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jaqueline Modise FINANCIAL MANAGER Andrew Lobban (ACIS, FCIBM) MARKETING AND ONLINE MANAGER Martin Hiller ADMINISTRATION Tonya Hebenton DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nomsa Masina DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha Pursotham SUBSCRIPTIONS subs@3smedia.co.za PRINTERS United Litho Johannesburg +27 (0)11 402 0571 ___________________________________________________ ADVERTISING SALES Jenny Miller Tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223 ___________________________________________________

PUBLISHER: MEDIA No. 4, 5th Avenue, Rivonia 2056 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Fax: +27 (0)11 234 7274/5 E-mail: richard@3smedia.co.za www.3smedia.co.za ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: R480.00 (INCL VAT) ISSN 0257 1978 IMIESA, Inst.MUNIC. ENG. S. AFR. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. ___________________________________________________ IMESA CONTACTS IMESA Administration Officer: Ingrid Botton P O Box 2190, Westville, 3630 Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263 Fax: +27 (0)31 266 5094 Email: imesa@webstorm.co.za Website: www.imesa.org.za BORDER BRANCH Secretary: Melanie Matroos Tel: +27 (0)43 705 2401 Fax: +27 (0)43 743 5266 E-mail: melaniem@buffalocity.gov.za EAST CAPE BRANCH Elsabé Koen Tel: +27 (0)41 505 8005 Fax: +27 (0)41 581 2300 E-mail: elsabek@africoast.com KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH Secretary: Rita Zaayman Tel: +27(0)31 311 6382 NORTHERN PROVINCE BRANCH Secretary: Cornel Taljaard Tel: +27 (0)82 899 8341 Fax: +27 (0)11 675 1324 E-mail: cornel@rchc.co.za SOUTHERN CAPE KAROO BRANCH Secretary: Henrietta Oliver Tel: +27(0)79 390 7536 Fax: 086 536 3725 E-mail: imesa.southcape@gmail.com WESTERN CAPE BRANCH Secretary: Erica van Jaarsveld Tel: +27 (0)21 938 8455 Fax: +27 (0)21 938 8457 E-mail: erica.van_jaarsveld@capetown.gov.za FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE BRANCH Secretary: Wilma Van Der Walt Tel: +27(0)83 457 4362 Fax: 086 628 0468 E-mail: imesa.fsnc@gmail.com REST OF SOUTHERN AFRICA Representative: Andre Muller E-mail: imesa@webstorm.co.za

All material herein IMIESA is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. Thee views of contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa or the publishers.

LOOKING NORTH

Where is the money?

Richard Jansen van Vuuren

D

public sector infrastructure projects with a IFFICULT AND COMPETITIVE confurther R3.2 trillion of infrastructure projects ditions in the local construction under consideration up to 2020. industry have left Basil Read with The report also states that besides the no option but to seek work outside Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating the country. This is not an isolated incident for Commission (PICC) 20-year infrastructure plan, contractors and consultants alike, and certainly South Africa needs a roadmap of the skills the not a new one. Cross-border work is becoming industry needs to invest in today. a necessity, whereas in recent years it has Research for the report stemmed from parbeen an option to consider. ticipants in the following industries: The environment within the local construction • Infrastructure: Participants in electricity, industry is frequently described as tough with water, waste, roads, rail and ports. contractors struggling to secure funding and • Construction: Major participants in the contough budgets allocations. struction sector-based on the Construction The issue of non-payment remains an unforIndustry Development Board (CIDB) list tunate reality with many contractors having of companies able to deliver projects of to fight to get paid for every piece of work more than R30 million; large JSE-listed they complete. construction companies; consulting engiWhen examining the ‘bigger picture’, so to neering firms; and large suppliers to speak, it is also cause for concern that the construction industry. slow pace of economic growth along with govOn a happier note we are pleased to be attendernment delays in awarding tenders continue to ing the Southern African Housing Foundation’s limit the recovery of the local infrastructure and construction sector.

In addition, South Africa Conditions within the local construction industry are forcing contractors to look north is not training enough engineers, artisans and technicians to deliver the long-awaited R845 billion government infrastructure projects in the pipeline.

This statement forms part of the conclusion of the 2012 Infrastructure Sector Research Survey. It also confirmed that South Africa’s larger construction conference and exhibition – we will be reporting companies are looking northwards to win a on the event in the October Edition of IMIESA. share of the huge infrastructure projects being This time of year is always a great one for rolled out across the African continent. The networking with existing clients and readers of report stated that “developing and retaining the magazine. key technical skills is essential if this country In the next few months we will be attending is to meet the challenge of building massive NOSHCON, the IMESA conference and exhibinew infrastructure projects while – at the same tion, the CESA and SAFCEC conferences as time – upgrading existing services”. an International Conference on Fresh Water The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Governance for Sustainable Development. I’m (MTEF) has set aside sure I will see many of you during this time!

R845 billion for The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

Winner of the 2011 PICA Non-professional writer of the year

IMESA

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ͻ MAINTENANCE ͻ SERVICE DELIVERY

Cover opportunity

In each issue, IMIESA offers advertisers the opportunity o to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on o the front cover of the journal. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the t cover story on pages and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings contact Jenny Miller on tel: +27 (0)11 467 6223.

MERCEDES-BENZ Powers pothole solution e

T

Water in Africa Sustainable operations

SASTT Trenchless technology

Housing Finance solutions

“We provide a complete service for precast reinforced hollow core slabs” Melinda Esterhuizen, Echo Group marketing director

P16

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IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

3

5 -7 November 2012

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PRESIDENT'S COMMENT

LOOKING BACK

and going forward I have fond memories of years as a municipal engineer, particularly the 21 years spent serving and assisting IMESA to grow to what it is today.

by Jannie Pietersen, president of IMESA

I

T WAS AT the last IMESA council meeting in Cape Town that I was asked to perform the official opening of our new premises on behalf of the executive committee and the council. I considered this an enormous privilege and honour.

I would like to thank all the individuals who have worked so tirelessly on IMESA’s administration down the years, particularly Frik Bosman, who greatly assisted us with the admin systems and policies. Their dedication and hard work have laid a firm foundation for our new head office, which is no less important than the actual bricks and mortar of our new home.

The big move to IMESA House was made in May 2011 after extensive refurbishment to provide suitable training facilities and to accommodate additional staff. This came about after it became apparent that we would require more floor space than originally envisaged. By November 2010, IMESA’s training initiatives had proved so successful that more national training projects in infrastructure asset management and project management were in the pipeline.

Judy Stephens was appointed as IMESA’s training coordinator and a number of trainers are assisting her throughout the country.

We are also responding to other national needs, such as assisting of many municipalities with the management of their infrastructure assets.

Strategic planning had identified the need for a conference coordinator based at IMESA House to assist with initiatives for our Jubilee Year celebrations and to support the local organising committee for the 2011 IMESA Conference and future events, such as this year’s annual conference. Debbie Anderson was appointed in July 2011 as our conference coordinator to fulfil this role.

Frank Stevens heads up administration at IMESA House. The administrative workload required the appointment in a fulltime receptionist who could both assist Ingrid Botton and provide support for membership administration. Anurah Sathnarin was appointed in August last year and Zanele Dlamini com-

pletes the staff complement in the role of office services.

This brings us to where we are today. It is stability and certainty that bind us together.

Frank Stevens, our incoming president, has promised to uphold and continue the growth and stature of the institute. Frank has indicated that through inspiration and encouragement he will continue to live out IMESAs objectives, namely: 1. to promote and support the interests of infrastructure engineering professionals and the engineering fraternity involved 2. to continue to develop strategic partnerships with government, semi-government, academic, research and other institutions

The IMESA vice president, Frank Stevens, and IMESA president, Jannie Pietersen, flank the elaborate plaque that will grace the entrance the entrance of IMESA House during the opening ceremony

to the benefit of IMIESA, its members and the profession in general.

Thanks to the efforts of the executive committee and council as stewards of the institute and to Ingrid, Judy, Debbie and Anurah who have worked so hard to transform complexity into simple, streamlined systems and processes. IMESA House is now an efficient hub that will see the institute through the next 50 years!

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

5

COVER STORY

MERCEDES-BENZ AXOR

Powering pothole solutions John Williams Commercial Vehicles in Bloemfontein has handed over five new Mercedes-Benz Axor 2628/45 trucks to road surface specialist Velocity Road Rehabilitation South Africa, a subsidiary of Mvelaserve.

C

ORNEL OELOFSE, general manager: new commercial vehicle sales at John Williams Commercial Vehicles Bloemfontein, states that the Axor is a comprehensible choice for Velocity SA’s requirements, with its all-rounder features, including robust design and long service intervals.

“The Axor qualifies as the best fit transport solution for the Velocity Road Repair Machine,

6

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

a fully self-contained unit that’s used to repair potholes and road surface defects instantly and effectively.”

Frank Cattich, managing director at Velocity SA, confirmed that one of the key deciding factors in selecting the Axor as its choice carrier was the roadside assistance and the extensive support network that MercedesBenz offers its clients, “especially as the network extends across the whole of

Southern Africa, accommodating our future expansion strategy”.

“We are committed to minimising our Southern African truck operators’ downtime, supporting their value chain and ensuring peace of mind by providing access to our

BELOW Velocity SA has been involved in the development of Velocity Patching technology since 1985

COVER STORY The Axor qualifies as the best fit transport solution for the Velocity Road Repair Machine

24/7 call centre and fast reaction, back up service,” says Thireshin Rama, national sales manager at Mercedes-Benz Trucks.

The trucks have been fitted with high velocity technology equipment that will change the face of road maintenance in Southern Africa. The cutting edge technology, developed since 1985 and implemented over nearly two decades in various countries, including the United Kingdom with its severe winters and wet conditions, has proven its worth as the

16 km of road per day, irrespective of the condition of the road, South Africa is in for a surprising facelift of its roads.

“We are grateful for the commitment and professional ser vice that John Williams Commercial Vehicles Bloemfontein and Mercedes-Benz South Africa have provided.

The fast turnaround time of the trucks was a big factor in helping us to mobilise our

With each unit capable of covering up to 16 km of road per day, South Africa is in for a surprising facelift of its roads fast, economic alternative to conventional road patching. “The polymer modified emulsions, licensed and produced locally, have been developed in conjunction with Colas UK. This revolutionary product is ideal for both surface and preventative maintenance. While the focus in South Africa is predominantly on road repair, preventative maintenance is also available at a reasonable cost.” Cattich goes on to explain that Velocity SA will initially be targeting the pothole problems in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and the Free State, with plans for expanding operations to the rest of the country and further afield.

Operator training already began in July 2011 and with each unit capable of covering up to

South African operations within our targeted time frame,” maintains Cattich.

“Velocity SA’s operators will benefit from the Axor’s reliability, safety and driveroriented comfort while rendering their much needed road repair services across South Africa,” adds Oelofse.

“We are proud to be associated with Velocity SA and its work in upgrading our infrastructure.

Quality roads enhance the driving experience for every road user. More importantly, potholes that are repaired quickly and efficiently eliminate the safety risk that they pose to drivers.

We look forward to providing future additions to the Velocity SA fleet.”

MERCEDES-BENZ Tel: +27 (0)12 677 1500 Web: www.mercedes-benz.co.za

RIGHT Representatives from MercedesBenz, John Williams Commercial Vehicles Bloemfontein and Velocity Road Rehabilitation South Africa at the official handover of the new trucks IMIESA offers advertisers an ideal platform to ensure maximum exposure of their brand. Companies are afforded the opportunity of publishing a two-page cover story and a cover picture to promote their products to an appropriate audience. Please call Jenny Miller on +27 (0)11 467 6223 to secure your booking.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

7

IMESA AFFILIATE MEMBERS

IMESA

Afri-Infra

afri-infra@mweb.co.za

Kgatelopele Consulting

AJ Broom Road Products

ajbroom@icon.co.za

Knowledge Base

Arup SA

rob.lamb@arup.com

Lektratek Water

Aurecon

Danie.Wium@aurecongroup.com

Makhaotse Narasimulu & Associates

Bigen Group Africa

otto.scharfetter@bigenafrica.com

Maragela Consulting Engineers

BKS Consulting Engineers

siyandan@bks.co.za

Much Asphalt

BMK Consulting

brian@bmkconsulting.co.za

Nyeleti Consulting

Bosch Stemele

bsdbn@boschstemele.co.za

Odour Engineering Systems

Bosch Munitech

info@boschmunitech.co.za

BVI Consulting Engineers

marketing@bviho.co.za

CBI Consulting Engineers

durban@cbisa.co.za

Civilconsult Consulting Engineers Civil & Blasting Solutions Concrete Manufacturers

mail@civilconsult.co.za jane@drillingandblasting.co.za cma@mweb.co.za

Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa secretary@corrosioninstitute.org.za

kgatelopele@wol.co.za info@knowbase.co.za general@lwt.co.za mmakhaotse@mna-sa.co.za admin@maragelaconsulting.co.za john.onraet@murrob.com ppienaar@nyeleti.co.za mathewc@oes.co.za

PD Naidoo & Associates Consulting Engineers Johannesburg@pdna.co.za Power Construction

nbarnard@powergrp.co.za

Pumptron

info@pumptron.co.za

Pragma Africa

deang@pragma.co.za

Rocla Royal HaskoningDHV SBS Water Systems

karen.devos@murrob.co.za francisg@rhdv.com irene@sbsgroup.co.za

CSIR Built Environment

LAustin@csir.co.za

Sektor Consulting

cradock@sektor.co.za

Davies Lynn & Partners

dlpdbn@dlp.co.za

Sight Lines

sales@sightlines.co.za

divb@dbsa.org.za

SiVEST SA

Development Bank of SA DPI Plastics EFG Engineers Elster Kent Metering EnviroServ Waste Management Geotechnologies GLS Consulting Goba Hidrostal SA Huber Technology Hydro-comp Enterprises I@Consulting Iliso Consulting Infraset Jeffares and Green Johannesburg Water

mgoodchild@dpiplastics.co.za eric@efgeng.co.za keith.bailey@za.elster.com benoitl@millenniumwaste.co.za garry@geotechnologies.co.za nicky@gls.co.za trumang@goba.co.za hstal@mweb.co.za fstammer@lantic.net dan@edams.co.za louis_icon@mics.co.za monde@iliso.com fmyburgh@infraset.com dennyc@jgi.co.za rtaljaard@jwater.co.za

SNA Inc Siza Water Company

garths@sivest.co.za snapta@icon.co.za tionette.bates@sizawater.co.za

Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology director@sasst.org.za SRK Consulting Sulzer Pumps Wastewater Syntell Thm Engineers East London

jomar@srk.co.za Sonja.Hattingh@sulzer.com julia@syntell.co.za thmel@mweb.co.za

TPA Consulting

roger@tpa.co.za

UWP Consulting

zulchl@uwp.co.za

Vela VKE WorleyParsons WSP Group Africa WSSA WRP Zebra Surfacing

capetown@velavke.co.za chris.brandsen@WorleyParsons.com dirk.hattingh@mbs-wsp.co.za nbinase@wssa.co.za ronniem@wrp.co.za andrew@zebrasurfacing.co.za

NEWS

RURAL COMMUNITIES

The new water pioneers The South African government is currently deploying many efforts towards employment creation through massive infrastructure development projects.

E

MPLOYMENT CREATION also figures high in water programmes, such as the Working for Water and the River Health programme. However, these programmes are all rather top-down and very specialised. It is increasingly realised that there should be more community-driven projects in collaboration with local government.

These challenges and possible solutions were highly debated during the launch of the Water Research Commission’s (WRC) Water Currents Policy Series on 14 August 2012.

The launch attracted over 150 registered delegates and provided an opportunity to bridge the gaps between scientists, water users, policy makers, senior programme managers and implementers – particularly on one of the most pertinent topics of today: job creation.

“We intend the dialogues to be a solutionoriented discussion to address our challenges.

We have a rich repository of smart people in our science and technology system, who need to be tapped into to apply their research

capability beyond the laborator y,” stated the WRC CEO, Dhesigen Naidoo, during the opening address.

According to a leading expert on inequality and economic marginalisation in Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies , a policy research NGO, the time has come for South Africa to use public employment to respond to waterrelated challenges at community level and raise awareness of the scope and opportunity to do so while also building partnerships. The

ABOVE The Community Work Programme will enable small communities that are not situated near the several new large water supply schemes to be self-sufficient in a sustainable way

process, which is the essential logic of the local CWP. The international speaker, Shilp Verma of International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in India, provided a fascinating account of Mahatma Gandhi’s National Rural

“We have a rich repository of smart people in our science and technology system” opportunity does exist in the South African context to use labour to address social challenges at the local level through the Community Work Programme (CWP), with the large number of unemployed being viewed as an untapped resource. However, this requires a participatory

Employment Guarantee Act (2005), which aims at enhancing the livelihood security of people in rural areas by guaranteeing a hundred days of wage-employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. But despite

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

9

NEWS

the advantages of an employment guarantee, Verma conceded that a well-implemented public works programme should, over time, crowd itself out. This needs to be internalised in performance assessment and long-term planning, accompanied with transparency and accountability that is built into the project design.

“South Africa should start looking at using innovative robust and scalable methodologies for community-driven water development, linked to municipalities’ Integrated Development Plans, with solutions for inclusive planning, informed technology choice and democratic accountability,” says Barbara van Koppen, a new board member of the WRC. Among the delegates was the well-known rural development activist from Cullinan, Mma Tshepo Khumbane, who echoed her sentiment:

“I have served in many government planning structures and have been saying one thing: that the top-down approach does not work for village projects; if you want to see change involve the villagers from the beginning”.

In her closing summary, the WRC research manager, Inga Jacobs, gave emphasis to the key points that were highlighted by the dialogue, which included public awareness as a key driver to the sustainability of environmental interventions. The dialogue revealed that a lot could be achieved through cross-sectoral collaboration

ABOVE An interior view of a large urban reservoir – the opposite end of the scale compared to what is envisaged for the Community Work Programme

and joint resource mobilisation for implementation and action research. It shows that public employment is not the silver bullet, despite the advantages of employment guarantees – there is a desperate need to address the structural (social and economic) issues at play. This means that the time is gone for regarding communities as experiments – they are pioneers!

LEFT Arthur Ndlovu, programme manager for the Seriti Institute in the Community Work Programme MIDDLE WRC CEO, Dhesigan Naidoo, with the deputy minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi RIGHT Vusi Montsho, CEO of Bantsho Management and Marketing Strategies, during the Q&A session of the WRC’s Water Dialogue event

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

11

PROJECT NEWS

CONTRACTOR NEWS

Pipe jacking proves to be a popular technique

By June this year, Esorfranki had secured an order book for pipe jacking and associated projects worth in the region of R100 million. This will comfortably see the pipe jacking team through to the end of the year.

T

HIS UPSWING in business is attributed to increasing recognition of the team’s world-class expertise in this arena and to Esorfranki’s renewed focus on grouting and shaft sinking projects.

“The current order book exceeds our performance compared to the same time last year,” explains Anton Naude, Esorfranki’s pipe jacking director.

“We’ve added additional personnel to our team to help us manage this workload. Our core jacking team has decades of experience in all kinds of challenging conditions, with a track record of successful projects spanning more than three decades.

“Our team, which includes a surveyor, is complemented by a full range of jacking equipment. At any given time we are able to have 23 pipe jacks out in the field. Uniquely, we also have our own four-man in-house blasting team,

RIGHT Esorfranki was responsible for jacking operations at Concor Civils’ Hoy Street contract BELOW A view down the shaft on the Jukskei pipe jacking project

12

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

making us the only company in South Africa to be able to conduct blasting, surveying and pipe jacking using in-house capabilities.”

Pipe jacking is a specialist technique used to install underground pipelines and culverts with minimal disruption to property, traffic

or services on the surface. Pipes and culverts are progressively advanced through the ground using high-performance hydraulic jacks. Material at the head of the pipeline or culvert is excavated to the exact profile of the structure prior to jacking. This material is

PROJECT NEWS

removed to the jacking pit via the structure being jacked, where it is hoisted and tipped.

Pipe jacking is used for sewers and stormwater drains, gas and water mains, electricity and telephone cables, box culverts and subways.

The company has just completed a R 2.5 million subcontract awarded by MIS Pipelines for Johannesburg Water, involving 102 m of jacking underneath the Jukskei River at a depth of about 9 m. The project, which started in January 2012, called for jacking a domestic water pipe with an inside diameter of 1 200 mm through solid rock and water.

“These difficult conditions required us to pump water out of the working area on a 24/7 basis to keep the river water down to a level that allowed us to work effectively,” states Naude.

“When we started the project, it was envisaged that we would work 1.5 m below the river bed, but this was subsequently extended to 3 m.”

At Eskom’s Medupi Power Station, Esorfranki is working towards the completion of a project

to join three tailings dams by pipe jacking two 1 800 mm inside diameter pipes through 60 m of solid rock. This project, awarded as a subcontract to Civcon, has involved blasting activities and putting anchors into a cube of solid concrete to hold the backwall in position during the jacking process. The Esorfranki team is working double shifts to complete the project on time.

The pipe jacking team is also active at Anglo American’s Kriel Colliery 45 km outside Witbank, Mpumalanga, which provides coal for Eskom’s Kriel Power Station. This subcontract, awarded by Cycad Pipelines, involves jacking a water line for the Department of Water Affairs.

“Here, we proposed lateral support next to the road, along with micropiles going down to 9 m,” says Naude. “We’ll establish two caissons on either side of the road to pump out the water. After placing a 16 m slider, we’ll jack a 1 500 mm steel pipe under the road.”

Also at Kriel, and with an eye on re-establishing itself in the shaft sinking and grouting

ABOVE Pipe jacking operations under way on the Medupi site

remaining 15 m. This shaft will hole through into the existing mine.

Elsewhere in the country, the team has been awarded another grouting project, this one a subcontract from Norland Construction at the Cengane Dam in the Eastern Cape, about 80 km from Umtata, where a new dam wall is planned. Esorfranki will provide about 600 m2 of dry curtain grouting under pressure to fill any cavities before construction work begins.

“This is the first job of its kind that we’ve

This technique ensures minimal disruption to road and railway traffic, making it a sought-after method in a rapidly urbanising environment market, Naude’s team is poised to begin work on securing a high wall and, alongside Esorfranki’s Civils Division, sinking a 33 m shaft.

Mine management is planning to revisit mining at the 20-year-old high wall and Esorfranki has been called in to secure the area, which is about 30 m high. This will be accomplished using building scaffolding and cranes with man-cages. First, the loose material will be cleaned out using high pressure water and air, after which gunite with fibres will secure the remaining material. “We’ll erect mesh from the top and introduce 1.8 m rock bolts and 75 mm of gunite,” Naude explains.

“This job is expected to take just under five months and we are currently moving machinery and materials onto site.”

For the shaft sinking project, Esorfranki is providing excavation and support for the new 14 m diameter shaft at Kriel Colliery. The team is planning to excavate down 18 m through soft material and then blast excavate the

undertaken and we regard it as a step in the right direction as part of our strategic plan to re-enter the grouting market,” says Naude.

Esorfranki also specialises in bridge jacking, having successfully jacked four large bridge structures into place in the past two years. This technique ensures minimal disruption to road and railway traffic, making it a sought-after method in a rapidly urbanising environment.

Working in conjunction with specialist consulting engineers Jones & Wagner, the company recently completed the construction of a road underpass through a railway embankment in Newclare, Johannesburg South, to link Price Street and Hoy Street for the Johannesburg Development Agency.

This R7.8 million project was conducted for Concor Civils and included lateral support. Esorfranki constructed a 14-m wide by 8-m high culvert into the railway embankment, through which a bridge was successfully jacked.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

13

WATER IN AFRICA

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Water cycle for sustainable operations

Water is a vital resource. It is essential for human life and well-being, healthy ecosystems, global food security, energy and industry. Without it, human existence and development of the global economy are doomed.

N

EVER BEFORE HAS the issue of water security and availability received such focus, and rightly so.

Economic development, population growth, food security and climate change are all likely to contribute to severe shortages and degradation of global water supplies and ecosystems over the next 30 years, particularly in the developing world.

In recent years, African countries have demonstrated a renewed commitment to industrialisation as part of a broader agenda to diversify economies as a critical vehicle for growth and poverty reduction in the region. This has seen a rapid acceleration in growth on the continent, generating with it new opportunities for investment. When it comes to future LEFT A plant operator maintaining the daily operation of the wastewater treatment plant

14

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

WATER IN AFRICA

LEFT Industry needs to ensure operations are sustainable to secure future water supply RIGHT This picture shows how water is treated over different phases resulting in potable water

global investment strategies, Africa is high on the agenda for investors and entrepreneurs.

However, this also brings with it substantial challenges â&#x20AC;&#x201C; particularly in the realm of water availability and security.

Water is critical for many businesses, and by its nature non-substitutable. All goods and services require water in their production, and water is used in some way in all manufacturing processes. Companies are increasingly being faced with physical water shortages or quality issues, which causes disruptions to continuity and volumes of production, reduced revenues, and poses potential regularity and reputational consequences. Business sectors such as agriculture and beverages face even more direct challenges as sustainable sources of good quality water, particularly in regions characterised by growing water stress, become harder to find. Although Africa is a continent endowed with rich natural resources, many parts of the country have limited access to water due to insufficient infrastructure and poor governance. Where water is available, habitually in the more populated areas, the quality is often severely compromised due to lack of adequate sanitation or waste disposal services, mining discharges, industrial effluent and agricultural run-off. Consequently, available freshwater (both ground and surface water) becomes heavily polluted chemically and pathologically.

Furthermore, water sources in Africa are predominantly transboundary and are exposed to significant agricultural, mineral and industrial extraction across a number of competing regions. The water sector is also strongly influenced by, and sensitive to, changes in climate and prolonged climate variability. Climate change will not have uniform impacts on water issues across the continent, but will aggravate water stress in some areas while reducing it in others. As pressure from demographic and economic growth intensifies and the competition for food, energy and water multiplies, it is going to become increasingly critical for companies to look for innovative solutions for not only identifying and assessing water-related risks, but for optimising available water

sources to ensure operational and business longevity. Additional motivation for this is that the responsibility of urban and industrial water supplies is not typically a government priority as is the case in more developed countries.

Therefore, the challenge of ensuring a sustainable water source of adequate quality for use in operations is likely to remain a responsibility of companies operating in Africa.

The development and application of water management practices and technologies provides alternative and reliable water sources

and technology selection that will suit the company, their operations and industry effectively.

This enables the water management company, such as Talbot & Talbot, to ensure sustainable supply of good quality water and optimal operational and maintenance costs. As treatment requires sophisticated technologies, the risk of failure is particularly high, especially given the challenges associated with construction, operation and maintenance of such facilities in Africa. Effective management from the outset is fundamental and allows for timeous

Climate change will not have uniform impacts on water issues across the continent, but will aggravate water stress in some areas while reducing it in others for operation. The entire operational water cycle should be considered, including sourcing adequate quality water for use in operations, in factory water management practices and in wastewater treatment and discharge.

Opportunities for biogas recovery as a green energy source and water recovery for reuse become viable options, particularly in companies situated in Africa where these needs are not easily met by current infrastructure.

In a region expected to experience severe water scarcity by 2025, the potential for reusing wastewater in Africa cannot be ignored.

Yet despite such potential, the effectiveness and success of such initiatives relies largely on the successful partnering with a reputable water and wastewater management company.

Effective partnering offers companies the best chance for a water management solution

delivery of critical information and feedback essential for performance optimisation, higher recover y of recycled water, benchmarking and trending of plants and forewarning to allow for mitigation of potential malfunctions or disruptions. Although initial investments in such treatment technologies may be substantial, the pay back is justified in terms of security of supply and continued operation, water loss control and use efficiency.

Further benefits include improved corporate reputation as infrastructure investments service local communities and aid in protecting environmental resources.

This leads to improving water management, securing water for the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations, water management beyond the factory gate and ensuring that client-orientated water risks are considered.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

15

IN THE HOT SEAT

ECHO GROUP: examining prestressed and reinforced flooring systems for the housing market

The national solution is

cast in concrete Richard Jansen van Vuuren speaks to Melinda Esterhuizen, Echo Group marketing director, about the design-to-installation solutions offered by the four companies comprising the national representation of the group.

Please supply a brief background to the Echo Group The Echo Group comprises four separate manufacturing companies around the country. Echo Prestress and Echo

Floors in Johannesburg, Echo Prestress in Durban and Topfloor in Cape Town; both the Johannesburg-based companies are ISO9001 accredited and carry the SABS mark. Echo Durban and Topfloor are in the process of obtaining both an ISO and SABS mark. Echo Floors was established in 1983 and its factory and office is based in Muldersdrift, Gauteng.

Echo Prestress was established in 1995 and its manufacturing facilities and office are

ABOVE Housing units within the Jabulani and Fleurhof housing developments where floor slabs were supplied by Echo Prestress LEFT A view of the installation process

16

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

based in Chloorkop, Gauteng. Echo Prestress Durban was established in 2006 and operates out of Effingham, while Topfloor, established in 1997, is based in Bellville, Cape Town.

What are the core products manufactured at these facilities? Echo Floors manufactures reinforced hollow core slabs with a depth of 150 mm and lengths in 100 mm increments up to 8.2 m, with a standard width of 900 mm. Echo Prestress â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Johannesburg, Durban and Topfloor in Cape Town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; manufactures prestressed hollow core slabs in depths of 120, 150, 170, 200 and 250 mm, in lengths up to 11 m and of a standard width of 1 200 mm.

IN THE HOT SEAT

ABOVE LEFT Echo Floors supplied a total of 10 000 m2 of 150 mm reinforced slab to the social housing aspects of Hlanganani in Cosmo City

What housing projects has the Echo Group recently been involved with?

Topfloor is currently supplying a flooring system to the Nuwe Begin development in Cape ABOVE RIGHT A view of housing Town, which consists of 1 000 double-storey units within the Tshedazani housing development in Roodepoort where ‘walk-up’ housing units. Topfloor is supplying 8 000 m2 of 150 mm reinforced slab was around 21 000 m2 of prestressed 150 mm supplied by Echo Floors slabs to the project, which is due for completion at the end of 2012.

Echo Prestress Durban was involved in the What applications are the flooring Umkhumbaan housing project where 10 000 m2 systems suited to? Echo Floors (only avail- of 150 mm prestressed slabs were supplied.

Echo Floors Johannesburg supplied able in Gauteng) supplies the reinforced hollow core option suited to projects that have internal the Hlanganani Gardens housing development within Cosmo City with 10 000 m2 of 150 mm reinforced slabs. It also supplied product to the Tshedazani Melinda Esterhuizen, housing development in Roodepoort, where 8 000 m2 Echo Group marketing director of 150 mm reinforced slab load bearing walls, resulting in short spans for was supplied. Echo Prestress supplied the the floor slabs. Echo Prestress Johannesburg, Pennyville project in Soweto, where 20 000 m2 Durban and Topfloor are prestressed hollow of 150 mm prestressed slab was installed; as core slabs and suited to all types of applica- well as the Jabulani housing project, also in tions – short and long, but ideally suited to long Soweto, where 4 000 housing units are curspan applications – where the internal walls rently being constructed. aren’t load bearing.

The Johannesburg office is also involved in Echo reinforced hollow core concrete slabs the Fleurhof housing development, which comcan be used for most types of buildings with prises 7 600 housing units. This development short spans between load-bearing supports. involves the construction of houses varying Typical applications are residential, including between 30 and 100 m². The construction townhouses, clusters and large-scale housing programme began in 2010 and will run till developments within the gap market. Echo’s 2016. Some of the units are being sold on products have become a preferred solution for the open market, others fall under the RDP affordable housing developments. Besides the umbrella and the remainder will be allocated obvious advantages of simpler, faster construc- for social rental and the gap market. tion, not to mention a more durable end product, the secret of applying the flooring solution How would you describe your sersuccessfully is in the pre-planning stage. vice and product offering to the

Echo’s products have become a preferred solution for affordable housing developments

housing market? The Echo Group provides a complete service, from the professional design to the manufacture, delivery, installation and grouting of precast reinforced hollow core slabs. This includes detailed layout drawing, design and engineer’s certification, site measurement, supply of slabs, full installation service, grouting between the joints, as well as the supply of structural steel over openings where and if necessary.

What would a typical installation process entail? The Echo panels would be hoisted into position by a mobile ortruckmounted crane, which means that building would need to be easily accessible. Installation could amount to as much as 600 m2/day per installation team.

BELOW Echo Prestress hollow core system used at Pennyville in Soweto

ECHO GROUP Website: www.echo.co.za / www.topfloor.co.za Echo Prestress (JHB): +27 (0)11 589 8800 Echo Prestress (Durban): +27 (0)31 569 6950 Echo Floors (Reinforced): +27 (0)11 662 4600 Topfloor (Cape Town): +27 (0)21 951 7700

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

17

GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE

CGTA

Task team for Madibeng Local Municipality The minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Richard Baloyi, recently appointed a task team to investigate the matters that prompted the North West provincial government to consider placing Madibeng Local Municipality under Section 139 intervention.

T

HE TASK TEAM is expected to finish its work during September 2012, having started its investigation on 13 August 2012. The appointment is a result of the ongoing engagement among the Ministry for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the North West provincial government and Madibeng Municipal Council.

The minister has requested the team to establish facts on the following key issues that serve as terms of reference: • to establish whether reasons for the considered intervention wholly or partly exclude issues the minister requested the provincial government to investigate and report on earlier in the year • to consider whether the circumstances differ with terms of reference that necessitated intervention in the previous municipal council whose term of office ended in May 2011 • to consider whether constitutional obligations were fulfilled after the intervention in the previous municipal council • to establish if there are no other processes to best support the municipality without evoking Section 139 intervention • to establish if there is no other reason for the minister to hold a different view to that of the provincial government once the intervention takes effect • to ensure that the spirit, intervention, letter of the Constitution and enabling legislation on cooperative governance are respected (bill).

The provincial government has, in the meantime, deferred the implementation of the intervention in terms of section 139 (1)(b) of the Constitution. This is to allow the minister to consider the outcome of the task team’s investigation.

Baloyi also recently shared the ideals of cooperative governance with a delegation from

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IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

the Ethiopian House of Federation, which met the minister to learn about the South African governance system. The House of Federation is an upper house of the Ethiopian Parliament.

The department’s Intergovernmental Relations Act prescribes the rules of engagement among the three spheres of government.

The Cooperative Governance department and South African government have important lessons for Ethiopia, which has a federal system that operates almost similar to the country’s three-sphere government system.

COGTA also recently concluded its three-year Network of Tuscan and South African Local Governments (NETSAFRICA) partnership, which was funded by the Italian government. Its aim was to consolidate the role of local institutions in the realisation of effective policies and

In November 2007 the government of Italy and the regional government of Tuscany undertook a joint assessment mission to identify possible areas of cooperation between the two countries. In 2008 the programme’s proposal was approved with an overall budget of €4 million (R41.51 million), and this marked the official beginning of the programme, which resulted in a memorandum of understanding that was signed in 2009.

In the conference held in Pretoria recently to mark the end of this partnership, the delegates from both countries reflected on its successes.

Under the NETSAFRICA partnership, four municipalities – Buffalo City Metro, OR Tambo District Municipality, Ekurhuleni Metro and Metsweding District Municipality – were supported. In Buffalo City, the partnership improved the ward-

The provincial government has, in the meantime, deferred the implementation of the intervention The minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Richard Baloyi services to alleviate poverty and improve community access to basic services.

NETSAFRICA is a network of Italian and South African local governments aimed at promoting partnerships, exchanging expertise among partners and strengthening targeted institutions using a “practitioner to practitioner” approach.

Under the NETSAFRICA partnership, four municipalities were supported to enhance their capacity to formulate policies and implement initiatives to alleviate poverty and improve people’s (within the selected municipalities) access to basic services within the context of the National Framework for Local Economic Development.

based planning system, which capacitated ward 15 and 40 communities to proactively identify their developmental needs and engage their municipality through a participatory approach.

The municipality was also assisted with its pilot project to promote agricultural cooperatives.

In the OR Tambo District the partnership contributed to the development of local informal trade at Lusikisiki and the learned lessons will be shared with all municipalities in the district.

In Ekurhuleni, the NETSAFRICA partnership is assisting with the testing of a model aimed at improving municipal waste services by involving community-based organisations in the two pilot areas of Wattville and Actonville.

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

SAPPMA

Pipe industry now proudly heavy metals free The Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association has announced that lead has been eliminated from all locally manufactured plastic pipe products.

T

HE SOUTHERN AFRICAN Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) also states that all plastic pipes manufactured by its members from now on are guaranteed to be free of heavy metals.

“SAPPMA was established to create absolute quality, trust and integrity throughout the value chain of the industry. In the interest of the consumer and good business practice, SAPPMA strongly promotes the highest possible product quality standards as well as environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and materials,” says Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA. Although lead does not leach from the plastic pipes and does not pose any danger to people once installed, SAPPMA was compelled to create a safer environment for the manufacturers where lead poisoning does pose a risk for their workers.

“We embarked on this journey in 2006, as a voluntary policy of heavy-metal-free stabilisers for the manufacture of PVC pipes. The reason for the initiative was based on health and environmental considerations and we are immensely proud of having reached our goal of eliminating all lead stabilisers from SAPPMA members’ piping products, five years ahead of the anticipated European Union targets,” Venter explains As a member of the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA), SAPPMA was also one of the signatories of the association’s Product Stewardship Programme – a voluntary programme aimed at ensuring that all heavy metal additives (primarily lead) are removed from workplace environments.

Venter admits that the process of removing lead from PVC piping has been long and costly for SAPPMA members, but stresses that it is a vitally important step to ensure future sustainability.

“SAPPMA members agreed to begin the process of removing lead stabilisers from their products six years ago. At that time, the price of alternative stabilisers was considerably higher than lead, and all SAPPMA members

incurred the additional costs at their own expense, without passing it on to the end-user.

Today we see the benefits of this step that has placed SAPPMA members right up front with other global leaders in the rest of the developed world,” says Venter.

Lead has been used as a PVC pipe stabiliser worldwide for more than 40 years and has excellent heat and UV resistance, which ensures a good cost-to-performance ratio.

During the manufacturing process, the lead is chemically bonded into the PVC pipe and cannot leach from the pipe. What’s more, all pipes containing lead undergo annual SANS 966 tests to ensure that the stabiliser does not leak. These tests, which are carried out by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) for various metals, have proven that lead is one of the metals least likely to leak – with a maximum expected leakage of 50 μg/ℓ, which is negligible. However, one of the commitments of the SAVA Product Stewardship Programme is the responsible and sustainable use of additives, including stabilisers, plasticisers, pigments and Bisphenol A. SAPPMA members have replaced lead with calcium/zinc and organic-based stabilisers that are non-toxic to humans.

“Calcium/zinc stabilisers have been used in PVC applications for more than 25 years and, in addition to being non-toxic, are essential elements to the human body. Organic-based

ABOVE According to SAPPMA, an estimated 80% of plastic pipe manufacturers in South Africa have eliminated lead stabilisers from their products

stabilisers are predominantly based on uracyl technology and are heavy metal and odour free, and approved for potable water and food contact applications,” Venter explains. The discipline has added value to SAPPMA’s life cycle thinking and takes into account end-of-life issues and waste management options. It has also become a requirement for SAPPMA membership and, as such, forms part of the regular SAPPMA factory audits.

According to SAPPMA, an estimated 80% of plastic pipe manufacturers in South Africa have eliminated lead stabilisers from their products, which has resulted in a rise in demand and consequent decrease in price, for alternative stabilisers. Although the cost of manufacturing pipes with calcium/zinc and other organicbased stabilisers is still somewhat higher than the lead alternative, local manufacturers are becoming more conscious of the health and safety of their workers and are prepared to cut into their profit margins to reduce the inherent risk of toxic exposure.

Following its unprecedented success, SAPPMA and its members are now driving forward an initiative with the SABS to exclude lead stabilisers from all current and future SABS pipe specifications.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

19

WATER AND WASTEWATER

Water for all towns and villages The Department of Water Affairs has embarked on a nationwide programme to develop water reconciliation strategies for all towns.

By ER Hay, Umvoto Africa; K Riemann, consultant; G van Zyl, consultant; I Thompson, Department of Water Affairs, Directorate: National Water Resource Planning

T

HE INITIATIVE TO develop a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Water Road Mapâ&#x20AC;? for South Africa at various scales was started by the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) in 2000, when the Water Situation Assessments (WSAs) for each major basin in South Africa was undertaken. These studies were followed by the Internal Strategic Perspectives for each water management area in 2004. Reconciliation Strategies for the major metropolitan areas (e.g. Johannesburg, Pretoria, East London and Cape Town) were completed in 2007. The implementation of these strategies is monitored by strategy steering committees. The approach has now been extended to all other metropolitan areas, as well as all towns and

villages or clusters of villages. The preparation of the strategies themselves, regardless of the size of the town, has involved a thorough documentation and analysis of available information, evaluation of projected growth scenarios to assess water requirements over the next 25 years and identification of potential additional sources to meet this growing requirement.

The directive towards the consultants states that, besides water conservation and water demand management, groundwater development needs to be promoted in all strategies, where this is a feasible option.

It has emerged, however, that the poor operations and maintenance of water supply, treatment and reticulation infrastructure

are resulting in significant losses, which if corrected can reverse water shortages being experienced. Similarly, the generally poor management of effluent remains a threat to surface and groundwater quality downstream. It appears that the reluctance of many municipalities to consider groundwater as an augmentation option, due to perceived unreliability of the resource and staff and skill shortages to effectively manage the resource, is more a general operational issue than a groundwater resource-specific issue and pertains to the full cycle of water services.

The current situation of water security is discussed with examples from the Eastern and Western Cape, and the role groundwater can

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

21

e to th W r. at O e h H ff ot G S n o bo IN tio ur IN olu to M s si A ll Vi CTR r fu E ou EL ee s

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WATER AND WASTEWATER

and must play in ensuring sufficient water supply for the future is highlighted.

All towns study The DWA commenced with a nationwide programme in 2008 to develop water reconciliation strategies for all towns and villages across the country, after successfully completing reconciliation strategies for the metropolitan areas. The overall objective of the studies was to provide first order water availability and water requirements reconciliation strategies for all towns and villages in South Africa. The large number of rural villages that occur in the study

TABLE 1 Recommended per capita water requirements for different categories of settlements

CATEGORY OF SETTLEMENT ℓ/ CAPITA/ D Medium size towns

150 to 200

Small towns

200 to 250

Coastal towns (permanent residents)

200 to 250

Coastal towns (seasonal visitors)

80 to 130

Rural villages

60 to 100

Farm villages

100 to 150

shortfall or data gaps beyond the scope of this study and/or requiring separate attention

The calculated water requirements are, in most cases, based on theoretical requirements region was grouped as clusters to facilitate integrated water resource management rather than the development of a huge number of stand-alone schemes. Towns and clusters of villages were studied in order of priority as regards their water resource problems, and completed in that sequence.

The main objectives of the study were: • to identify towns with immediate need for high intensity reconciliation studies • to identify towns that do not need any further reconciliation strategies • to provide first order reconciliation strategies for all towns • to support the DWA regional offices and the WSAs • to provide information that can be included in regional and national planning instruments (NWRS, ISPs, CMSs) • to provide information that can be included in planning instruments of local government to aid their alignment of local development plans and policies (e.g. WSDPs, IDPs, SDFs) to national and regional strategies (e.g.

NWRS, ISPs, CMSs,).

It was not considered feasible or necessary to develop a reconciliation strategy for each town or settlement. Hence, towns, villages and settlements were grouped together into logical clusters based on their current water resources for which a single reconciliation strategy could be developed. The grouping of towns, villages and settlements has been undertaken, based on current or proposed water supply schemes.

The current water balance and the water infrastructure situation were established for each town or group of towns and villages, based on the available information. Data gaps were identified and marked in the strategies for attention. Towns with a significant water supply

were ‘red-flagged’ for detailed reconciliation or further follow-up.

Current situation of water supply at local municipal level There has been a major emphasis in the past decade in addressing the backlogs in water supply infrastructure in the informal suburbs of urban towns and in rural areas, with many rural water supply schemes having been commissioned. These schemes included both surface and groundwater supplies throughout the rural areas.

A number of common issues across municipalities and provinces were identified, which impact on the water supply and service delivery at local municipal level. These can be grouped into issues about: • available technical skills • operation and maintenance of existing schemes • drinking water and wastewater quality • water use efficiency • competition for water resources.

while the water requirements in more affluent, developed towns can easily increase to 250 ℓ/ capita/d. Table 1 presents the categorisation of ‘per capita’ water requirements for each type of town.

Based on these recommended water requirement scenarios, the theoretical water requirement for domestic use is ~110 million cubic metres per annum and ~210 million cubic metres per annum in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, respectively; excluding the metropolitan areas. The actual water consumption is expected to be significantly higher with some towns displaying per capita requirements of more than 400 ℓ/capita/d, especially the coastal holiday towns along the South Coast.

Water losses In addition, the water losses are very high in many towns and there is often no water conservation and water demand management strategy in place to address the water losses and other measures to reduce the water requirements.

Due to a lack of reliable data on water consumption, the calculated water requirements are, in most cases, based on theoretical requirements, which are then further used to estimate the non-revenue water.

In addition, the local schemes are often operated on the basis ‘as needed’ without having operation and maintenance (O&M) plans and drought response plans in place. Hence, any failure of scheme components or changing weather pattern results in water shortages that

Water requirements The water requirements of communities and towns vary significantly throughout the country, depending on factors such as the climatic conditions, level of service, socioeconomic situation, wet industries, institutional capacity and consumer behaviour. However, there are guidelines on what constitutes an acceptable level of water consumption. The minimum requirements according to the World Health Organisation are 25 ℓ/capita/d, which equals the accepted norm for free basic water of 6 kℓ/ month for a household of eight. A more realistic water requirement for the minimum level of service (i.e. RDP standard) is about 60 ℓ/capita/d,

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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WATER AND WASTEWATER

TABLE 2 Examples of water losses (unaccounted for water, UAW) in the Eastern and Western Cape TOWN

POPULATION WATER CONSUMPTION UNACCOUNTED FOR WATER Million m3/year

Million m3/year

%

Adelaide

10 500

0.727

0.43

60%

Bedford

13 250

0.526

0.12

22%

Alice, Middeldrift

52 000

3.67

1.15

57%

Stutterheim

14 400

1.29

0.56

44%

Mthatha & surrounds

230 000

13.0

6.0

46%

Tulbagh

7 000

0.79

0.42

45%

Beaufort West

33 300

2.5

1.3

52%

could easily have been avoided. It has been recognised in several previous studies that failure of groundwater schemes can in most cases be attributed to a lack of effective O&M. It appears from the analysis of the information gathered during the All Towns Study that at least 34 million cubic metres of water is lost in the Western Cape alone (excluding Cape Town and surrounds) each year between the water resource and the end user, of which more than 10 million cubic metres per annum could be saved through the implementation of effective water conservation and water demand management measures. This would be enough to supply the water requirements of a town like George or Stellenbosch. The situation in the Eastern Cape is worse, with several examples of towns where 50% and more of the water abstracted does not reach the endusers (see Table 2). Very often these are just estimates, as the actual water consumption is seldom metered.

land management and source protection.

The Blue Drop Report (DWA, 2010) provides details of the drinking water quality situation for towns and supply areas that are served from a water treatment works (WTW). The figures in Table 3 reflect volume-weighted averages of all schemes and exclude water supply areas without treatment, like most rural schemes.

The smaller stand-alone water supply and treatment schemes may achieve the required drinking water standard, but often lack the required water quality management to ensure continuously good drinking water quality.

The situation for the wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) is bleaker in many instances, with many works not complying with effluent quality standards. It seems that with few exceptions only the metropolitan areas and bigger towns achieved acceptable Green Drop scores. The non-compliance with effluent water quality standards results in the risk of pollution to water resources that are potential water sources for users downstream.

In most cases, the poor condition of WTWs and WWTWs can be attributed to neglect of the works from an O&M perspective. The aforementioned refers only to the supply areas that have treatment works for water supply or sanitation services. The majority of the population in the rural areas does not have access to treated water and or to adequate sanitation services, which creates both a health problem for the population and a risk of water pollution. Monitoring data of selected rural boreholes in the Eastern Cape indicates the extent of the groundwater pollution with microbiological pollutants.

Groundwater use Groundwater has historically been given limited attention and has not been perceived as an important water resource in South Africa. This is reflected in general statistics showing that only 13% of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s total water supply originates from groundwater. Public perception that groundwater is not a sustainable resource for bulk domestic supply and cannot be managed properly lingers. Despite this, a growing number of municipalities utilise groundwater on a regular basis, and provide examples of successful management of this resource (Riemann et al, 2011).

Due to the fact that most groundwater schemes are not properly managed and monitored, it is not possible to derive the total yield and or usage of the currently existing

TABLE 3 Average Blue Drop scores for all provinces (DWA, 2010)

Water quality Water quality of the resource and the drinking water is of concern throughout the country with many communities relying on untreated raw water from rivers, springs or boreholes. Many of these sources, especially in the vast rural areas, are contaminated due to lack of proper

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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WATER AND WASTEWATER

TABLE 4 Blue Drop and Green Drop scores of selected municipalities MUNICIPALITY

WATER QUALITY BLUE DROP COMPLIANCE

EFFLUENT QUALITY

GREEN DROP

George LM

99%

97%

Good

94%

Bitou LM

99%

98%

Fair

78%

Eden DM area

90%

23.5%

Not assessed

Cederberg LM

97%

60%

Poor

3%

Matzikama LM

95%

30.1%

Poor

0%

Amathole DM overall

95%

68.2%

Not assessed

Peddie scheme

99%

98%

Not assessed

ADM rural borehole schemes

95%

24%

Not assessed

Ikwezi LM

67%

6.5%

Not assessed

Kouga LM

96%

60.5%

Not assessed

Koukamma

~50%

15.8%

Not assessed

Cacadu DM rural schemes

80%

27%

Not assessed

The current water supply problems are not due to a lack of water resources, but rather a result of deteriorated infrastructure groundwater supply schemes. A rough estimate of the known yield of groundwater schemes in the Western Cape shows that about 10% of the total yield there currently stems from groundwater, which compares well to the national average of 8 to 13% (DWA, 2008).

The comparison of the number of towns relying on groundwater as their major or sole source of water with towns that utilise other sources of water shows a different picture and illustrates the importance that groundwater already plays for ensuring adequate water supply to towns and villages.

The Groundwater Resource Information Project (GRIP) that the DWA recently undertook in the Eastern Cape confirms the importance of groundwater for rural water supply. More than half of the visited and surveyed communities across the Eastern Cape are supplied by groundwater from over 2 000 boreholes. At this stage the GRIP covered only a part of the rural area of the Eastern Cape. A database with all water supply infrastructure in the Eastern

Cape (DWA, 2011) has about 10 000 entries for boreholes that are presumably used by the respective communities.

Proposed interventions A number of towns and most of the villages in the rural areas already experience a shortfall in water supply, as the current supply infrastructure cannot meet the water requirements. This will be exacerbated in 20 or 30 years to come, as the water requirements will increase due to population growth, economic development and the envisaged change in service level for most communities.

To alleviate the shortfall in water supply and allow for the required upgrade in the level of water services in some of the towns and the rural villages, several local intervention options are available, including: • implementation of water demand management measures • upgrade of existing infrastructure to increase yield or assurance of supply

TABLE 4 Water supply sources used in municipalities in the Eastern and Western Cape DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

GROUNDWATER

SURFACE WATER

Total

Total

Sole source

OTHER

Sole source

Alfred Nzo

3

1

4

1

Amathole *

12

5

27

16

Cacadu

34

24

33

22

Chris Hani *

10

9

10

6

OR Tambo *

4

1

11

5

Cape Winelands

4

1

24

12

Central Karoo

8

5

5

2

1

Eden

13

9

39

21

4

Overberg

16

10

25

16

West Coast

20

15

37

28

* Eastern Cape municipalities, excluding village supplies

1

• • • • •

groundwater development small-scale surface water development water trading water reuse desalination of seawater (for coastal towns) or brackish water • rainwater harvesting.

Water conservation and demand management As is clear from the significant water losses and the sometimes high water consumption as indicated by the per capita demand, the development and full implementation of a water conservation and water demand management strategy (WC/WDM) for each town or municipality is essential to reduce the municipal water consumption to acceptable levels. The main elements of such a WC/WDM strategy are: 1. Installing monitoring devices to measure water consumption at different locations within the distribution network, e.g. at abstraction point, WTW, pressure or distribution zones and end-user.

2. Reducing water losses through: • leak detection and repair • replacement of old distribution network • pressure control in pipeline network, inter alia.

3. Reducing water consumption through: • public awareness campaigns • block tariff and billing system • the installation of water use efficient fittings, inter alia.

In addition, the development of an O&M plan is suggested, which allows for changing the operational settings and introducing water restrictions depending on climatic conditions, as well as pre-empting and planning the required maintenance to reduce downtime and avoid infrastructure failure.

The Baviaans Municipality has recently completed a water demand management initiative to reduce water losses. At the same time, a telemetry system was installed to improve the operation of the groundwater well field, which is located about 30 km outside of Willowmore.

This has improved its reliability of water supply and reduced water consumption to avoid imminent water restrictions.

Refurbishment or upgrade of existing infrastructure The All Towns study has shown that most of the current water supply problems are not due to a lack of water resources, but rather a result of deteriorated infrastructure. Often, the best and most cost-effective solution lies in the refurbishment and proper maintenance

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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WATER AND WASTEWATER

of existing infrastructure. This was mainly found with groundwater schemes, where boreholes were dismantled or pumps broken, and the municipalities then complained about the ‘unreliability’ of groundwater.

Similarly, the possibility for reuse of water is compromised by the status of most WWTWs (see above). Although reuse of water needs to be considered for future water supply, the reality in most municipalities is that the WWTWs can not produce the required water quality standard at a reliable level of confidence.

Hence, upgrading of the existing infrastructure together with the introduction of proper O&M measures and management oversight is required to ensure safe water supply.

Groundwater development In cases where the above measures are not sufficient to cater for the expected shortfall in water supply, exploration and development of known and new target areas will have to play an important role. Since there are only a few rivers left that can be further developed with surface water schemes of sufficient size to warrant the investment, groundwater development is recommended as one of the future options in most of the strategies.

During the recent droughts in the Eastern and Southern Cape, most municipalities established a number of boreholes for emergency

exploration drilling programme for towns in the Karoo, mainly within the Cacadu District Municipality. Towns that are in urgent need of additional water supplies were identified in the All Towns study and include Jansenville, Rietbron, Steytlerville, Pearston, Paterson, inter alia. All of these towns are solely relying on groundwater sources, as the climatic conditions do not allow for the development of surface water sources.

Conclusions and recommendations The All Towns Reconciliation Strategy study has shown that most of the current water supply problems and restrictions could be avoided by proper management of the existing schemes.

This must include: • water conservation and water demand management • operation and maintenance • asset management • refurbishment of existing infrastructure.

In the recommendations for the strategies developed in the All Towns study, the use and development of groundwater resources is promoted, as it is often considered by the DWA as the more reliable and feasible option.

Local groundwater development is by far more cost effective, especially in the rural areas, than the construction of huge dams with a widespread distribution network to reach all

Local groundwater development is by far more cost effective, especially in the rural areas, than the construction of huge dams supply. Most of these investigations were successful. However, the municipalities are still reluctant to incorporate the emergency supply into their regular water supply system.

The information and recommendations from the All Towns strategies are already utilised for follow-up studies and the potential for groundwater development was already proven in several cases, e.g.: • Drilling of exploration and production boreholes has commenced in Middelburg in the Chris Hani District Municipality and individual yields of up to 12 ℓ/s have been achieved, which is sufficient to meet the current shortfall and possibly cater for future growth.

• Recently, several high-yielding boreholes of up to 50 ℓ/s have been drilled in Matatiele in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, which if confirmed by further borehole testing could provide a feasible alternative to the proposed dam on the Kinira River.

The DWA has recently embarked on an

the communities. However, this can only be achieved if any infrastructure development projects and or repair measures are combined with skills development and training on all levels within the municipal structure to ensure that the local schemes are operated efficiently and reliably. Aquifers and municipal groundwater schemes must be managed effectively in accordance with best practice guidelines and groundwater management frameworks.

•

•

•

•

REFERENCES • Department of Water Affairs, South Africa (2008). Strategic Framework on Water for Sustainable Growth and Development – Summary Discussion Document • Department of Water Affairs, South Africa (2009). Green Drop Report 2009 – South African Waste Water Quality Management Performance. Pretoria • Department of Water Affairs, South Africa (2010). Blue Drop Report 2010 – South

African Drinking Water Quality Management Performance. Pretoria Department of Water Affairs, South Africa (2010). Development of Reconciliation Strategies for all Towns in the Southern Planning Region: Summar y Report – Amathole District Municipality. Prepared

by Umvoto Africa (Pty) Ltd in association with Aurecon (Pty) Ltd on behalf of the Directorate: National Water Resource Planning. DWA Report No. Department of Water Affairs, South Africa (2010). Development of Reconciliation Strategies for all Towns in the Southern Planning: Summary Report – Eden District Municipality. Prepared by Umvoto Africa (Pty) Ltd in association with Aurecon (Pty) Ltd on behalf of the Directorate: National Water Resource Planning. DWA Report Department of Water Affairs, South Africa (2011). Database of water services infrastructure for Alfred Nzo DM, Amathole DM, Chris Hani DM and O.R. Tambo DM. DWA Water Services Eastern Cape Riemann, K, D. Louw, N. Chimboza & M. Fubesi (2011). Groundwater Management Framework. WRC Report No. 1917/1/11.

Water Research Commission South Africa, Pretoria

Acknowledgement This study would not have been possible without the support and valuable input by the DWA D: NWRP and the regional offices in the Eastern and Western Cape. The input into the strategies by the municipalities is much appreciated.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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WATER AND WASTEWATER

WATER TREATMENT

Turnkey reverse osmosis solution Veolia Water Solutions and Technologies South Africa has been contracted to design, install and commission a reverse osmosis plant for one of South Africa’s sugar manufacturers.

T

HE PROJECT FORMED part of an upgrade of the refinery’s off-crop refining capabilities. Cane is milled for about nine months of the year, with most of the process water attained from the moisture in the cane. During off-crop season, no cane is milled or raw sugar produced, but the refining process continues. Steam from the boiler is required for this process, and the additional water needed for this purpose thus has to be obtained from the on-site boreholes.

“There was a set of softeners in place to remove the hardness of the borehole water, but these were becoming obsolete and could not cope with the demand. Additionally, the client had to occasionally chemically clean the

boiler at great cost as a result of the inadequate softener system. The requirement was to design a complete new system to deliver sufficient quality and quantity of industrial water to feed the boiler,” explains Warrick Sanders, project engineer, Veolia Water Solutions and Technologies South Africa.

The feed water for the plant is supplied from a borehole, which gets filtered through iron removal filters, before undergoing softening through the client’s existing softeners. In the next treatment step, the water is passed through an ultrafiltration unit to reduce its SDI (silt density index). From the ultrafiltration unit, the water is fed to the reverse osmosis (RO) units, from which the good quality permeate water is fed into a holding tank and the brine

to a slave RO tank. Additional good quality permeate water is recovered from the slave RO, which is fed by this tank. All RO permeate, at a capacity of 90 to 100 m³/hour, is pumped into the client’s tank.

Veolia supplied two iron removal filters, four holding tanks, two ultrafiltration trains installed on skids, three RO skids, various pumping equipment and in-line measuring instruments, as well as the Hydrex range of chemicals.

“The project posed a challenge due to a fixed deadline. Certain standard equipment was imported from our sister companies, Aquafab in Spain (three RO skids) and Berkefeld in Germany (two ultrafiltration skids), to save on manufacturing time, but due to shipping delays, the timeline was very tight,” explains Sanders.

Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies South Africa provided most of the training and will be assisting with follow-up chemical supply and plant services in the future.

The company was also recently contracted by a global engineering, procurement and construction management company to design, fabricate and supply a brackish water treatment plant for the second phase of a mine in Mauritania, North West Africa. In terms of the LEFT A total of 62.5 m3 per hour of reverse osmosis permeate will be supplied to the process plant

30

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

WATER AND WASTEWATER

LEFT The reverse osmosis skids used at the Veolia RO plant to help produce process water during off crop season, when sufficient process water cannot be recovered from sugar cane processing

contract, 62.5 m3/hour of RO permeate will be supplied to the process plant.

“This project posed a few challenges that required innovative solutions. Its remote location in a very harsh desert environment brought climatic challenges. The client also had high-level specifications, such as allmotor-driven equipment being rated for high and premium energy efficiency,” explains André Loots, project engineer, Veolia. To fulfil this requirement, Veolia included optimum energy efficiency in the design for the motordriven equipment.

The treatment process starts with the feed of raw water from boreholes on site. This water is pumped to the multimedia filters with feed pumps to undergo prefiltration. Then the water is pumped into a filtered water tank, before being sent through a set of plate heat

exchangers. This step is necessary due to the high ambient temperatures of the area, which can see the water reaching temperatures as high as 50˚C. Before RO treatment can commence, the water temperature needs to be brought down to a maximum of 30˚C. This temperature reduction is achieved through a cooling system, consisting of two air-cooled chiller systems, each with a plate heat exchanger at the process interface.

After the water has been cooled down sufficiently, it is treated in the duplex RO system.

From there, the desalinated water is pumped to two desalinated water storage tanks outside the building, ready for distribution to the plant as process water for industrial usage.

The plant is due for commissioning towards the start of 2013. Veolia has offered assistance in the form of supervision during the installation and commissioning phases to ensure that they are carried out according to specified procedure.

In addition, Veolia has assumed responsibility to ensure that operators receive the necessary training.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

31

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WATER AND WASTEWATER

Pretoria’s fountains still the cleanest water around After 150 years, Pretoria’s CBD residents are still dependent on the crystal clear waters of the fountains that have sustained the capital since the start of its existence.

T

HE CITY OF PRETORIA was founded in the immediate vicinity of an artesian water source. This source (called the Fountains to this day) is an unusually strong and consistent source (delivering 40 Mℓ/d) and was the only water source for Pretoria from 1855 until 1935. Moreover, it yielded (and still does) water of extremely good quality.

Pretoria is one of the several cities and towns in South Africa fully or partially dependent on groundwater. Sustaining local communities for hundreds of years, the two springs in the Fountains Valley immediately to the south of the city were certainly the reason why the early white settlers, the Bronkhorst brothers, selected this site to establish their farm and, eventually, why the South African Republic decided to move its seat of government there.

Yet few Pretoria residents are even aware of the importance of this unobtrusive source, located at Groenkloof.

A new project, funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and led by the University of Pretoria (UP), aims to record the capital city’s early water history and raise awareness

32

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

of the role groundwater can play in large urban supply. “Through this project we hope to illustrate the role groundwater can play in meeting not only rural water demands but also urban demands,” reports WRC research manager, Dr Shafick Adams.

“Groundwater development has been placed high on the list of future water supply options for many areas, yet it remains underappreciated by the public and policymakers alike.”

The Hydrological Heritage Overview project, as the project is known, is recording Pretoria’s development around its groundwater sources, including historical abstraction volumes and water quality, where available.

“Pretoria is an excellent example of the use of groundwater for urban water supply,” notes project leader, Matthys Dippenaar of UP’s Geology Department.

TOP A scenic view of the fountains RIGHT The Grootfontein collection chamber Photographs: Lani van Vuuren

“For the people of Pretoria we hope that this project will create some awareness and appreciation that will make them realise just how important water – in this case groundwater – is in our lives. For fellow scientists, we aim to provide improved access to historical data.”

The City of Tshwane has graciously agreed to supply all available historical data and maps for inclusion into the project.

The Fountains are not the only groundwater source on which Pretoria is dependent. In general, groundwater makes up about 8% of the city’s total water supply. There is also Grootfontein, whose water is pumped to the Rietvlei Water Treatment Works and mixed with treated water from the works. On the other end of the city, Sterkfontein provides water to the residents of Centurion. All of the springs are still providing water of the highest quality, despite developments mushrooming around them and, as a result, do not need treatment prior to reticulation (although chlorine is added to the water before being piped).

With groundwater usually being a hidden resource, Pretoria’s springs offer a rare visual glimpse of the Cinderella of water resources in South Africa. Once the project has been completed it will be made available to the public as much as possible. The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.

Anyone with anecdotes, photographs or other information about the fountains, who would like to share them with the project team, can contact Matthys Dippenaar at Matthys.

Dippenaar@up.ac.za.

WATER AND WASTEWATER

Pump protection unit attracts attention The SkidRat pump protection unit is attracting attention in the industry as an ideal way to prevent pumps from being damaged by sediment at the bottom of ponds.

T

HIS INNOVATIVE UNIT WAS DEVELOPED by UAT in Australia and is exclusively distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa

by Xylem (formerly known as ITT Water & Wastewater South Africa). Harnessing a pontoon approach, the SkidRat features modular floats that lend this unit unlimited configurations to suit each pump and application. The tough and durable unit is chemical resistant and can be handled by cranes, excavators, dozers, trucks and trailers.

BELOW The Australian developed SkidRat is now available from Xylem

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

33

WATER AND WASTEWATER

A water treatment works with a difference The new Meulwater Water Treatment Works is situated in the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve overlooking the Paarl valley.

T

HE DRAKENSTEIN MUNICIPALITY required a system that would not only perform its primary task of treating water, but would also be environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing to ensure that the sensitive ecology of the area was disturbed as little as possible. Bateman Africa, supported by its technology partner, Tenova Bateman Technologies, was the main contractor for the mechanical and electrical works, engineering and supplying all the equipment to suit the civil structures that were constructed under a separate contract.

The treatment capacity of the works is 8 Mℓ/d and is upgradable to 15 Mℓ/d. The treatment process has been optimised to suit the relatively good raw quality of the mountain water. It has also been designed to allow future incorporation of an additional dissolved air flotation process within the existing filters should the water quality deteriorate. This is a possibility considering the relatively poor quality of the Berg River water, which will

supplement the mountain water. The process is one of direct filtration and comprises chemical dosing equipment, flocculation, rapid gravity filtration and disinfection.

Facilities for recovering spent backwash water have also been included.

“This system returns most of the spent wash water to the head of the works for retreatment. This substantially cuts water losses,” says Richard Miles, Bateman Africa project manager.

He adds that the plant inlet control valve and the filter outlet control valves are electrically controlled and modulate according to the requirements set by the plant operator via the SCADA control system. The plant has a 200 kW backup generator system to ensure that there is continuous power to site.

The Meulwater plant was originally proposed in 2001 after the Drakenstein Municipality identified the need to secure its own reliable water source. The project was given the goahead after a comprehensive environmental

impact assessment, which was carried out between 2001 and 2006.

When the provincial Depar tment of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADP) approved the project, a number of requirements were stipulated regarding the size and appearance of the plant, noise levels and the overall impact on the environment.

Miles states that as a result, the project had a number of unique challenges.

“All mechanical and electrical equipment needed to comply with a set of very strict requirements and the fact that we were able to achieve what we did, and so doing contributing further to these ideals, is testament to our systems and teamwork.

“For example, almost anything that gets wet – pipework, valve internals and fasteners – is made of stainless steel, which also helps minimise maintenance requirements. We have also placed acoustic doors on the machine room, both internally and externally, to minimise the plant’s noise impact,” he discusses The DEADP requirements included instructions to limit the aesthetic impact of the structure by blending it into the natural environment. To achieve this, the plant was set as low into the ground as possible. The structure sits up to 5.5 m deep into the ground in places and has displaced 1 500 t of granite, almost half of which has been retained on site as cladding to the outside of the main buildings.

Sections of the structure are built completely underground and are planted with fynbos.

Landscaping of the site was done in such a way as to limit visibility of the structure from the valley below. Trees have been placed strategically to hide aspects of the structure and, where possible, berms have been created to make the structure more discreet.

LEFT An exterior view of the Meulwater Water Treatment Works Photograph by Chris Hardie, Urban Water

34

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

PANEL INTRO

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

by Candice Landie

The South African scenario

According to research conducted by the Department of Water Affairs as far back as 1999, South Africa shares a number of problems with neighbouring states. The provision of good quality water to citizens for basic human needs and economic development is one of them.

F

OR THIS REASON, it is imperative that the provision of water resources management becomes a key focus sector within the local market. According to the Water Research Commission, a strategic challenge for the future is ensuring adequate quantity and quality of water to meet human and ecological needs. A better understanding of water

resources and their management requires a more holistic conceptual framework encompassing regional-scale hydrologic systems and land-atmosphere interactions.

This IMIESA panel discussion focuses on the all-important subject of water resources management. Read up on what different companies are doing to contribute towards providing solutions to the shortage of water

resources in the countr y and the effective distribution thereof. What are some of the many unique solutions produced locally to meet rural and urban water deliver y challenges? What are the challenges faced in terms of water resources management and efficient water deliver y? How do their products and ser vices benefit the water management sector?

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

Access our laboratory for sampling of the following: • river water • borehole water • sewage & industrial water • dam water • tap water

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Results produced are considered to be 100% credible as per the Blue Drop & Green Drop requirements!!

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35

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PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT HENNIE ROETS – DIRECTOR: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – THE RARE GROUP

Q. In the local water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet rural and urban water delivery challenges. As a company, what are some of the challenges you have faced and the solutions you have found in response to these challenges? HR The water problem in Africa is growing on a daily basis. Loss of skills and knowledge has intensified the challenge. The Rare Water technology, built upon proven and innovative electrocoagulation technology, will help industry and municipalities to confront these big challenges in a cost effective way. Electrocoagulation is an advanced and economical water treatment technology. It effectively removes suspended solids to sub-micron levels and precipitates heavy metals from water without the use of filters or the addition of any separation chemicals. The coagulated sludge thickens without the addition of polymers and separates easily.

Containerised units are available for mobile site works and remediation as well as fixed turnkey installations for larger applications. A unit treating a million litres a day can be housed in a 20-foot container. Raw to brackish water can be treated to potable standards for 0.15 cents per litre. The plants are easy to maintain and operate. They have been designed and tested for use in remote areas. The skill sets needed to operate and maintain these plants are readily available within the rural communities. This ease of operation and maintenance is further underwritten by the ability to remotely monitor each plant. Maintenance events can be forecast and the technology can confirm on a

minute-by-minute basis that each plant is operating optimally. As an illustration of our commitment to solving many of South Africa’s water related problems, we have invested in the manufacture and delivery of a versatile pilot plant.

It will soon be illustrating cleaning of acid mine water at a colliery near Middelburg.

What is your take on the shortage of water resources in our country and what, in your opinion, are some of the effective distribution solutions needed thereof? There is little we can do to improve the local reliable yield of water as it is out of our hands. However, looking after our water resources is our responsibility. The national average for water losses is fast approaching 30%, i.e. the difference between treated or bought water and billed water.

Losses are mainly via ageing piping infrastructure. Most of the undesirable old-technology asbestos cement (AC) pipes are unaddressed all over South Africa. These AC pipes are not only causing health risks, but are also the main culprit in terms of water leaks.

Rehabilitation technologies that are readily available with excellent track records all over the globe are available to address these losses.

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water storage and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector, in terms of some or all the above topics? The Rare Group offers rehabilitation

technologies for the improvement of ageing pipeline assets. Water resources management should point out the problem areas and prioritised remedial action should be part of each municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP). The plan must identify and locate leaks and portions of the pipeline with a propensity for failure. The object of pipeline rehabilitation is to extend the life of the main and to obtain a fully restored pipeline that can

host pipe. However, just before the PE pipe relaxes completely it presses tightly against the inside of the host pipe, eliminating all annular space.

CIPP is the most widely used pipeline rehabilitation technique – especially on gravity mains.

The principles among the different lining techniques are very similar in terms of wet-out and installation. The self-contained Swagelining on site

compete against a replaced pipeline of the same dimension, hydraulic efficiency and technical valuation, thereby ensuring reliable system performance.

This can be done at a cost significantly lower than the traditional replacement cost.

Rare uses three different technologies for rehabilitation as the requirements dictate, i.e. swagelining, CIPP (cured-inplace-pipe) and Aqualiner. The swagelining process allows a tight-fitting polyethylene (PE) liner to be rapidly installed in a pipeline without significantly reducing the diameter of the

Aqualiner equipment lines the water or sewerage pipe with a thin but extremely strong thermoplastic polymer composite. The differences in the requirements of each leaking line dictate the properties of the materials used or solution applied. Benefits of pipe lining versus traditional replacement are reduced social disruption and property damage, reduced compensation, leak reduction, energy savings, deferred major capital expense, reduced outage time, reduced operation and maintenance cost with less leaks to repair, and improved water quality.

RARE is a well-recognised trader and service provider in the fluid conveyance industry. Rare has been operating in South Africa since 1975, initially as Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube, with its core business focus in the petro-chemical, mining and engineering sectors. Where most companies focus on a service or product, Rare provides a solution that encompasses the entire lifespan of the asset. Its product offerings include pipe, valves and fittings. The company has expanded through organic growth and acquisitions, and service offerings include: maintenance, refurbishment and operation; pipeline rehabilitation; trenchless technologies; specialised turnkey solutions; project management and water treatment solutions.

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PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT MAVA GCINIZIBELE GWAGWA – NEW BUSINESS AND KEY ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR – SBS WATER SYSTEMS Q. In the local water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet rural and urban water delivery challenges. What are some of the challenges you have faced and the solutions you have found in response to these challenges?

MGG The challenges are many and varied. Traditional water storage methods are often prescribed to the water management sector by consultants who have not embraced new technology. This practice results in taxpayers’ money being misspent on outdated technology, curtailing service delivery. SBS Water Systems has embarked on numerous marketing campaigns to inform and train consultants through interactive debates and by making available the results of extensive testing of the SBS Tank. This has resulted in SBS Water Systems being proud to claim that 80% of its customers are repeat customers and that engineers seldom revert back to traditional concrete tanks once they have tried the SBS Tank. The installation on site is performed by fully trained and certified installers to safe and environmentally friendly standards. These elements and procedures result in a superior final product that is

long-lasting and that provides safe drinking water far longer than any other water storage tank. In addition, the SBS Tank is very cost-effective. Its 65-year life expectancy requires virtually no maintenance other than periodic physical inspections.

The supply of water storage in remote areas is difficult due to inaccessible sites. The SBS Tank is designed to be transportable, for example, a 150 kℓ SBS tank is transportable by means of a 1 t truck and trailer. All SBS tanks are also designed to fit into 6 m shipping containers for export to neighbouring states and worldwide. The SBS tank is suitable for installation on less than ideal ground. Tanks up to 250 kℓ can be installed directly on a sand bed without the need for reinforced concrete foundations.

There is often an urgent need for water, requiring temporary water storage. SBS Water Systems generally keeps at least a couple of tanks of 50, 100, 150 and 250 kℓ sizes in stock that can be installed at short notice, thus providing quick relief.

The SBS tank can also be recovered and/or moved at a later stage to form part of a more permanent water supply scheme.

What is your take on the shortage of water BELOW Two megalitre installation in Letsemeng

resources in our country and what, in your opinion, are some of the effective distribution solutions needed thereof? One of the largest contributors to the shortage of water resources is the lack of storage facilities for drinking water. In other words, in most areas of South Africa water is available or can become readily available through capture and/or purification, but there are insufficient facilities for storing it so that it stays fit for human consumption. Through our association with many district and local municipalities, engineers and the private sector, we have contributed greatly to the storage of potable water for communities and industry alike. SBS Water Systems has also built up a large network of professionals and experts during the 15 years of its existence who are often linked into projects to provide turnkey solutions, including the distribution of water, which are cost effective and long-lasting.

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water storage and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector? Our company is mainly focused on water storage; however, the ability for the water management sector to meet the required standards

in terms of water quality, treatment and distribution are greatly enhanced due to the provision of safe water storage by means of the SBS tank. Our network of engineers, water purification experts, fire protection experts, mining experts and experts in the public sector allows us to draw on extensive experience in advising the water management sector where required.

As a South African contractor or supplier to the water and civil infrastructure sectors, what have been some of the challenges experienced with local government?

One of the initial post-apartheid challenge experienced by SBS Water Solutions was that local government was run by the ‘Old Guard’. The result was that new technology was a definite ‘no, no’ and the same old reinforced concrete reservoir plans were being reused while consultants were paid exorbitant consulting fees to produce poor quality concrete reservoirs. Secondly, we have experienced tremendous frustration due to the lack of decisionmaking by unqualified or unwilling officials, which results in projects not being planned for timely implementation. This, in turn, results in a project implementation lag. Fortunately the SBS tank is quick to produce and install.

SBS Water Systems´ main focus is the provision of water storage and more specifically the manufacture, supply and installation of Zincalume steel panel tanks with liners in Southern Africa. SBS has successfully served a multitude of markets, including but not limited to: local and district municipalities, and other governmental institutions such as the departments of Water Affairs, Public Works, Agriculture and Health; civil engineering consultants; fire protection consultants; architects and contractors; water conservation specialists specialising in rainwater harvesting, water purification, desalination and wastewater treatment; food and beverage, chemical and other commercial manufacturers and retailers; and mining houses, mining consultancies and mining procurement agencies.

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PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT HERMAN SMIT – DIRECTOR – QUALITY FILTRATION SYSTEMS

Q. How does your company contribute towards providing solutions to the shortage of water resources in our country and the effective distribution thereof?

HS Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) has invested considerable time in the development of concepts and processes for water reuse. The reuse of water is important to both municipal and industrial sectors, and is one of the critical methods of addressing

decentralised water treatment for both potable and wastewater.

QFS support smaller rural communities with simplified, gravity-driven ultrafiltration membranes and reverse osmosis packages. As part of our community programme, QFS has supplied a 3 m3/day system to an orphanage, incorporating membrane technologies for the treatment of contaminated borehole water.

On the municipal side, QFS supplied the membrane-based water

The reuse of water is important to both municipal and industrial sectors shortage of water resources in South Africa. The Siemens Water Technology products implemented by QFS in South Africa are proven technologies with excellent engineering backup from Siemens.

In the South African water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet rural and urban water delivery challenges. What are some of the challenges you have faced and the solutions you have found in response to these challenges? Siemens Water Technology products that lead the new generation of water treatment provide QFS the opportunity to offer

treatment process implemented at the Beaufort West wastewater reclamation plant. This process is set to become the benchmark for direct and indirect potable reuse in South Africa. The Beaufort West project is an excellent example of South African innovation to address water scarcity and supply. In the industrial sector, companies are moving toward zero liquid discharge (ZLD), and industrial effluents are being seen as a new source of process water. By implementing these projects, industry is making freshwater available for use by communities and municipalities. There are unique challenges to treatment and recycling of industrial effluents. The breadth of the Siemens Water Technology portfolio allows QFS to provide unique solutions to address the varied nature of industrial effluent reuse. QFS has installed plants that are helping clients address this challenge. At a large steel mill, our technologies are being implemented as a core part of a ZLD solution.

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water storage and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector? The management of South African water resources is critical for sustainable growth. QFS offers

not only world-class products, but also the local expertise for the implementation, service and maintenance required to successfully manage water resources. QFS provides a complete solution of market-leading advanced technologies that compete financially with some of the conventional technologies available, but offers superior water quality and performance.

QFS was formed in 1996 and started out selling a range of absolute rated cartridges. The applications focused on pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and chemical filtration. The product range was increased in 1998 to include microfiltration hollow fibre membrane systems. The need for microfiltration with low maintenance costs resulted in QFS taking up the Memcor agency for Southern Africa. It quickly became apparent that South Africa could not afford to purchase complete plants from Australia. QFS signed a licence agreement with Memcor and have been manufacturing the Memcor membrane equipment in South Africa since 1999. In this process, QFS built the capability to manufacture, install and service the Memcor equipment. Further need for other membrane-related plants from its customers resulted in ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis being added to QFS’s product range. Applications include potable water filtration, iron removal for potable water, effluent treatment, seawater desalination, mine water treatment, cooling water filtration and sewage treatment.

QFS designs, manufactures, installs, commissions and maintains ultrafiltration membrane plants.

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Local People. Global Experience.

Vela VKE joined the SMEC Group in June 2012. Vela VKE is now part of a global professional services company with over 5,000 people working in more than 70 offices throughout Africa, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific, North and South America.

In 2012, Engineering News Record ranked SMEC at number nine in 'The Top 10 by Market' list for Water. Vela VKE is proud to be part of a leading water consultant, with a proven track record in delivering complex and large-scale projects.

With more than 60 years' experience, Vela VKE has delivered water projects throughout South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia. Vela VKE provides a broad range of services to private and public sector clients, from feasibility studies and dam rehabilitation to detailed design and construction supervision.

Recent projects include the Bougouriba Hydroelectric Dam in Burkina Faso; the Lesotho Highlands Water Project in Lesotho; the Mothapo Regional Water Scheme in South Africa; the Maguga Dam in Swaziland; and the Mabuko Hydroelectric Power Station in Uganda.

For more information, please contact: pretoria@smec.com

www.smec.com

www.velavke.co.za

PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT R GRIFFIOEN – ASSOCIATE – VELA VKE (PART OF THE SMEC GROUP)

to basics approach and doing the required maintenance or developing framework contracts to ensure that the maintenance is carried out.

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water storage and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector, in terms of some or all the above topics? All the

Q. In the local water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet rural and urban water delivery challenges. What are some of the challenges you have faced and the solutions you have found in response to these challenges? RG A lot of the infrastructure that we are dealing with or come across during our investigations is old and dilapidated. The need to upgrade this infrastructure is obvious, over and above the need for proper water use management. A lot of the infrastructure systems that we have investigated have had a lot of informal changes made to them through the years to provide a quick solution during a past crisis (leak or shortage).

These once-off types of solutions cause the most problems in terms of water loss. This is due to the incorrect operation of the infrastructure compared to its intended original design specifications. We have, therefore, found that one of the first steps in devising a proper water

TOP Bulk meter installation ABOVE LEFT Municipal bulk meter – above ground installation ABOVE RIGHT Above ground domestic meter

demand management strategy is to correct these irregularities.

Thereafter, in many cases, the management strategy can be implemented with ease.

What is your take on the shortage of water resources in our country and what, in your opinion, are some of the effective distribution solutions needed thereof?

This has been said many times before, but obviously no growth of any sort is possible without water. This includes both physical and economic growth. Plants and humans cannot survive without water and neither can we expect communities to prosper if there is a scarcity of water. We support the various water conservation strategies and water demand management, but feel the most effective solution is local government implementing a back

services provided by Vela VKE, as indicated in the box below, have the benefit of ultimately reducing water loss. Through water demand management, the demand for water from the consumers is managed to ensure that minimal but adequate water gets supplied. Proper billing and

through detailed assessment and competent and relevant design.

The implementation of these solutions is then always backed up with appropriately experienced site supervision staff. These solutions have a water saving and subsequent cost-saving element attached to them. The payback to municipalities for implementing such projects can be achieved by the savings provided through the strategies devised by Vela VKE.

As a South African contractor or supplier to the water and civil infrastructure sectors, what have been some of the challenges experienced with local government? The industry has seen the challenges experienced by local government due to inadequate budgets and maintenance staff. Water leak

The most effective solution is local government implementing a back to basics approach water loss management means that water usage and billing are correct and consumers develop trust in the system where previously they would have had meter errors or incorrect billing information. The other solutions offered

by Vela VKE focus more on the actual repair of physical leakages

repairs and maintenance projects are not sexy, but are necessary for life. Appropriate budget allocation and maintenance allocations would help in this regard. Perhaps we still have a view in South Africa that water is plentiful and doesn’t need to be conserved.

Vela VKE (part of the SMEC group) offers a full range of water demand management strategies to municipalities. These include: water demand management – investigation, consultation and devising of a water loss reduction strategy; implementation of water loss reduction strategies including procurement of applicable service providers on behalf of the client; domestic and bulk water meter assessments, sizing design, implementation and supervision of relocation and/or replacement of meters where deemed necessary; facilitating and supervising CCTV inspections; design and implementation of water and sewer pipeline rehabilitation – also through the use of trenchless technologies; design of various other trenchless replacement and/or rehabilitation techniques; design and construction supervision of new water and sewer infrastructure; and pressure demand management design and implementation.

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SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY. SUPERIOR SOLUTIONS. NUWATER MODULAR TREATMENT PLANT Seawater

Surface Water

Groundwater

NuWater provides a range of products, services and financing solutions to reclaim or treat almost any quantity and quality of water.

Wastewater

Innovative reverse osmosis (16") and other membrane technologies make NuWater plants more compact and efficient, with lower operating and maintenance costs. Being modular and mobile, our plants are also rapidly deployable and highly scalable, providing ultimate flexibility in a rapidly changing world.

People

Clean Water

Mining

Industry

Oil & Gas

Challenge us to clean your water.

Wastewater Reclamation

FROM TOP: Anglo American New Vaal Colliery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15 MLD mine wastewater reclamation and reuse.

Modular and mobile units for clean water where it is needed.

Singapore Public Utilities Board â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 55 MLD secondary sewerage water reclamation and reuse.

info@nuwater.co.za

+27 21 531 0641

www.nuwaterglobal.com

PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT JOHN HOLMES – CEO – NUWATER SOUTH AFRICA LEFT A 15 Mℓ/d completely modular and mobile plant featuring Nuwater’s proprietary 16-inch reverse osmosis technology and ultrafiltration pretreatment

Q. In the local water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet water delivery challenges. As a company, what solutions have you found in response to these challenges? JH Competition for our water resources is becoming more and more intense. Traditional approaches to water management and water treatment are not keeping pace with this challenge. Large, centralised infrastructure projects are expensive, inflexible and take too long to deliver. At NuWater we are focused on providing decentralised water treatment solutions that can be rapidly deployed and, if necessary, redeployed to address immediate and often rapidly changing needs. Our water treatment plants and services are designed to extract maximum value from the water resources available through the reclamation and reuse of otherwise unusable water. This approach has the added benefit of reducing the quantity of contaminated water that would otherwise have an adverse effect on the broader environment. A good example is our water treatment plant at Anglo American’s New Vaal Colliery near Vereeniging. Here NuWater is paid to treat the mine’s wastewater to ensure there is no risk of contamination of the

Vaal river, and this cleaned water is then supplied to a neighbouring Eskom power station. This reduces the overall water demand and frees up water resources for use by communities and other industries. Our technology is also in use at Sedgefield’s seawater desalination plant, which is used to supplement freshwater supplies during peak holiday periods.

Our smaller, completely mobile units are in use in Namibia to recharge freshwater supplies for rural communities and to provide freshwater in emergency situations. NuWater has a growing pipeline of similar projects both in South Africa and internationally, related to mining, oil and gas and drinking water provision.

What is your take on the shortage of water resources in our country and what, in your opinion, are some of the effective distribution solutions needed thereof?

Water shortage in South Africa is here to stay and, if anything, is going to become more acute.

Given the unpredictability of our climate and of climate change, water solutions and infrastructure that may be considered suitable today may become redundant in a very short period of time.

A multipronged approach is therefore required, including

long-, medium- and short-term solutions as well as both national and local strategies. We believe localised, or what we refer to as decentralised, water reclamation and reuse projects will play an increasingly important role in ensuring water security in South Africa. Innovative financing approaches such as those offered

by NuWater are also as important as world-class technology when it comes to supporting the delivery of such projects.

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water storage and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector? NuWater has a very interesting and relevant history when it comes to addressing the water challenges in South Africa. Our predecessor company, GrahamTek, was a pioneer in reverse osmosis technology in South Africa and internationally. Much of our patented and other proprietary technology was developed in South Africa before being further refined and proven in large-scale projects in Singapore. Although Singapore’s climate is very different from South Africa’s, it also faces huge

challenges with water security and still relies on significant imports of water from its neighbour Malaysia. In its battle for water security, Singapore has arguably become the international hub for water technology innovation and water reclamation and reuse. In addition Singapore has developed a national water education strategy through its water agency, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), to ensure water management is a collective responsibility of all its citizens. Nuwater’s reverse osmosis technology is in use at Singapore PUB’s premier water reclamation plant, the Bedok ‘NEWater Factory’. This plant reclaims 55 million litres a day of high-quality water from secondary sewerage water for reuse by industry and by people. In fact, the water is of such a high quality that much of it is used in the manufacture of sensitive electronic wafers. The Bedok plant also houses the PUB’s national visitors’ centre, where schoolchildren are educated on the importance of water preservation and reuse. We believe that being a South African company with an in-depth understanding of the local market positions NuWater to play a valuable role in addressing South Africa’s water security challenges. Whether it’s mine wastewater or seawater desalination, we have the technology and experience to offer competitive and innovative solutions.

At NuWater we provide a range of modular and, where relevant, mobile water treatment plants for the desalination and regeneration of almost any water source including seawater, ground and surface water, and industrial wastewater. We provide a complete suite of products and services including innovative commercial options that allow clients to pay for the water we clean rather than investing in the equipment itself. NuWater specialises in the use of the latest membrane technology, such as our proprietary large-diameter (16 inch) reverse osmosis technology, as well as the ultra and microfiltration and membrane bioreactor technologies.

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Pressed Steel Sectional Water Tanks

sustainable and long term Water Storage Solutions Specialists in the manufacturing of domestic and industrial water storage Prestank tank capacities range from 1730-3 500 000 litres designed to SANS Specification Sans 10329:2004 guidelines.

Our Hot Dipped galvanising units are easily transported and assembled on even the most remote sites.

Structa Technologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prestanks are hygienically safe, cost effective and a reliable way to store water for commercial sectors, private sectors and even for personalized storage. Choose from temporary or permanent erection at mines, powerstations, building sites, hospitals, water affairs,municipalities, rural communities and agriculture.

There is a wealth of water storage applications, for which Prestanks are an answer.

STRUCTA TECHNOLOGY is part of the STRUCTA GROUP of Companies

Structa Technology (Pty)Ltd P.O Box 2538, Vereeninging, 1930 Tel: (016) 362 9100 e-mail: Sales and Marketing: tanks@structa.co.za Estimator: watertanks@structa.co.za Director: rodney@structa.co.za

www.structa.co.za

PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT HERCULES ROSSOUW – MANAGING DIRECTOR – STRUCTA TECHNOLOGY LEFT The Prestank RIGHT (L-R) Rodney Cory (director Structa Technology), Hercules Rossouw, (MD Structa Technology) and Bertus Booysen (production manager) in front of Structa’s 1 300 t double action hydraulic press machine

Q. In the local water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet water delivery challenges. What are some of the challenges you have faced and the solutions you have found in response to these challenges? HR Our primary function is providing a vessel that houses water as a backup supply. In rural areas we install water storage tanks to house water for the immediate village(s).

Water is supplied by the local council or via borehole. In urban areas, our tanks are often seen at hotels,hospitals, office blocks and factories. If there is a council water network failure, the water stored in the tank can continue to service the establishment for a certain amount of time. We cannot comment in detail on the challenges of water delivery as our product simply acts as an interim from the water source to the consumer, whether in the rural community or an office block, hotel or hospitals, etc. Our products are also used successfully by mining companies as part of their water infrastructure systems, locally as well as in the rest of Africa. Our well-known pressed steel water tank’s track record speaks for itself. We are proud to note that Structa Technology has successfully provided the Medupi Power Station with a 4.2 Mℓ Prestank (38.4 x 28.2 x 4.8 m). We also

supplied Prestanks to mines in Zimbabwe and Angola as well as Sasol (Timane Gas Pipeline Project) in Mozambique.

What is your take on the shortage of water resources in our country and what, in your opinion, are some of the effective distribution solutions needed thereof? To comment on our water resources would be out of my depth or knowledge area.

However, contributing factors have poisoned many water systems within our water ways, for example, pollution of rivers by human excrement and various other forms. Some water substations are no longer functioning adequately and therefore don’t fulfil the function of proper water purification and distribution centres. As a result there is, in some rural areas, a lack of adequate water supply. In addition, the infrastructure around water is not properly maintained, or maintenance is at a minimum. Providing water purification and distribution plants along critical paths of our water ways, we believe, would be of huge benefit to rural communities. This would, in turn, provide employment. Our sectional steel tanks can be placed at strategic points surrounding these water stations as an interim to disperse water to the community. Government therefore faces many chal-

lenges with water service delivery and infrastructure. We believe our product, the Prestank, is well placed to assist government with this challenge, to provide water to the people where there is a lack of such infrastructure.

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water storage and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector? Well firstly our sectional steel water storage tanks can house a very large amount of water and have a very long lifespan. They are galvanised, which makes the water in it safe for consumption.

Our tanks are easily transported to remote areas and are installed quickly with minimum effort, and can be used as interim reservoirs. The tanks can also be used as break pressure tanks, fire sprinkler systems or for domestic use – by dividing the

tanks in two compartments. It is a quick solution to a long-term sustainable project. The tanks can also be relocated quickly to a new point and can be used for certain chemicals, e.g. bitumen and oil. The tanks can and have been used for water purification, and are elevated to create a gravity feed to supply residential distribution points. Overall, the erection of tanks offers immediate employment for locals.

Q. As a South African contractor or supplier to the water and civil infrastructure sectors, what have been some of the challenges experienced with local government?

As already mentioned, we are all aware of the challenges government faces in terms of water service delivery in our country.

We have noticed an improvement in terms of tender processes being implemented, and hopefully this will assist in eradicating corrupt activities. However, the slow processing of payments is still a challenge local government needs to address.

Structa Technology, a member of the Structa Group of Companies, is based in Meyerton, Gauteng and manufactures electrical masts, utility poles, lighting masts and pressed steel water storage tanks known as Prestanks. Structa Technology manufactures and supplies the pressed steel water tanks under the 40-year-old brand, Prestank. Prestanks are hygienically safe, cost effective and a reliable way to store water for commercial sectors, private sectors and even for personalised storage. Where electrical masts are concerned, Structa Technology specialises in the design and supply of the Electrotower Electrical Distribution Lattice Towers and Mono Poles both for Single and Double Circuits for 11 to 220 kV distribution lines. The lighting masts are the Bowmasts and Structa Supplies the Midhinge and Highbow Masts, which range between 6 and 40 m.

Stadium masts are supplied as per customer requirements. Astra base artificial bases as well as lattice communication masts are also part of our range of products. The Structa Group of companies consists of eight subsidiaries active in the manufacturing and supply of structural steel products for water, infrastructure (electrification and telecommunications), mining, petrochemical and industrial sectors.

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The Breede-Overberg CMA exists to manage our water resources responsibly, through continuous engagement with all stakeholders and to devolve decision making to the lowest level for the benefit of all water users in the Breede-Overberg Catchment, including the environment.

We will:

• ensure quality water for all people and the environment • address water allocation reform • ensure good administration of registration and licensing • inspire change in attitudes towards the environment • promote economic growth in a sustainable way

So that:

• we can address the developmental needs of the people and contribute to the eradication of poverty • ensure fair, equitable and well controlled water allocation, while maintaining the integrity of the natural resource • manage the ecosystem in a sustainable manner, and • allow all stakeholders a voice in how we manage our water resources

r e v e r o f , for all Mr Phakamani Buthelezi, CEO

Tel: 023 347 8131 • Fax: 023 347 8133 Website: www.bocma.co.za • Address: Private Bag X3055, Worcester, 6850

PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PHAKAMANI BUTHELEZI – CEO – BREEDE-OVERBERG CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Q. What is BOCMA’s role in ensuring that it adheres to its vision: Quality water for all, forever? PB The Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) plays a central role in protecting, using, developing, conserving, managing and controlling water resources, while also coordinating with government and sector partners, and other stakeholders.

The strategic focus of the agency incorporates water resource planning, water use management, institutional development, waterresource protection, and water allocation reform.

BOCMA works closely with local governments on water management and water-related services.

This ensures synergy between the priorities of the Catchment Management Agency and the local and district municipalities.

Legal, policy and regulatory tools are critical for communication, awareness building, response, and for building the natural resource and infrastructural capacity. The uncertainty introduced by climate change means exact solutions cannot be planned; building natural ecosystem, infrastructural and institutional resilience will enable the best responses.

Explain the importance of the Catchment Management Strategy?

The Catchment Management Strategy (CMS) has been developed adhering to one of the initial functions of the BOCMA. The proposed CMS has now been gazetted for public comment.

This strategic plan will put the BOCMA on the path to ultimately achieving its vision of quality water for all, forever.

BOCMA’s integrated water programme, contained in the CMS,

includes the implementation of the ecological and basic human needs reserves; protection and conservation of wetlands, estuaries, rivers and critical biodiversity areas; building of adaptive institutions within all sectors and at all levels; and implementation of water-use conservation strategies.

What services does the BOCMA offer to its stakeholders? BOCMA is responsible for those functions that relate to water resource planning, water-use management and monitoring, and assisting the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) with other functions. It is also responsible for stakeholder engagement, and maintaining and improving intergovernmental relations.

The Water Resource Division, including both units, supports Water Allocation Reform through assisting resource-poor farmers with water-use allocations and in applying for financial assistance from the DWA, for sustainable agricultural projects.

The BOCMA is the operating arm of the DWA and its aim is to bring water resource services in an efficient manner to the inhabitants of the Breede Water Management Area. The BOCMA has been instrumental in the processing of water registrations and licence applications.

Furthermore, the BOCMA supports and works closely with the DWA’s Monitoring and Compliance Unit to investigate unlawful water use practices.

In addition, there are currently two water quality monitoring programmes in place, one in the Breede River region and the other in the Overberg region.

The BOCMA gives comment on rezoning and consolidations to

relevant municipalities, and also on environmental impact studies and basic assessment reports in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Affairs. The BOCMA is currently busy with the first validation and verification process where all water users will be evaluated for legal compliance. This process will assist with the management of water allocations in the BreedeOverberg Water Management Area (WMA).

The BOCMA is actively promoted in the WMA through awareness campaigns, reaching children through LandCare Camps and Water Week. We support the existing Water User Associations and are involved with the transformation of Irrigation Boards into Water User Associations. The BOCMA governing board recently approved the transformation of

the Koo Irrigation Board into a Water User Association. This is the first irrigation board to be transformed into a Water User Association by a CMA in South Africa! We also support a number of women-driven water forums in the Villiersdorp, Bonnievale, Ashton and Grabouw area. We keep our stakeholders informed through a quarterly newsletter that contains interesting and applied water resource related information, and activities that take place in the water management area. We also ensure that our stakeholders are kept informed through our website, www.bocma.co.za, which contains water resource related documents, information about the BOCMA and its operations, the governing board and the newsletter.

Heuningnes Estuary

The Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) was established in 2005 in terms of the National Water Act as the lead agent for water resource management within the Breede Water Management Area (WMA). The BOCMA is the second CMA in South Africa. Its water management area is in the south-west corner of South Africa and the name is derived from the Breede River, the largest of the rivers in the area. With seven local municipalities and two district municipalities, the population of the Breede WMA is estimated at half a million people, with two thirds living in towns and villages. The BOCMA head office is situated in Worcester. It is a growing organisation and currently consists of 22 dedicated staff members.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

49

SAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading manufacturer of liquid storage tanks and gunite-based, seamless, reinforced Concrete Reservoirs.

Muleby Tanks installed by Famitec.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aquadamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Muleby Tanks are your affordable, reliable and customised solution to liquid storage of any type.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; One of Aquadamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many satisfied clients Known as the Muleby System Tank, Aquadamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prestressed Panel Reservoir is a highly effective storage solution. This money-saving post-tensioned circular concrete tank is extremely durable.

The pre-casting process ensures a high resistant to corrosion and chemical attack. This high resistance allows for the usage in potable water up to sewage treatment plants.

Muleby System Tanks can be used in any number of liquid storage applications and are available in a wide range of custom-designed volumes.

Installation is quick and can take place in almost all weather conditions.

Muleby System Tanks uses a highly effective construction method requiring less labor, less time onsite and virtually no concrete moulding shutters.

Dangerous erections or constructions on heights are kept to a minimum and the relatively slender panels keep transport costs in check. The panels are precasted in a controlled factory environment, offering better quality control and faster production.

Pre-cast concrete panels are assembled on-site on a cast-in-situ bottom slab.

The system is post-tensioned using horizontal circumferential mono strands.

Manholes, anchorages etc. are cast as required, and the system can be closed with a pre-cast or cast-in-situ roof.

Aquadamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Muleby Tanks are designed to exacting standards and meet the highest European standard of water tightness, Eurocode 2, part 3 Liquid retaining and containment structures.

Contact t XXX BRVBEBN DP [B Pretoria Tel: 012 - 810 0940 t $BQF 5PXO 5FM 021 - 905 7943

WATERTIGHT SOLUTIONS

PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT ANTON LIEBENBERG – PRODUCT MANAGER – AQUADAM

so more structures can be built, saving water for the ever-growing water demand. Water is the most precious of our resources and also the one that is the most neglected and wasted.

As a South African contractor or supplier to the water and civil infrastructure sectors, what have been some of the challenges experienced with local government? In my

Q. In the local water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet rural and urban water delivery challenges. As a company, what are some of the challenges you have faced and the solutions you have found in response to these challenges? AL To work in rural areas is quite a challenge; logistically speaking it’s a nightmare, as building materials are usually of poor quality, very expensive and have a funny way of vanishing. These materials must, most of the time, be carted from afar and on bad roads. This leads to poor, expensive concrete, thus poor

products. Aquadam has identified this challenge and responded with the Muleby System tank (MST), a supply and install reservoir. These tanks are precast in a controlled factory environment, with some of the best aggregates available. At 7 m high, the panel is not something that vanishes very easily. Installation takes a week, giving the main contractor more time to focus on the reticulation. This saves the client money that can assist him to build more needed reservoir, helping the country.

age and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector, in terms of some or all the above topics? Aquadam builds reservoirs fast and effectively; all our products are good quality and easily installed – saving money

limited personal experience, clients are stuck in the old way of doing things; they are reluctant to change. I don’t know if it is lack of knowledge, it is quite difficult marketing new ways in the industry, or maybe it is just easy to copy and paste the old tried and tested way. I must say that this is starting to change; government is turning around – it wants to deliver.

Installation takes a week, giving the main contractor more time to focus on the reticulation Aquadam offers the agricultural market our seamless gunite

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water stor-

reservoir. A single-sided shutter is placed and reinforced on the inside according to an engineered design. Concrete then get placed by means of gunite (spray concrete). The shutters are removed and the reservoir is finished by hand. This is a fast and cost-effective way, and has served the industry very well for the last 20 years.

As time progressed, Aquadam identified the need for a neat, aesthetically pleasing tank, hence the Future Tank. The Future Tank is a zinc aluminium coated, cylindrical sectional steel tank and it’s manufactured on our premises in Pretoria. Local manufacturing means shorter lead time and faster delivery. The Future Tank comes standard with a roof, as this is part of the structure as designed by our engineer. The inside of the tank is lined with a food grade PVC liner manufactured by Aquadam. The Future Tank was very well received by the mines as well as the farmers.

Then the need arrived for to erect mesh tank, the Budget tank, a 8 mm welded mesh in a standard 3 m high galvanised panel, bolted together, is really a tough customer. Then there is the Rolls Royce, the Muleby System tank. This precast reinforced with prestressed cables sectional concrete tank is the ultimate. The slim design makes it very fast to erect and the combination of pre-stress panels that are horizontal post-tension is very durable and a big money saver.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

51

Bringing water to Africa and now to the rest of the world

Ground Level Tanks Elevated Tanks: ABECO offers full-service design, manufacture and installation of support tower steelwork. Basic towers consisting of support steelwork with a caged access ladder to the roof of the tank are offered in the absence of further specification. Walkways around the base of the tank or rest platforms on access ladders are available on request.

Access is required all around the pressed steel tanks to tighten bolts. The recommended minimum space around the four sides and above the roof is 600 mm and 450 mm beneath the tank Circular Sectional Steel Tanks: In developing sectional steel tanks, ABECO recognised a need for tanks that have the following features: ¾ Low-cost hygienic water storage ¾ Rugged and easily transportable ¾ Minimal site preparation and foundations required ¾ Quick and easy to install ¾ Can be installed using basic equipment ¾ Durable and long lasting ¾ Can be dismantled and re-erected at new sites.

Elevated Tanks

Circular SecƟonal Steel Tanks

Ground-Level Tanks: Ground-level tanks are commonly supported on reinforced concrete dwarf walls fitted with steel capping strips. The purpose of the capping strip is to spread the weight over the full load of the support wall and to provide a level platform on which to erect the tank. For practical reasons, concrete cannot be cast with sufficient accuracy of level. The capping strips should be positioned in place before the installation of the tank starts. Recommended tolerance is ±2 mm. Care should be taken to ensure that foundation walls are parallel and square to each other. Foundation walls must protrude beyond the edge of the tank by a recommended distance of 150 mm. The tapered top section of the wall assists in providing access.

PANEL DISCUSSION

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DUANE RAMOS – SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER – ABECO TANKS

Q. In the local water industry we have produced many unique solutions to meet rural and urban water delivery challenges.

As a company, what are some of the challenges you have faced and the solutions you have found in response to these challenges? DR Africa is a challenging environment on its own and in our 36 years of experience – and manufacturing for the last 29 years – we have had the privilege and opportunity to supply this basic, yet soon to be exhausted resource to many rural areas that have been without water. Due to population growth and the demand for safe drinking water, water storage is critical. Even in the 21st century there are still rural areas without running water, where no provision has been made and locals

have to commute kilometres to the nearest supply. The more developed urban areas are continuously experiencing water cuts, whether it is due to water line upgrades or repairs. Our biggest challenge is to appeal to municipalities and work together in supplying freshwater to these rural areas to fulfil their needs in the shortest time period by supplying them an Abeco Tank that will last for years to come.

Our tanks are very rugged, easily transported and installed using basic equipment and manual labour. This method is very effective where the site access is limited, but the need for water storage is critical.

What is your take on the shortage of water resources in our country and what, in your opinion, are some of the

effective distribution solutions needed thereof?

Across Africa more than 300 million people are said not to have access to safe drinking water, with freshwater rivers and lakes becoming subject to seasonal floods, droughts and pollution that will soon limit their availability for people and for agriculture.

I believe that water storage is the best way to go; more reservoirs will have to be built to make provision for the future. Water running underground can also be stored, by making use of boreholes and pumps to make this water accessible. We have seen sectors, like agriculture, housing and educational, making use of rainwater tanks, which has proven to be very effective.

Across Africa, water is not freely available and is only supplied on a weekly basis, provision has to be made to cater for the days that water is not delivered.

In terms of water resources management, water treatment, water laboratories, water storage and water distribution, how do your products and/or services benefit the water management sector, in terms of some or all the above topics? Abeco’s pressed steel tanks can store large volumes of water from as little as 1 800 ℓ to as large as 5 000 000 ℓ. Our elevated structures start from 1 to 40 m in height. We are the

largest tank manufacturers in Africa and have supplied tanks from Cape to Cairo, from Kenya to Mauritania as well as overseas as far as Central America. Due to the modular design, space is not a challenge and the options are limitless. Our tanks offer safe and hygienic water storage that is unaffected by ultraviolet or light penetration, features rugged and simple design that is transportable to remote locations, and are quick and easy to install. We offer a reduced project lead time from initialisation to completion. Due to the tower elevations that can be manufactured, the water stored in the tanks can reach vast communities scattered all over, because of the pressure obtained. Storage and water distribution can be made available to endless users, such as local municipalities, public buildings, office blocks, shopping centres, hospitals, universities, mining and agriculture. Storage tanks can be made to supply users either by the amount of water required per day or over a few days, to make provision for water cuts or lack of water supply to a specific area. Developed urban regions like Sandton and Rosebank, where water cuts are anticipated, are already making provision by installing storage tanks, whereas new buildings under construction have storage tanks as a requirement.

Abeco Tanks offers two types of storage tanks. The first is rectangular section galvanised steel that can be both ground mounted or elevated. The second is a circular steel galvanised tank.

Both types are modular and are easy to transport and assemble, with the advantage of adapting to most space restricted and confined areas. These tanks can be used for a variety of services from bulk water supply reservoirs, fire reserve tanks and potable water tanks to effluent tanks. They are manufactured to satisfy most liquid storage applications. Being galvanised and having no moveable parts, no maintenance is required and the life span can be as long as 30 years.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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ADVERTORIAL

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS of dedication to service delivery Lekwa Consulting Engineers is proud to be celebrating its 10-year anniversary this October.

Our history Lekwa Consulting Engineers was established in 2002 by two dedicated professional engineers, Kibiti Ntshumaelo and Gert Smit, who seized and developed an entrepreneurial opportunity in the civil engineering industry. Our approach is based on finding synergies with the public and private sector stakeholders, including communities. We believe that through this partnership approach, we could be instrumental in unlocking skills development and job creation initiatives in South Africa. Our office network covers the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Free State and North West provinces.

56

What 10 years means to us Ten years in a sector that is constantly and rapidly advancing is an achievement we are proud of, and we have successfully established ourselves in the civil engineering consultancy sector.

The company has grown progressively over the past 10 years from being a small consultancy to a fully fledged medium-scale firm.

Through our dedication and consistency, we have strived to fulfil our mission and offer our clients: • value-added project management services according to internationally accepted standards

• in-house exper tise that is broadened through networking with specialist partners and associates to provide conventional and turnkey project solutions to our clients • quality consulting engineering services • a high level of technical expertise and professionalism that has ensured excellence in terms of our service delivery.

Our 10-year journey has not been an easy one, but like all of life’s journeys it has been a rewarding experience that has compelled the company to grow. We continue our commitment to offering our clients a professional and unrivalled service.

We would like to thank all our clients, stakeholders, suppliers and staff for supporting us through all these years and look forward to continuing the journey with you.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

AREAS OF EXPERTISE • Roads and Stormwater.

• Bulk water and sewage installations.

• Water and Sewage reticulation networks.

• EPWP Projects.

• Structures and Buildings (Facilities) • Sport and Recreational Facilities.

• Solid Waste Projects.

• Community Centres.

• Multi-Disciplinary Project Management.

• Labour Intensive Projects.

• Township Establishments and Housing Projects.

• Railway Engineering Services.

• Mining Infrastructure Projects.

LEVEL 2 BBBEE PROCUREMENT CONTRIBUTER OFFICES: ALBERTON-Gauteng 118 Hennie Alberts Street Brackenhurst: PO Box 145851 Bracken Gardens 1452 Tel: 011 868 2494 Fax: 011 868 1348 E-mail: lekwainfo@civilnet.co.za

ERMELO-Mpumalanga 67 Fourie Street PO Box 1903 Ermelo 2350 Tel: 017 819 1985 Fax: 017 819 4017 E-mail: lekwa@civilnet.co.za

NEWCASTLE-Kwa-Zulu Natal 34 Paterson Street Newcastle PO Box 27 Newcastle 2940 Tel: 034 315 3232 Fax: 086 669 7533 E-mail: lekwa@civilnet.co.za

www.lekwaconsulting.co.za

HOUSING

HOUSING FINANCE

Partnership to assist rental housing entrepreneurs The Gauteng Partnership Fund has partnered equally with the National Housing Finance Corporation on a R200 million Entrepreneur Empowerment Property Fund programme aimed at companies pursuing rental housing opportunities in Gauteng.

T

HE GAUTENG PARTNERSHIP FUND (GPF) and National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) entered into this co-funding agreement in June 2012.

The Entrepreneur Empowerment Property Fund (EEPF) is an incubator programme designed to promote participation of black entrepreneurs in the affordable rental property market.

The EEPF programme was initiated as an intervention for the affordable housing market.

Black property entrepreneurs have, to date, experienced a myriad constraints in entering this market. “The partnership provides a funding solution to bridge the capital gap experienced by these property entrepreneurs,” explains GPF CEO, Kutoane Kutoane.

He adds that the global financial woes have unabatedly continued to pound on the confidence of the banks to increase their quantum of funding in the low end of the housing market, and also to frustrate their programmes.

Nevertheless, he says: “We have shown great resilience and innovative design capabilities in our funding models.”

In its efforts to promote the sustainable entry of BEE participants in ownership of medium density property in the inner cities, the NHFC has partnered with the GPF to enable the radical transformation of the affordable rental property market, states Samson Moraba, CEO of the NHFC. GPF’s chief investment officer, Boni Muvevi, states that these participants are selected through a public call and vigorous selection process on an annual basis. He says that this partnership will ensure that EEPF projects RIGHT The Manners Mansion project has a combination of 80 residential units, averaging 60 m2, and nine retail tenants

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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HOUSING

ABOVE The Hlanganani project consists of 281 units in 21 blocks of two- and three-storey walk up townhouse type units

will have up to 95% project funding available.

The GPF mandate has evolved over the years in line with the evolving provincial government housing objectives. In doing so, the GPF has extended its funding facilitation reach to cover the wider affordable rental housing market.

58

It is estimated that 25% of households in South Africa have no access to housing due to affordability challenges. These will be households that earn above the government housing subsidy threshold, but at the same time do not qualify for bank mortgages due to the perceived high risk and low credit rating. The assumption will be that the percentage could be much higher in Gauteng.

GPF launched EEPF in 2010. After a public proposal call was made, prospective entrepreneurs are shortlisted and put through a rigorous induction programme that covers aspects such as property, facilities and resources management. Once a project is approved, a dedicated GPF programme manager will be available to assist with any challenges. The first proposal call yielded 11 successful participants, eight of whom have secured projects after their proposals

were approved.

In total, the Board of Trustees of the GPF has approved R100 million for the EEPF facility and another R100 million from the NHFC as part of the co-funding agreement. Additional funding will be considered depending on the programme’s success.

In line with the provincial government objective of delivering 20 000 rental accommodation units by the 2014, GPF has committed in its current strategy to the objective of facilitating funding for 6 000 of those units.

This calls for over R1.4 billion in funding resources, of which the government will need to contribute about R470 million.

With the new partnership between GPF and NHFC, as well as the benefit of experience, the provision of affordable accommodation makes economic sense and is therefore a good investment for entrepreneurs.

The GPF celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, having been established by the Gauteng Department of Housing and Local Government to address specific challenges in the social housing sector in terms of ‘affordable rental’.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

EROSION PROTECTION SOLUTIONS

erosion protection paving

precast products concrete masonry drainage

kerbs

retaining walls

An engineered erosion solution that can withstand even the most severe climatic conditions.

• Armorflex offers environmental protection • Labour intensive and cost effective • Complete erosion protection (even when placed under water) Tel: 0861266267 www.technicrete.co.za

HOUSING

Not all kerbs are the same...

The GPF targets households with a monthly income of less than R15 000 (CPI-linked). Ensuring banks make a commitment to affordable housing finance was a key deliverable when the GPF was estab-

25% of households in South Africa have no access to housing due to affordability challenges lished. The GPF has created a risk-sharing facilities with Absa and Standard Bank with a value of over R340 million of the banksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; commitment to affordable housing projects.

Projects the GPF has been involved in include: â&#x20AC;˘ Manners Mansion, which is located in the Johannesburg CBD. The project entailed the acquisition and refurbishment of Manners Mansion Building. The building comprises a 13-storey building and has a combination of 80 residential units averaging 60 m2 and nine retail tenants at the ground floor. â&#x20AC;˘ The Hlanganani project, located in the mixed-use Cosmo City development. The Hlanganani project consists of 281 units in 21 blocks of two- and three-storey walk up townhouse-type units with open parking bays. The entire development is fenced with a central security controlled entrance for vehicles and pedestrians. The Hlanganani project has a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. â&#x20AC;˘ More recently it has been involved in the Jabulani Views development, which is part of the larger Jabulani CBD development, consisting of an amphitheatre, retail centre and commercial/office development. The proposed development is part of a greater development plan for the greater Soweto area. The development will consist of 140 units of 30 m2 each (one bedroom) and 160 units of 40 m2 each (two bedrooms).

Other projects include: â&#x20AC;˘ Pharoe Park project in Germiston, Phase 2b, comprising 808 stands in Germiston and 948 in Delville; Brickfields in the Johannesburg CBD, comprising 809 mixed-use units; Kliptown in Soweto, comprising 1 410 units; Harmonie Hof in Hillbrow, comprising 70 units; a project in Roodepoort CBD comprising 432 two-storey walk-up units; Tau Village in Pretoria, comprising 109 two-storey walk-up housing units; Olievenhoutbosch in Pretoria, which consists of 70 units; and the Ridge Hotel in Berea comprising four properties: the 14-storey main hotel building, the four-storey hotel extension, a two-storey building and KwaNgombe, a three-storey stand-alone building.

1BUFOU 1FOEJOH

Introducing the Bosun Castle Bottom Kerb. t &BTJFS UP IBOEMF t 2VJDLFS UP JOTUBMM t #FUUFS BEIFTJPO XJUI MFTT NPWFNFOU "WBJMBCMF PO 'JHVSF $ NN LFSCT Advantages of Castle Bottom Kerb, Compared to Conventional Kerbs t 5IF DBWJUJFT QSPWJEF B HSJQ GPS JOTUBMMFST XIFO MBZJOH UIF LFSCT 5IJT FOBCMFT NVDI FBTJFS IBOEMJOH t 5IF DBWJUJFT NBLF UIF $BTUMF #PUUPN ,FSC NVDI RVJDLFS BOE FBTJFS UP JOTUBMM 8IFSF VOMFWFM TDSFFE TVSGBDFT GPSDF JOTUBMMFST UP VQMJGU m MM VQ BOE SF MBZ DPOWFOUJPOBM LFSCT JU JT FBTJFS UP NBOPFVWSF B $BTUMF #PUUPN ,FSC JOUP QMBDF XJUI UIF TDSFFE CFJOH EJTQMBDFE UP UIF DBWJUJFT JO UIF LFSC

BELOW Jabulani Views will consist of 140 units of 30 m2 and 160 units of 40 m2

t 5IF $BTUMF #PUUPN TJOLT JOUP UIF TDSFFE QSPWJEJOH NVDI CFUUFS BEIFTJPO BOE NBOZ NPSF QPJOUT PG TVSF CPOEJOH t 5IF $BTUMF #PUUPN JT MFTT QSPOF UP NPWFNFOU UIBO DPOWFOUJPOBM n BU LFSC TVSGBDFT PODF UIF CFEEJOH IBT DVSFE t 5IF n BU CPUUPN PG DPOWFOUJPOBM LFSCT EP OPU IBWF DPOTJTUFOU TVQQPSU GSPN UIF TDSFFE BT UIF TDSFFE JT OFWFS B QFSGFDU NBUDI UP UIF CPUUPN TVSGBDF PG UIF LFSC 5IF FOUJSF CPUUPN TVSGBDF NJHIU UIFSFGPSF OPU CF JO DPOUBDU XJUI UIF TDSFFE SFTVMUJOH JO LFSC CSFBLBHFT PODF XFJHIU JT BQQMJFE GSPN BCPWF 5IF SFHVMBS QPJOUT PG TVSF CPOEJOH PG UIF $BTUMF #PUUPN ,FSC BOE UIFJS QSPYJNJUZ UP FBDI PUIFS OFHBUF UIJT QPTTJCJMJUZ

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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E+I 17006

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Tel 0860 267 862 info@bosun.co.za

HOUSING

Free housing building plans The Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) is offering architect-designed plans for a 40 m² subsidy house at no charge to persons wishing to utilise their services.

D

Specialised Housing Services đŏŏŏ +3ĥ)% (!ĥ1,,!.ŏ%* +)! đŏŏŏ . %*%*#ĥ +*/1)!.ŏ! 1 0%+*ĥ ŏŏŏŏŏ/+"03 .!ŏ !2!(+,)!*0 đŏŏŏ . *ŏ.!*!3 ( đŏŏŏ .+,!.05ŏ !2!(+,)!*0ŏ/+(10%+*/ đŏŏŏ 1. (ŏ$+1/%*#

) %(čŏŏ /,!Į +/ $/0!)!(!ċ +ċ6 ŏŏŏħŏŏ333ċ +/ $/0!)!(!ċ +ċ6 ŏŏħŏŏ !(čŏŇĂĈĨąāĩŏăćăŏĀĆĊĉ

UBBED ‘THE CMA HOUSE’, it is an initiative which, if adopted by the construction industry, will improve the quality and building productivity of subsidised housing dramatically. The project was officially launched by the CMA director, Hamish Laing, at the South African Housing Foundation Conference 2011.

Laing says modular masonry using concrete blocks forms the backbone of the CMA House.

“The major difference between modular and non-modular masonry lies in the detail, especially in terms of plans and schedules.

Besides the walls, doors and other dimensions, the plans detail

Each CMA house plan includes a full set of drawings, a normal raft foundation or an alternative precast concrete hollow-core option each and every block used. This reduces the need for odd-sized units and the associated wastage of time and materials so prevalent in non-modular masonry.”

The CMA House or, more accurately, the CMA Houses (two are planned), were designed by an architect using two different masonry units, one used largely inland and the other in coastal regions. The inland set is based on the 290 x 140 x 90 mm solid

60

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

HOUSING

block. The coastal set is based on the 390 x 140 x 190 mm hollow block. The 140 mm width of both units provides structural integrity based on the SANS 10400-K standard and is more economical than the 230 mm width of a standard wall.

Each CMA house plan includes a full set of drawings, a normal raft foundation or an alternative AgrĂŠment-approved precast concrete hollow-core option, modular masonry and concrete roof-tiles. The plans also include schedules for block cutting and matching door and window frames to masonry units, recommendations on waterproofing external wall surfaces and a few energy-efficiency options.

Laing says a double-storey version of The CMA House is also on the cards and two experimental houses have already been erected as part of the Housing and Home Warranty Conference (IHHWC) Legacy Project in Cape Town.

RIGHT Two plan options for the CMA House, both of which are available at no charge from the CMA

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

Member of the Dawn Group

61

Think Green

Leading ng g manufacturer m off piping systems for quality p pi reticulation and water ret t conveyance conveyan n

Building a GREEN ER tomorrow today.. .

Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 345 5600 headoffice@dpiplastics.co.za bellville@dpiplastics.co.za

Cape Town Tel: +27 11 957 5600

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exports@dpiplastics.co.za info@dpiplastics.co.za

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info@dpiplastics.co.za polokwane@dpiplastics.co.za ane@dpiplastics.c nelspruit@dpiplastics.co.za co

STEEL REINFORCED SPIRALLY WOUND HDPE DRAINAGE AND SEWER PIPES t t t t

SEWERAGE STORMWATER MANHOLES WATER RETENTION STORAGE

SANS 674:2010

Manufacturer of HDPE spirally wound Steel reinforced pipes. We specialize in producing high quality, cost effective drainage and sewerage pipes with SABS mark of approval and South African National Standard (SANS 674:2010). We also have South African Patent (2006/02154) for our pipe and the manufacturing technology of the pipe. Starway steel reinforced HDPE pipe is the perfect combination of HDPE and steel which can meet various demands of the different project applications. Our factory is based in East London and since establishing in 2008 we have seen significant growth.

Welded Pipe

Our pipe Sizes are as follows:

t t t t t t t t

200mm 300mm ; 350mm 400mm ; 450mm 500mm ; 550mm 600mm ; 700mm ; 800mm ; 900mm 1000mm ;1200mm ;1300mm 1500mm ;1800mm 2000mm ; 2200mm

Starway pipes come in the following lengths:

t t t

6m length 12m length Can supply lengths to your requirements

We have five different ring stiffness classes:

t

2kN ; 4kN ; 6kN ; 8kN ; 10kN ; 12.5kN

We have the leak free jointing methods, which are the mechanical method of stainless steel clamp, rubber foam and rubber sleeve as well as the electrofusion belt jointing method. We also do the extrusion welded joining method. (Please see more details on our website) Benefits of using the Starway pipe:

t t t t t

The steel strip encased in polyethylene (HDPE100) offers sufficient strength for the pipe to withstand soil and dynamic loads. The material of the pipe body is polyethylene (HDPE100), which has been proved to have excellent anti-corrosion resistance, excellent hydraulic flow characteristics and proper flexibility.

Due to its unique structure and very high ring stiffness to weight ratio can be achieved, this pipe is lighter than any other pure plastic pipe of equal ring stiffness. This can result in meaningful cost saving in pipe transporting and installation.

Polyethylene (HDPE100) is a non-polar high-molecular-weight hydrocarbon. It has high resistant to chemicals in effluent such as salts, acids and alkalis. In this pipe, the steel strip is completely enclosed in polyethylene(HDPE100), therefore, the pipe also has high corrosion resistant to almost all chemicals.

The designed life expectancy of Starway pipe is 50 plus years, much longer than that of traditional pipes.

Pipe jointing by either of the three methods is leak free, and does not pose a threat to the surrounding environment when used for sewer pipe lines.

Dn2200 diameter

Po Box 7644 East London 5201 Tel: 043 743 0393 Fax: 043 743 4034 Contact: E. Sun 082 333 3888 (esun@suntex.co.za) or W. Locke 082 906 1995 (willeml@suntex.co.za) Website: www.amanzistarway.co.za

PIPES, PUMPS AND VALVES

Ekurhuleni assisted in regenerating â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;disaster zoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality successfully completed a R13 million emergency sewer upgrade in the Klippoortjie area after the area was declared a disaster zone following leakages in the existing and outdated pipeline.

I

NCLEDON WAS CONTRACTED in April 2012 to supply more than 1 600 m of 1 000 mm diameter steel-reinforced spirally wound high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sewer pipes to replace the existing concrete pipeline. Installed in 1935, the existing concrete pipeline had to be urgently replaced after it had been severely corroded due to toxic gases created by the raw sewerage,

which had begun to spill into residential and agricultural land.

Ekurhuleni Municipality professional engineering technologist Oupa Matshate points out that the area was immediately declared a

RIGHT Contractors coupling the 1 000 mm diameter steel-reinforced spirally wound HDPE sewer pipes

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

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PIPES, PUMPS AND VALVES

ABOVE Foundations for the HDPE sewer pipeline

disaster zone in early April following the spillage of the sewerage, which created serious health and safety concerns for residents in the area.

“We urgently required the delivery of a suitable pipeline, and Incledon was able to meet our demands in an exceptionally swift and professional manner,” he explains.

The steel-reinforced spirally wound HDPE sewer pipes that were supplied to the project by Incledon are manufactured by Amanzi Starway, a leading local specialist in the manufacture of highquality drainage and sewer pipes. Matshate notes that the Amanzi Starway brand was selected for the project due to its excellent corrosion and wear-resistant properties.

“At the time of installation, concrete pipes were recognised as the best material for sewerage pipes. After more than 75 years of operation, however, the concrete had been corroded as a result

The existing concrete pipeline had to be urgently replaced after it had been severely corroded due to toxic gases of prolonged exposure to toxic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane and carbon monoxide,” he continues.

Matshate highlights the fact that due to its high ring stiffness and axial flexibility of spiral reinforced HDPE pipe, the Amanzi Starway steel-reinforced HDPE pipe is able to relieve the excessive stress caused by soil settlement, groundwater floating and excessive loads through elastic deformation, which prevents leakage and damage at the joints.

The pipes are manufactured with a steel-reinforced polyethylene profile that is formed by integrating HDPE with steel strips by means of an integration machine, which allows for ring stiffness rating up to 8, 10 and 12.5 kN/m2.

Matshate points out that the Klippoortjie emergency sewer pipeline upgrade project was divided into three phases, with all contract work completed by Baatshuma Electrical within one month.

“The first phase of the project involved the installation of 425 m of piping, while the second phase saw 777 m of piping installed, and Phase 3 had an additional 2 700 m laid. The contractors did a fantastic job in ensuring that the emergency sewer pipeline was rapidly installed to urgent deadlines, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and workmanship on a consistent and aroundthe-clock basis.”

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

65

PIPES, PUMPS AND VALVES

Valve certification to boost sales South African firm Dynamic Fluid Control has received Canadian Registration Number (CRN) certification for its RF pinch valve range.

T

HE CERTIFICATION, Canada’s equivalent of the European pressure equipment directive (PED), is expected to boost sales.

Dynamic Fluid Control bought US-based RF Technologies in March 2010 to allow accelerated penetration of the international market for minerals-processing valves.

Key component manufacture was transferred to DFC’s Benoni works soon afterwards. Valve bodies across the range were redesigned to reduce weight, and valve tube manufacture implemented up to diameters of 400 mm.

Larger tubes are imported.

Manufacture is to DIN (German institute for standardisation) specifications for the European market, to ASME (American Society Mechanical Engineers Standards)/ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards for the US, and to AS 2129 Tables D and E for Australia – the aim being to achieve 100% local manufacture of RF pinch valves for the South African market while supplying selected components to subsidiary factories abroad.

RF valves and the sister product, aiRFlex valves, are widely recognised as the best available in applications involving corrosive, scaling and plugging slurries and powders, the result of a patented corrugated tube design that delivers between two and four times the life of the standard sleeves of competitive pinch valves.

In mining, the valves are designed to manage high flow rates at higher than normal

pressures, making them well suited to local trends toward producing larger volumes of ore and processing them at higher pressures and velocities.

The valves are also extensively used in sewage and effluent applications because of a design that makes them ideally suited to flow control as well as flow closure. General opinion is that they control flow more efficiently than ball, butterfly or diaphragm valves.

Valves across the range can be automated and modulated via a SCADA system.

The full RF range comprises pinch valves sized from 25 to 1 500 mm in both manual and automated configurations.

An industry standard face-to-face valve length allows ready interchangeability with other valve designs, while the non-stretch elastomer tube delivers higher wear resistance and longer life.

Whereas a standard elastomer sleeve experiences 95% of wear during the last 10% of valve closure when stress velocity and abrasion are at their highest, the RF tube incorporates expansion arches to minimise stretching of the tube body and extend useful life by up to four times.

The self-cleaning, flexing elastomer action loosens deposits and eliminates most

ABOVE LEFT The RF range comprises pinch valves sized from 25 to 1 500 mm in both manual and automated configurations ABOVE RIGHT The aiRFlex range of valves can handle line pressures up to 4 bar

problems associated with stiction, overshoot, and conventional control valve irregularities.

A wear monitoring sensor assists with preventative maintenance, and tubes can be changed in-line to save manpower and equipment costs.

AiRFlex valves handle line pressures up to 4 bar, while RF valves are designed to control slurries in the pH range 1 to 13 at pressures of up to 40 bar and temperatures up to 120˚C. Actuation can be manual, pneumatic, hydraulic or electric.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

67

Visit us at the IMESA Exhibition Outeniqua Transport Museum - George 24-26 October Stands 39-40

[ Water Solutions ] [ In Africa, water is a scarce and valuable resource. With over 30 years of experience, Robor delivers Áexible, efÀcient and customised steel pipe solutions and products to the water industry. ] Our innovative technology ensures superior water pipeline performance, even in the harshest environments. In addition, Robor offers a variety of value added steel pipe and complete pipe systems perfectly suited to the conveyance of water and sewage, including lined, coated and uncoated steel pipe, as well as Àttings and jointing systems.

Value added services for complete water solutions include: • Lining and coating • Jointing systems • Air ducting • Fire protection solutions • Robotic and submerged arc welding facilities • On-site services and training • Technical support

For more information: Tel: +27 (0)11 971 4300 • E-mail: watersolutions@robor.co.za • www.robor.co.za

SASTT contact details: Web: www.sastt.org.za President: Andries Lรถtz Tel: (011) 688 1483 Fax: (011) 688 1524 E-mail: alotz@jwater.co.za Honorary director: Joop van Wamelen Tel: (012) 567 4026 Fax: 086 668 4026 E-mail: director@sastt.org.za

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

69

SASTT

Sliplining Parktown’s ageing water pipeline infrastructure Subsurface pipeline construction and rehabilitation company Trenchless Technologies recently completed a 12-week contract for specialist contractor Con-Solve Civils and MPA Consulting Engineers.

LEFT Sample of a removed corroded section of 600 mm steel pipe

T

HE CONTRACT saw the company slipline more than 270 m of steel piping at the Parktown Water Reservoir in Johannesburg.

Trenchless Technologies general manager, Marco Camarda, says the Parktown Water Reservoir, which was built in the 1940s, has been in need of refurbishment for many years.

As a result, Johannesburg Water put out a tender in September 2011 for the relining of Reservoir No 2 and pipework of Reservoir No 1 and No 2.

Johannesburg Water awarded the R19 million contract to MPA Consulting Engineers and ConSolve Civils, who then subcontracted a portion of the contract to Trenchless Technologies.

Camarda says Trenchless Technologies’ portion of the contract involved the sliplining of 275 m of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe measuring 560 mm in diameter into an existing 600 mm steel pipe, which serves as the main water feed from Rand Water to the Parktown Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 The SASTT (Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology) technical standard for sliplining specification was used by Johannesburg Water on this contract to ensure the quality of the sliplining works. “Upon

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

71

Trenchless Technology Specialists

Our range of services include: • Pipe Bursting • Horizontal Directional Drilling • Pipe Rehabilitation • Slip Lining

• • • •

Pipe RO[ming CCTV Inspection Dewatering Industrial Pipe Cleaning

• • • •

HDPE Welding Deep Excavation and Shoring Underground Service Detection Close-fit lining: COMPACT PIPE

For more information you can contact us: +27 (0)21 761 3474 F +27 (0)21 797 1151 E info@tt-innovations.co.za www.tt-innovations.co.za

SASTT

LEFT Completion of sliplining line 1 using 60 t rod puller

commencement of the project, we conducted closed-circuit television (CCTV) investigations on the pipeline to determine its condition and look for obstructions. The investigations determined that the pipelines were badly corroded and pitted, and in dire need of refurbishment.

It was also discovered that the pipeline lay at

72

a steep gradient and there was a tight bend at one section of the pipe. These conditions necessitated a significant amount of preparatory work, all of which had to be carried out within very short shut-down periods to avoid interrupting the supply of water to the residents of the neighboring areas, including

the Johannesburg General Hospital, which is positioned next door to the reservoir,” explains Camarda.

All of the preparatory work, including the CCTV investigations, cleaning of the pipeline and sliplining test work as well as the actual sliplining work, was carried out through a small work footprint consisting of a launch pit at the southern end of the pipeline and a retrieval pit at the northern end of the pipeline.

“After having cleaned the pipeline, we had to remove any protruding objects by running a spring-loaded steel fingered cleaner through the pipeline. We then carried out sliplining test work using a 2.5 m test piece of HDPE pipe, which we ran through the entirety of the pipeline. The only obstacle that we faced was a severe bend in the pipeline, at which point we had to excavate a pit and remove this bend,” explains Camarda.

Once Trenchless Technologies determined that the pipeline was clean and free of

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

• GRUNDOMAT soil displacement hammers for pipes up to ND 150 - extremely precise due reciprocating chisel head.

• GRUNDODRILL HDD systems for steerable bores up to ND 600 - with percussive hammer for stony soils.

• GRUNDORAM ramming machines for steel pipes up to ND 4000 - also applicable vertically for ramming sheet piles.

• FÖCKERSPERGER PIPE AND CABLE PLOWS for trenchlessly plowing in pipes up to OD 225 and cables in open terrain.

• GRUNDOBURST static pipe bursting systems for the replacement of pipes up to ND 1000

• PRIME DRILLING - Midi & Maxi HDD rigs for pipes up to 1400 mm.

ALL THIS AND MORE ONLY FROM TT. TT sales partner in South Africa:

Reef Trenchless Technology SA (Pty) Ltd

· 19 Shamrock Road, Primrose, P. O. Box 2168 · Primrose 1416 · South Africa Phone: +27 (0)11 828 2397 · 828 5782 · Fax +27 (0)11 828 7981 · E-Mail: reefpneu@mweb.co.za · www.reeftrenchless.com

SASTT

any obstructions, it commenced the sliplining works. Four sliplining sections were undertaken in total. Additional works included installation of new 600 mm diameter fabricated tees, bends, spool pieces and valves. The contract was completed by the company in less than 12 weeks.

The only interruption experienced by Trenchless Technologies was that of having

ABOVE Butt-welding of 560 HDPE pipe in preparation of sliplining RIGHT Welding New 600 Flange to allow tie-in for nine-hour shutdown

to lay a steel pipeline underneath the access road to Reservoir No 1, just below Reservoir No 2. Here Trenchless Technologies excavated across the road, layed the steel piping and connected it to a new steel tee piece at one

end and onto an existing 600 mm diameter flanged gate valve at the other end. The road was reinstated in just 24 hours.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

73

- Asset management data collection Call : Durban: 031 579 2240

- Conditional pipe assessment

Cape Town: 021 680 0676 076 403 7320

- GIS mapping - CCTV pipe inspections

Web :

- Sonar pipe Inspections

Email :

www.camjet.co.za

info@camjet.co.za

- High pressure Jetting - Intrusion Cutting

For those who want to see what lies beneathâ&#x20AC;Ś.

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INTERNATIONAL MINING, INDUSTRIAL, CONSTRUCTION AND POWER GENERATION EXHIBITION SHOWCASES NEW INNOVATIONS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGIES

co-locating in hall 9

Pre-registration is now open for Electra Mining Africa, the ultimate market place for all stakeholders involved in the mining, construction, industrial and power generation industries.

Visitors can expect to see leading local and international industry players in the packed halls and outside precincts. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the ideal place to view the latest in technology and equipment, innovative products and new supplies and services.

Tr a n s p o r t f o r t h e M i n i n g I n d u s t r y

Experts will be on hand to give advice, live demonstrations will be happening daily and co-located conferences and workshops will add even greater value.

Electra Mining Africa is recognized as the second largest mining show in the world and the biggest trade exhibition in southern Africa with global recognition for its broad reach across mining, construction, industrial and power generation industries.

Electra Mining Africa and co-located Elenex Africa, Machine Tools Africa and Transport Expo runs from 10-14 September 2012 at the Expo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Contact the Marketing Director at Specialised Exhibitions Leatitia van Straten leatitiavs@specialised.com +27 (0) 11 835 1565 www.electramining.co.za

PRE-REGISTER NOW FOR FREE ENTRY Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just complete the registration form at www.electramining.co.za R15 per vehicle, per day for secure parking

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Strategic partnership for power companies Highview Power Storage and Basil Read Energy (BRE) have announced a strategic partnership agreement for the commercial deployment of Highview’s proprietary energy storage technology in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

T

HE AGREEMENT with BRE follows Highview’s announcement of a strategic partnership with the German Messer Group. Highview is the first UK company to secure overseas commercial agreements in the fast-growing energy storage market. This latest arrangement gives exclusive rights to BRE to deploy and implement Highview’s proprietary cryogenic energy storage technology in its markets.

“With our pilot plant in the UK built and fully operational, signing our first commercial agreements was always the next key step.

With the very high quality of our international partners, I am confident that we shall see the ground being broken for the first multimegawatt plants next year,” states Highview CEO Gareth Brett.

BRE is a diversified African energy company focusing on the development, ownership and

operation of renewable energy power generation projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

“The unique power of this solution is that the air is free and there is an infinite supply of it, so using air in liquid form as the energy storage vector is an extraordinarily attractive solution.

It means the plants can be located anywhere rather than being dependent on a specific type of geography or location of a specific resource, such as water,” comments Ian Curry, director of

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

75

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

“Integrating intermittent renewables is core to a longterm low carbon energy solution.”

Ian Curry, director of Basil Read Energy

76

BRE. BRE has already identified the opportunity for large-scale energy storage to provide energy security and peak time energy management to intensive energy users such as mines, refineries and the steel industry. The solution also works at utility level, which is why the piloting of the UK plant has been with Scottish & Southern Energy. Curry believes that this solution could have enormous application for Eskom because it can offer a large-scale distributed storage solution with no dependence on extraneous factors such as diesel, LPG or coal. He points out that the solution is completely independent of any vagaries of the commodity market; “the air is free and, to all intents and purposes, limitless in supply, especially since our only exhaust product is just air.

“Simultaneously reducing electricity demand and ensuring security of supply at peak times is a key challenge facing the African energy industry today. Equally, integrating intermittent renewables is core to a long-term low carbon energy solution and energy storage is a key component to help deliver, reliable, right-time supply,” explains Curry.

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

www.basilread.co.za

Another legacy from Basil Read.

BR Energy is a unique entity that understands the magnitude of simultaneously harnessing the value of renewable and non-renewable energy to achieve the optimal energy mix. It is this unparalleled, hybrid approach to addressing our continent’s energy concerns that makes BR Energy, a leading private equity investment firm, dedicated to capitalising on investment opportunities.

T +27 11 418 6300 | E communications@basilread.co.za

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MEDIA

EVENTS

New CMA awards for excellence format

An SWL concrete block is lowered into position at Sturrock dry dock in Cape Town

78

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

EVENTS

LEFT The completed precast concrete blocking line on the floor of Sturrock dry dock

The Concrete Manufacturers Association’s (CMA) new category format for the 2012 Awards Excellence Competition has had a flying start. A total of 74 competition entries have been received, reflecting the strength and diversity of the precast concrete industry.

B

ESIDES THE INTRODUCTION of new awards categories announced earlier this year, this is the first time that the awards entry book, which showcases entry pictures and lists the

professional teams involved, has been published electronically.

The competition takes on additional significance this year with the CMA celebrating its 40th anniversary, an achievement which

will be celebrated jointly with the Awards for Excellence presentation ceremony on 3 November 2012. Like many of its peers, the association had humble beginnings as a masonry association in 1972, a paving division having been added shortly thereafter.

As anticipated, ‘aesthetics’ captured the lion’s share of the new entry format with 28 submissions, followed by ‘innovation’ (15), ‘technical excellence’ (13), ‘sustainability’ (7) and five each for ‘community involvement’ and ‘vintage’.

Judging of the awards took place on 8 August. Some entries were entered for two or more categories – for example, a paving project could have been entered into ‘aesthetics’, ‘community involvement’ and ‘sustainability’.

As in previous competitions, a trophy will be presented to the overall winner of each

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

Reflections

An

79

journey through time

We take this opportunity to invite you to purchase this collectors item: Contact IMESA at 031-266-3263 or more info.

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EVENTS

TOP The Seaway Polaris enters a flooded Sturrock dry dock prior to being lowered into position BELOW The Seaway Polaris after being successfully lowered onto the precast concrete blocking line at Sturrock dry dock

Below is a detailed description of a civil engineering project entered into the ‘technical excellence’ and ‘innovation’ categories.

of the six entry categories. However, the regional and national awards of former competitions have been dropped. Instead, three commendation awards per category will be made, providing the entries are of a sufficiently high standard to merit an award.

‘INNOVATION’ AND ‘TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE’ Dry dock blocking line used for 25 000 t Seaway Polaris The project involved the installation of a precast concrete blocking line to accommodate the hull of the 25 000 t derrick lay-barge, Class 3 Shipping’s Seaway Polaris, four metres above the floor of Cape Town’s Sturrock dry dock for routine maintenance.

This was the third time a CMA member, Concrete Units, working as the contractor with Wale Marine (the project’s engineering and project management company), had provided a blocking line for the Seaway Polaris. The first was in 2002 when Wale Marine designed and constructed the initial blocking line and the second followed in 2008. The initial project involved the

construction of 173 cruciform-shaped 200 t Safe Working Load (SWL) precast concrete blocks – a world first for dry docking applications. The motivation for this approach was the limited capacity of the dock-side cranes.

Seaway Polaris returned to Cape Town in June 2012 and the blocking line was installed for a third time. In this instance speed of installation was crucial because of a limited two-week period when the dry-dock was available. To compound the problem, new safety regulations to European standards had come into play. The new standards called for scaffolding, which given the time constraint was not a viable option.

Concrete Units, with valuable engineering input from Wale Marine, engineered an innovative rigging system as an alternative. It involved handling the blocks by crane and forklift and employing a double-split cradle with a mechanical linkage. This method allowed the rigging to be managed at ground level thus negating the use of scaffolding. Once linkage was achieved the cradles could engage the block-heads without the assistance of additional manual labour. After a block had been lowered into position, the cradle was easily disengaged and immediately made ready for lifting the next block.

Due to this innovative design lifting gear system, what had been originally programmed as a 28-shift (14 days) installation period turned out to be a nine-shift (4.5 days) operation.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS 68

52 Echo Group

Amanzi Starway

62 Ecochem Pumps

67 Royal HaskoningDHV/ SSI

24

Aquadam

50 Electra Mining

38

Aveng Manufacturing INFRASET

64 Gibb

74 SBS Water Systems 31 Schneider Electric

Barloworld Equipment

20 Frontier Pipeline Services

66

Basil Read

76 Krohne South Africa

33

Bosch Stemele

60 Lekwa Consulting Engineers

56

Bosun Bricks

59 Lepelle Northern Water

35

Mercedes Benz SA

OFC

Breede- Overberg Catchment Management Agency

49 Much Asphalt

75

Camjet

73 Murray & Roberts Building Products

58

22

Structa Technology

46

The Rare Group

36

Trenchless Technologies

IFC

TT Innovations

71

Vela VKE

42

Veolia Water Solutions & Technology

26

Degremont

63 NuWater

78 Vermeer Equipment Suppliers 44 Water and Sanitation Services

DPI Plastics

61 Quality Filtration Systems

40 WRP Consulting Engineers

IBC

Dynamic Fluid Control

65 Reef Trenchless Technology

72 Xylem (ITT Water & Wastewater)

28

Corobrick

80

16 & 17 Robor

Abeco Tanks

IMIESA SEPTEMBER 2012

54 & 55 National Asphalt

70 OBC

A Miya Group Grou Gr ou u Company mpany

Water Demand Management Training

WRP Consulting Engineers offers a wide variety of accredited water demand management training modules that have been developed to client’s requirements. Course modules focus not only on technical aspects, but also provide hands-on experience through practical examples, case studies and exercises. WRP has provided customised training in WDM to the Johannesburg Water, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, City of Tshwane, City of Cape Town, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Buffalo City and many other municipalities and water boards throughout South Africa.

Modules include: • The Importance of Water Demand Management and Water Conservation (1 day to 3 days) • Data Logging of Pressure and Flow (3 day Practical) • Interpretation and Understanding Logging Results (1 day) • Leak Detection (3 day Practical) • Operation and Maintenance of Control Valves (3 day Practical) • Meter Reading and Domestic Audits • Installation of Domestic Meters • Industrial & Commercial Meter Audits • Public Participation and Social Awareness • Pipe and Service Locating Training (3 day Practical) WRP offers highly experienced course presenters who have been involved in training and technical support to many client bodies not only throughout South Africa but also in Australia, Botswana, Ethiopia, Europe, Ghana, India, Lesotho, Namibia, New Zealand, the Phillippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UK, USA and Zambia.

WRP_A0002_ Marketing_Brochures_Training.cdr Last updated: 2012-08-06

For further details contact Tel:+27(12) 346 3496, Fax: +27(12) 346 9956, Email: wrp@wrp.co.za Internet: www.wrp.co.za www.miya-water.com