Magalies Water poised for next phase of growth

putting infrastructure in the ground (like the uMshwathi Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme). We also assist them with water demand management strategies and conservation.”

Naidoo explains that Umgeni Water is unique in that it is not a centralised water board – its infrastructure, which is spread across KwaZulu-Natal, feeds different areas across municipal boundaries. “We have committed to supply water and sanitation services to remote areas. By supplying infrastructure to these places, we prevent the influx of people to other municipalities that have water services. The resettlement of people to these areas put an additional strain on that infrastructure. This is the purpose of an SOE – we invest in places where no other businesses would, creating economic growth.”

Asset management While Umgeni has a capex programme that builds new infrastructure, it also has a structured asset management strategy that takes care of existing infrastructure. Naidoo maintains that Umgeni Water has a thorough approach towards the management of its infrastructure. “Asset management is a fundamental component to a successful infrastructure business. We have a clear asset management strategy that is internationally benchmarked. A significant portion of our expenditure is geared towards maintenance and extending the life of our assets.”

Over the past two years, Umgeni Water has adopted the international standard of asset management – ISO 55000. “Due to Covid-19, there has been no one in the country that can do the certification, but Umgeni Water has been audited against ISO 55000 and looks forward to achieving the certification in due course,” says Naidoo.

“Asset management adds further value to our balance sheet and assists in making water more affordable for everybody.”

Rosetta Water Treatment Works

As one of the nine water boards in South Africa mandated to supply bulk water and sanitation services, Magalies Water provides potable water to municipalities, mines and other private consumers within the North West, Limpopo and Gauteng provinces.

Magalies Water owns and operates four water treatment plants, with a combined portable water treatment capacity of 340 Mℓ/day. With a total staff complement of 280, the water utility has obtained a clean audit for the 2019/20 financial year, with a 93% average performance rate and water sales totalling 94 704 537 kℓ. Furthermore, the water sold was on average compliant with all five parameters of SANS 241:2015 (Acute-1 health, Acute-2 health, Chronic health, Operational, and Aesthetic).

Some of the key projects completed by Magalies Water include: • The construction of a 16.5 km long bulk supply pipeline with a booster pump station from the Tuschenkomst terminal reservoir to the existing bulk supply pipeline in Ruighoek. This has ultimately increased water supply to the

Mabeskraal cluster. • The construction of a booster pump station to increase the pumping capacity from the Klipdrift Wastewater Treatment

Works towards the northern areas of the

Bela-Bela and Modimolle-Mokgopoong municipalities in Limpopo. • The mechanical and electrical upgrade of the Wallmannsthal high-lift pump station, whose impact has seen an increased

pumping capacity and efficiency, thus reducing the downtime in the City of Tshwane. One of the more noteworthy milestones for 2021 was the appointment of Magalies Water as the implementing agent for the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants in the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality as per the agreement signed between the two parties. This is particularly significant, since, in 2016, Magalies Water was tasked with designing and successfully building a nutrient removal activated sludge plant in Koster with a design capacity of 6 Mℓ/day.

Koster Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality