The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is currently implementing refurbishments and upgrades at five water treatment works and aims to ultimately upgrade all eight facilities providing drinking water to Nelson Mandela Bay to the tune of more than R 1 billion.
This follows after the demand for potable water from the population of 1,1 million residents consistently increased at approximately 6% over the last couple of years.
Infrastructure, Engineering, Electricity and Energy Standing Committee Chairperson Andile Mfunda said the consistent growth in demand is a good reason for the refurbishment and upgrading of all municipal Water Treatment Works in order to continue with the supply of good quality drinkable water to all consumers in the near and long term future.
“The upgrades will accommodate the exceptional growth in the housing delivery programme of the municipality and provide adequate supply for the industrial and economic growth of the Coega Industrial Development Zone, further enhancing investor security and sustainable job creation.
“We are estimating the cost of the refurbishments and upgrades at our eight water treatment works to be approximately R1,3 billion and it will be implemented in a phased approach over the next five years due to funding allocations on our capital budget.
“The water treatment works in question are the Loerie Water Treatment Works, Churchill, Elandsjagt, Nooitgedagt, Linton, Groendal, Springs and the Rocklands Water Treatment Works.
“This augurs well for our continued provision of clean and safe drinking water and the augmentation of water supply.
“The excellent work over a number of years follows after the Mayoral Committee approved and accepted the Water Master Plan – which forms part of the Water Services Development Plan and ultimately the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan – in August 2007,” Mfunda said.
Progress at the water treatment works to date:
Loerie Water Treatment Works
Commissioned in 1968, the refurbishment and upgrade of this facility commenced in 2005 and approximately R120 million was invested in the facility since then. Currently a R15 million contract is underway to further upgrade and refurbish the facility. To complete the upgrades and refurbishments, work to the tune of R40 million will be done in the next two to three years.
Churchill Water Treatment Works
Commissioned in 1947 with a treatment capacity of 24Ml per day it underwent capacity upgrades at different stages to reach the current treatment capacity of 100Ml per day. With all the relevant planning and design work completed, the first contract – valued at R25 million – for the refurbishment and upgrading of the raw water pump station has been awarded and will be completed by the end of this year. The remainder of the contracts will be implemented in a phased approach as funds become available on the capital budget every financial year.
Elandsjagt Water Treatment Works
Commissioned in 1985 with a treatment capacity of 100Ml per day, the refurbishments and upgrades at this facility commenced in 2006 and is 55% complete. Approximately R70 million has been invested in the facility to date and there are currently two contracts being implemented to the tune of R70 million. These two contracts, aimed at addressing the mechanical and electrical upgrades of the raw water pumps and the filter beds, are expected to be completed by June 2015. Additional work to the tune of R20 million will be implemented in the next couple of years.
Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works
Commissioned in 1992 with a treatment capacity of 70Ml per day, the refurbishment and upgrades of the facility commenced in 2005 and is 70% complete. A drought relief grant of R450 million was received between 2008 and 2011. Approximately R580 million has been invested in this water treatment works up to date. Contracts to the value of R120 million were awarded and construction started in October. Plans are in place to complete the work in the next few years at a cost of R220 million and the treatment capacity of the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works will increase to 160 Ml per day once the work is complete.
Groendal Water Treatment Works
Commissioned in 1985, the current treatment capacity of this facility is 20Ml per day. Improvements commenced in 2012 and are 70% complete. Approximately R19 million has been invested at the water treatment works to date. Another R11 million will be done over the next two to three years.
The planning and design work has been completed for the Linton Water Treatment Works, Springs WTW and the Rocklands Water Treatment Works and the refurbishments and upgrades will be completed over the next five years.
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