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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JUNE
2015
PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS
from Greenfields (Phase I) and the first phase
of the construction of the Maclear Wastewater
Treatment Works (WWTW).
The third phase which is scheduled to
commence in June 2015 includes the construc-
tion of theWWTW, the construction of themain
sewerage pump station and the closing down
and rehabilitation of the old sewerage ponds.
“We applied all the latest design and system
technologies at Maclear, taking cognisance of
the availability of equipment and expertise in
the area and services available from suppliers.
In addition, GIBB provided operational and
maintenance guidance, and the setting up of
the process together with the training of oper-
ators for the Maclear WWTW and surround-
MACLEAR BULK SANITATION
UPGRADE TO START
Situated in the foothills of the Drakensberg, in the Eastern Cape, is
the town of Maclear – famous for its wild trout, rock art, dinosaur
footprints and spectacular scenery.
Of vital importance to the Joe Gqabi
District Municipality in which Maclear
falls, is the improvement and upgrade
of the town’s bulk sewer infrastructure.
“The upgrade to the town’s sewage infra-
structure will see it complying to the Depart-
ment of Water Affairs (DWA) Green Drop stan-
dards for discharge quality effluent, preventing
pollution into the nearby Mooi River, meeting
existing and projected demand, and assisting
with the elimination of bucket sanitation,”
explained project leader Victor de Wet of
consulting engineers GIBB, charged with the
design and supervision of the phased upgrade.
GIBB was appointed for Phases I and II of
the project which involved the collector sewer
Wastewater Treatment Works Reactor and Secondary Settling Tank.
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SouthAfricanblack-ownedconsulting
engineering firm, GIBB, announced its
partnership with the largest archi-
tectural firm in the country, SVA.
The partnership will strengthen the
skillset of both companies and grow
its confidence in Africa.
With an impressive track record of
delivery spanning over 70 years, SVA
has successfully delivered over 1 000
architectural projects.
In partnership with SVA, GIBB
will now be able to offer clients a
full range of architectural services
including Master Planning, Urban
Design and Building Design.
ing plant operators in the area,” said De Wet.
In detail, Phase III comprises completing
and extending the capacity of the existing
WWTW from 700 kℓ/day to its full capacity of
1 400 kℓ/day which involves construction of a
second reactor and secondary settling tank, a
chlorine contact tank and related mechanical
and electrical work.
The proposed new bulk sewerage pump
station (Maclear Town PS) will receive the entire
town’s wastewater together with the upgraded
Fourie Street reticulation.
“Environmental assessments were carried
out for future Phase IV and V projects, and the
Maclear Town PS and temporary pump station
will be located within DWA restricted areas. This
raised concerns of providing river protection
against pollution during spillage incidents.
“Additional risingmain segments connecting
to a steel pipe bridge crossing are also in sensi-
tive river bank protection areas,” said De Wet.
“The future Phase IV andV projects envisage
full waterborne sewerage reticulation for the
entire town of Maclear and its adjacent town-
ships,” he concluded.
DPI Plastics was commissioned by the appointed contractor to
supply over 4,3 km of the pipes in 560 mm, 500 mm, 400 mm
and 160 mm diameters to the upgrade project in the town of
Jouberton. DPI Plastics product manager Renier Snyman notes that the
order for the 560 mm Durodrain pipes is to date the largest diameter
locally manufactured sewerage pipe supplied to a project.
“The larger bore ensures that greater volumes of sewerage is conveyed
in gravity sewers. This improves efficiency when compared to 500 mm
sewer pipes, which was until recently the largest size available locally.
I am confident that demand for larger bore sewerage pipes will continue,
as they provide an excellent balance of durability, efficiency and afford-
ability,” he explains.
The pipeline was upgraded and expanded due to an increase in popu-
lation in the area, and varying diameters were required to meet flow rate
requirements. The supply project began April 2014, and was completed
four months later, in line with specified budgets and deadlines.
DPI Plastics is also the only local manufacturer capable of producing
630 mm uPVC sewer pipes, thanks to its
state-of-the-art Krauss Maffei extrusion
line, which is capable of producing up to
22 tons of SANS-approved PVC piping
products per day.
According to Snyman, PVC is more
cost effective and boasts a longer life
expectancy, compared to industry
standard steel, concrete and HDPE,
which are often prone to corrosion damage caused by methane and
chemicals over time.
“PVC boasts a smooth inside wall, which results in a low friction coef-
ficient, thereby ensuring resistance to algae growth, which is a common
cause of blockage in sewerage systems. Integral joints with rubber seals
result in effective sealing and resists root ingress,” says Snyman.
Another major advantage of the Durodrain range is the fact that
it employs ‘Best Practice PVC’ methods, which include pipes being
manufactured in ISO 9001 accredited factories that minimise wastage
by recycling materials; the responsible use of additives and stabilisers;
and a reduced carbon footprint when compared to alternative materials
and manufacturers.
Snyman adds that PVC is considerably lighter than steel or concrete.
"This means that pipes can be transported more efficiently by truck,
which reduces fuel consumption and improves turnaround times. The
lightweight characteristics of the pipes also ensures that onsite installation
times are dramatically improved," he concludes.
COMPREHENSIVE RANGE SUPPLIED
DPI Plastics – a leadingwater reticulation, drainage
pipe and fitting systemsmanufacturer has supplied
a comprehensive range of Durodrain uPVC pipes
valued at R4,4-million to the R16-million City of
Matlosana sewerage upgrade project.
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