Construction World June 2015

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

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.

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

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-

>

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

28

Wastewater Treatment Works Reactor and Secondary Settling Tank.

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.

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.

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 >

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2015