Nsezi Water Treatment Plant Upgrade and Empangeni Bulk Water Pipeline (Phase2)
Since the 80s, Mhlathuze Water has been the country’s leading water utility supplying water to more than 37,000m2 in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. The company is focused on bringing safer, cleaner water to residents in an effort to improve the health of the community they serve.
The Nsezi Water Treatment Plant was primarily intended to provide water to big industries; however, it also provides additional water to residents, a necessity that was stressed by Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica. “Of the 10 million people living in Kwa-Zulu Natal, 2.3 million do not have access to clean water. To this end government aims to eradicate this backlog by 2014.”
Recognising the valuable resource and need of increasing water capacity in their area, Mhlathuze Water embarked on the expansion of the Nsezi Water Treatment Plant and the Empangeni Bulk Water Pipeline to secure the supply and water reserve for residents’ and the local industries’ use.
Mhlathuze Water has increased its service offering to local and regional municipalities, assisting these water service authorities to provide potable water to rural communities.
The organisation’s commitiment is to provide safe and dependable water services to major customers including Foskor, Mondi, Exarro, Richards Bay Minerals, the City of uMhlathuze including the district municipalities of uThungulu and uMhkanyakude.
The current expansion of the plant is in line with the expected growth in demand projected for 2014 and helps with the anticipated expansion of both industries’ and local population water needs.
Reports indicate that Mhlathuze Water’s quality is of the highest standards maintaining a 98 percent and 100 percent compliance with respect to physical and bacteriological water quality at the Nsezi Water Treatment Plant.
Currently, the plant consists of a raw water pump station and a clarifier pump station. The raw water pump station has a pumping capacity of 8400m3 per hour. The pump station produces both clarified and potable water for industrial and residential use.
Onset Upgrading of the Project
The plant’s upgrade, commenced in April 2009 and is set for completion in April 2011. It will increase capacity from 134,000 m3 to 204,000 m3 per day with its four pumps, each pumping 2,100 m3 water per hour (2. 1 million litres per hour). Approximately 18 ml of water is pumped daily from the 3ml reservoir to Empangeni. Each pump outputs 1,100 m3 per hour. Additional upgrades include:
The clarifier system that takes care of the distribution tower, clari-flocculator, bridges, clarified water pipeline and other associated work. The dissolved air flotation system that includes flash flocculator, flow distribution weirs, reaction chambers recirculation pipe-work and other associated works.
The construction of two rapid gravity filters, the filter backwash and valves and other associated works Laying of pipes including material supply and laying of a 3.5km length 1,200mm diameter pipeline and other related works. Once completed, the plant will provide sufficient water for the next 24 years.
Empangeni Bulk Water Pipeline
Mhlathuze Water was appointed by the City of uMhlathuze as the implementing agent for the Empangeni Bulk Water Supply (Phase 2). The organisation then appointed Powerhouse Utilities and Ingerprop Consulting Engineers to provide professional engineering services associated with the project. The bulk water pipeline is located around the northern and easten outskirts of Empangeni, the exact starting point of the new pipe is a T-junction near the MR2 road and the end point is the Hillview reservoir.
The project comprises the upgrading of the pump station at Nsezi Water Treatment Plant (including mechanical, electrical and telemetry installations) and the construction of a new pipeline (DN 800 to DN 500) to supply Hillview reservoir and a new reservoir, Hilltop, to be constructed. The construction of the 800mm diameter 7.2km pipeline commenced in September 2009 and is scheduled for completion in June 2010.
Project Team
(Nsezi Water Treatment Plant upgrade-phase 2)
Engineers
Iliso Consulting
Water Treatment Process & Mechanical Engineers
MSW Engineers
Electrical Engineers
IGODA Projects
(Empangeni Bulk Water Pipeline-phase 2)
Project Management & Construction Monitoring
Powerhouse Utilities
Pipe Design
Ingerop
Upgrading of Station
BTW
