01 July 2009

An R800-million pipeline is being laid to beef up the water supply from the Midmar Dam to the western parts of eThekwini.

The Western Aqueduct, one of eThekwini Water and Sanitation’s biggest projects ever, will leave the dam at Umlaas Road and run between Inchanga and Ntuzuma, with large offtakes to Tshelimnyama, near Marianhill and Mount Moriah. Work involves the laying of 18m-long sections of steel pipe, each between 1m and 1.6m in diameter.

Project Manager, Andrew Copley, said the growth in water demand in the western parts of the metro had led to infrastructure capacity problems with the existing pipelines, which were laid in the late 1960s.

“The demand for water in the Outer West increased further as people migrated to suburbs just west of the greater Durban area,” he said. Ntuzuma and Inanda had also experienced a steady influx of people, increasing water consumption and putting strain on the system.

Department Head Neil MacLeod said eThekwini Water and Sanitation had investigated several possible solutions and the most favourable was the construction of the new bulk pipeline from Umlaas Road.

“We had to construct as much of it as possible within existing registered water pipeline servitudes, and without the need for pump stations, which were likely to go out of action as a result of energy shortages,” said MacLeod.

The Western Aqueduct will run parallel to the N3, starting at Umlaas Road up to Inchanga where it will divert away from the N3 to pass through Drummond, Assegai and Hillcrest. It will then run close to the M13, through Everton and Kloof, heading towards Ntuzuma via Wyebank. It will branch again through New Germany to Mount Moriah, with a feed through Haygarth Road in Kloof, heading to Tshelimnyama.

Along its route, the pipeline will supply water in bulk to several bulk water reservoirs serving Western areas. Three-metre wide trenches, up to 4m deep will be dug to lay the pipes. A working corridor up to 30m wide will be created to accommodate pipe-laying cranes.

Copley said road surfaces would be completely excavated for the installation of the pipes, but reinstatement would take place as soon as the pipes had been laid. Copley said the size of the project meant that it had been divided into two phases.

“The first phase, which is now in progress, stretches from Umlaas Road to the Inchanga railway station. In this phase, about 20km of the pipeline will be laid.

“The second phase will begin early next year, stretching from the Inchanga railway station to the three terminal reservoirs in Ntuzuma, Mount Moriah and Tshelimnyama. This phase will cover about 55km,” Copley said.

Consulting Engineer Pedro Rodrigues said that where the pipeline followed roads, closures would be inevitable. He said alternate routes would be introduced “where possible” for owners of properties bordering the route.

Copley said a dedicated team of environmentalists would monitor the progress of the project to minimise its impact on the environment. Once complete, the pipeline will improve the reliability of drinking water to consumers in the region. All construction work is scheduled for completion in November next year.

Source: Durban
durban.gov.za