George Municipality received a Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding (BFI) grant to the value of R1.115 billion from National Treasury in the 2021/22 financial year and the BFI project with its various project components, has shown significant progress and expenditure up to the 2023/24 financial years. The full BFI project is planned to be completed by October 2025.
George Municipality is actively working to keep our economy on the go, by ensuring adequate long-term planning and investment into our resources – that is water, sewerage and electricity. The Municipality currently provides water services to over 294 929 residents from 85 931 households across 28 wards including the coastal areas of Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay and Gwaing in the city of George area as per STATSSA 2022. The objectives of the project are to ensure adequate potable water supply to meet the demand of the current population and to provide security for future development, both social and economic, as well as to reduce pollution of certain main water courses.
The project consists of 12 components, some of which will be executed in more than one construction phase.
Component 1 and 2
The 20 Mℓ/d extension to the New Water Treatment Works (New WTW) is component 2 and component 1 is the new WTW Residuals Treatment facility of the project.
Status: The first contract, valued at R263 million, for the civil engineering works – construction is nearing completion. The tender for the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation (MEI) works to the value of R217 million – the installation on site is progressing at pace. Components 1 and 2 form the largest sub-projects of the overall BFI project.
A number of plant shutdowns are required at the new Water Treatment Works to enable tie-ins on the raw water feed to the plant, the clear water feed from the plant to the reservoirs, valve chamber construction, injection chamber construction and some refurbishment of pipework in the existing new Water Treatment Works. These shutdowns have to be carefully co-ordinated to avoid unnecessary downtime or reduction in water supply to George and also contributes to the requirement for the continued water restrictions due to the inability to supply treated water in larger quantities.
The civil engineering construction was scheduled for completion at the end of February 2024 and the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation by December 2024. The latter is still true for the MEI contract, but additional work required on the raw water pipeline and intake works extended the completion date of the civil works. The civil construction Practical Completion dates are as follows:
Portion 1 – Modifications to existing works: Scheduled for 24 June 2024
Portion 2 – Main works 20 Mℓ/d plant: Scheduled for 24 June 2024
Portion 3A – Residuals facility: 26 Mar 2023
Portion 3B – Residuals facility: 20 March 2024
Portion 4 – New clear water pipeline: 20 Dec 2023
Component 3
The refurbishment of the existing Sludge Discharge System Phase 1 and 2 at the Eden, Meul and Schaapkop Pumpstations will improve the reliability of the aged pump stations.
Status: Construction of the first phase has reached completion at the Meul and Eden Pump Stations
• Phase 1: The first phase of the upgrading and refurbishment of the Meul Sewage Pumpstation was completed in June 2023, including a new standby generator and motor control centre. This is also the case for the new motor control centre at the Eden Sewage Pumpstation. The Schaapkop Sewage Pumpstation implementation was delayed and the tender for the Phase 1 implementation had to be cancelled.
•Phase 2: Civil engineering construction on the Meul Sewage Pumpstation Phase 2, as well as the Eden Pump Station have been awarded. While construction at Eden Ps is being delayed by a DFFE permit, the construction at Meul Pump Station has reached Practical Completion. The contract for Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation works at Meul Pump Station has also been awarded and construction is due to start. Similarly, the tenders for both portions under the Schaapkop Pump Station have been awarded, incorporating both Phases 1 and 2 to be implemented as a single project.
Component 4
The upgrading of the Garden Route Dam Outlet and Supply project includes the replacement of the existing 600 mm diameter raw water pipeline from the intake tower at the Garden Route Dam to the raw water pumpstations, with a new 800 mm diameter stainless steel pipeline to accommodate a higher flowrate in accordance with the future raw water flow requirements.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 34.2 million in May 2023. Construction progress is currently at 70%. The estimated completion date for the project is October 2024.
Component 5 – COMPLETED
2 x 1250 kVA generators have been installed at the Garden Route Dam raw water pumpstation. These generators will ensure that during loadshedding or any other power outage, raw water can continue to be pumped uninterrupted to the Water Treatment Works for processing for drinking water supply.
Status:
Construction and installation have been completed and the project has been commissioned. The generators automatically start and can operate during load-shedding.
Component 6
An additional 40 million litre raw water storage and balancing dam will be constructed, as well as a 340m long 800mm diameter raw water outlet pipeline and an 1000mm diameter raw water pump main extension, to secure sufficient raw water storage capacity to supply the 20Mℓ/day extension to the Water Treatment Works and the existing two treatment plants. The new raw water dam will supplement the existing storage dams that provide raw water to the two water treatment plants.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 93,1 million in December 2023. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 10%. The estimated completion date for the project is August 2025.
Component 7 – COMPLETED
The rehabilitation of the Old Water Treatment Works, located in Denneoord will allow for the refurbishment of the 20 Mℓ/d treatment plant.
Status: This component consists of four separate contracts and the tenders were awarded at the beginning of 2022. All work has been completed under this component.
Component 8
Refurbishment of the Kaaimans River Pumpstation equipment will include the installation of six (6) new submersible vortex impeller pumps in the sump, a strainer system and six new high lift centrifugal pumps and includes the replacement of the electrical control equipment. The Kaaimans Pumpstation discharges into the Garden Route Dam and contributes significantly to the George raw water resource requirements.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 16.5 million IN June 2023. Construction progress is currently at 80%. The estimated completion date for the project is August 2024.
Component 9
The new 14,5 Mℓ Pacaltsdorp West Reservoir and Pumpstation will address the current inadequate emergency and balancing potable water storage and provide adequate water security for the medium-term future developments in the western area of Pacaltsdorp.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 106,9 million in January 2024. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 10%. The estimated completion date for the project is October 2025.
Component 10
The new 3 Mℓ Pacaltsdorp East Reservoir, 300 kl Tower and pumpstation will address the inadequate emergency and balancing potable water storage in the eastern area of Pacaltsdorp.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 59,9 million in December 2023. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 11%. The estimated completion date for the project is July 2025.
Component 11
A new pumpstation and control valves will be provided at the existing Thembalethu West Reservoir and Tower and an existing bulk supply pipeline will be upgraded to ensure adequate potable water storage and increased security of potable water supply to the western area of Thembalethu, as well as provide capacity to meet future development water demands.
Status: Two construction contracts were awarded for a total amount of R 23,9 million in December 2023 and March 2024. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 7%. The estimated completion date for the project is November 2024.
Component 12
A new 8 Mℓ Thembalethu East Reservoir, 1000 kl Tower and Pumpstation will be provided to ensure adequate potable water storage and increased security of potable water supply to the eastern area of Thembalethu, as well as provide capacity to meet future development water demands.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 106,5 million in February 2023. Construction commenced on site in April 2024. Construction progress is currently at 10%. The estimated completion date for the project is June 2025.
