Pretoria - Johannesburg Water has embarked on a project to increase the capacity of the Olifantsvlei Wastewater Treatment Works to cater for present and future increases in capacity, and eliminate any possibility of spillage into the city's rivers.
The facility is one of six treatment works operated and maintained by the utility.
The decision to proceed with plans to extend the Olifantsvlei treatment works by 50 megalitres per day was taken in 2008.
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Baldwin Matsimela explained that the extension and completion of the project will see an increased capacity from 200 megalitres per day to 250 megalitres per day, which will help cope with future growth in the Olifantsvlei catchment in the south of Johannesburg.
"The construction phase of the project has recently commenced and anticipated completion date for the civil, mechanical and electrical contracts is the end of April 2012," Matsimela said, adding that the appointed contractors will be required to make every effort to give first preference to local communities when employing staff to work on the project.
Furthermore, accredited training will be provided to technical staff from historically disadvantaged groups in line with the city's empowerment and upliftment initiatives.
"Preferential procurement requirements have been applied to the tenders for the contractors involved in this project, with procurement of goods and services from Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment providers estimated to be approximately R48.5 million," said Matsimela.
He pointed out that inadequate infrastructure and sanitation service could impact on water resources, particularly water quality, and the health and well-being of residents.
