The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s commitment to improving water and sanitation infrastructure is bearing fruit with the R16 million refurbishment of the Kelvin Jones Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kariega.
The upgraded facility plays a critical role in supporting major industries within the metro, including multinational companies such as Volkswagen South Africa, Tromberg, Schubert, and several automotive component manufacturers operating in the region.
Over the past three years, the plant suffered damage due to floods and vandalism, which negatively affected its performance. This poor performance had a direct impact on the linked industries, particularly neighbouring industrial operations.
To address these challenges, the municipality undertook comprehensive mechanical and electrical refurbishment works.
These included the construction of a new concrete platform to accommodate upgraded inlet pump sets and the manufacture and installation of six new Gorman Rupp T10 Eradicator pumps.
The pumps are belt-driven by 45kW electric motors and mounted on custom galvanised over-mount bases.
Three pump sets have been installed per sump in, a two-duty, one-standby configuration, ensuring the plant can effectively manage peak wet weather flows.
The existing galvanised manifold was rotated by 90 degrees to optimise the new layout, with delivery branches now facing vertically upwards.
New HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and galvanised pipework has been installed to accommodate the revised configuration incorporating six pipes. Galvanised piping is used directly on the pumps to reduce heat transfer, while HDPE pipework, known for its 100-year design life, was fitted with electrofusion welded fittings to ensure durability and longevity, resulting in cost savings for the municipality.
Additional upgrades include the installation of new AVK knife valves to isolate pipework during maintenance or in the event of blockages, as well as AVK swing check valves to ensure pumps remain primed and to prevent reverse flow.
These valves are fitted with counter-levers, which not only indicate pump operation and flow through the pipework, but also act as a buffer against water hammer, improving system reliability.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, said the metro has adopted an aggressive infrastructure investment strategy to protect existing industries and attract new investment.
“We are fully aware of the ageing infrastructure and the growing population that continues to place increased demands on our systems. We are pleased that this infrastructure is now fully operational, and that disruptions to sanitation services for the people of Kariega and its industries will be a thing of the past,” Lobishe said.
The refurbished plant is now operating at an optimal capacity of 24 million litres per day, serving the entire Kariega area and parts of KwaNobuhle.
In the medium to long term, the municipality plans to expand the plant’s capacity to treat 30 million litres per day in the medium term and up to 50 million litres per day in the long term, in line with projected population growth and the continued expansion of Kariega’s industrial economy. – SAnews.gvo.za
