The eThekwini Municipality has reached another significant milestone in the implementation of the Southern Aqueduct project, with a section of Work Package 2 (WP2) now commissioned.
This progress marks an important step towards strengthening the reliability and resilience of the City’s bulk water supply network, particularly for communities in the southern and central areas.
Work Package 2 comprises approximately 3.8 kilometres of new steel water main between Shallcross and Northdene, including approximately 2.5 kilometres of 1 200 mm diameter pipeline and 1.3 kilometres of 1 400 mm diameter pipeline.
Project Executive Siduduzo Mtshali said the infrastructure forms part of the broader Southern Aqueduct system and includes five cross-connection chambers, 12 scour valve chambers, 18 air valve chambers, and one isolation valve chamber installed along the pipeline route.
Mtshali said: “A key component of WP2 has been the pipe-jacking works, which involved installing the new pipeline at a significantly lower level than the existing line. This infrastructure will facilitate the supply of water and improve operational flexibility within the network.”
The pipe-jacking works presented a major construction challenge after significantly more rock was encountered than originally anticipated. Excavation has now been completed, with the contractor proceeding with pipe installation.
Mtshali explained that once fully completed, the WP2 infrastructure will restore redundancy across approximately 3.8 kilometres of the system.
Mtshali said: “This will provide greater security of supply to the primary and secondary reservoirs in the central and southern parts of Chatsworth, serving approximately 300 000 residents. It will also strengthen supply security to downstream reservoirs in uMlazi and Folweni, which serve approximately 500 000 residents.”
WP2 will provide additional pipeline capacity and redundancy, enabling the municipality to undertake critical maintenance and repairs to the existing steel pipeline with greater operational flexibility.
The new pipeline has an anticipated lifespan of 50 years and provides additional capacity alongside the existing infrastructure. This reduces the system’s dependence on a single ageing pipeline and provides greater flexibility to isolate sections of the network during maintenance, repairs, and other operational interventions, subject to the configuration of the network.
The additional infrastructure will also help reduce the risk of unplanned failures, excessive water losses, and prolonged interruptions associated with emergency repairs to the ageing bulk water network.
The Southern Aqueduct project is being implemented in several work packages. Work Packages 1 and 3 have reached completion and have already been commissioned. Work Packages 4, 5, and 6 remain under construction.
The Southern Aqueduct project is a major investment in the City’s bulk water infrastructure and, once completed, will strengthen the bulk water network serving approximately 1.2 million residents.
The upgraded 24-kilometre bulk pipeline will continue to supply 33 reservoirs while improving the reliability and resilience of water provision to communities in the southern and central areas.
The Southern Aqueduct is a R1.2 billion project that will play a critical role in strengthening the City’s bulk water network and improving water security for current and future generations.
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