Waste plant a ‘priority project’, says Polokwane Municipality
Three contractors have been appointed to do outfall sewer lines to the sewer plant. We expect construction of the regional plant to start at the beginning of 2019
POLOKWANE – In response to Review’s story on conditions at the city’s wastewater treatment plant in Ladanna (28 July to 1 August 2018, page 4), Polokwane Municipality Spokesperson, Matshidiso Mothapo, said the wastewater treatment plant is a priority project for the municipality.
Read more: City’s sewage plant a stinking timebomb
Mothapo said the services of engineers were sought and initially the project required around R56 million for the plant to be fully functional.
Review reported on alleged neglect and lack of maintenance at the plant, enhancing the problems caused by the ever-growing number of residents and the fact that the plant was not built to handle the current amount of effluent inflow per day. Any of the processes becoming dysfunctional causes problems for following processes or pumps and infrastructure in the treatment process, and problems are encountered right from the main inflow area.
“The Polokwane wastewater treatment plant is the biggest with a 28 Ml per day capacity and the current load is in excess of 34 Ml per day and as it is the plant is not coping,” he said. “The municipality is currently busy with massive refurbishment of the facility.”
The project scope, he said, has to deal with the mechanical and electrical infrastructure at the plant that is outdated with some infrastructure no longer functional.
“The scope includes inlets, primary settling tanks and digesters among others. They must also work on the aerators and ensure the plant complies with modern and efficient designs. The contractors are working on a live plant, hence the concerns about the spillage. There is an engineering solution to the spillages and there is significant progress on the work done.”
Mothapo added the second component is where the municipality has partnered with Anglo American Platinum to upgrade the facility to be able to carry an additional 6 Ml per day. “They are currently busy with the civil works discussions. The project includes construction of a chlorination house.”
The third component relates to the construction of the 100 Ml per day regional sewer plant that will carry all Polokwane municipal sewage load and cater for new developments. The first phase will be the construction of the 40 Ml per day plant.
“Three contractors have been appointed to do outfall sewer lines to the sewer plant. We expect construction of the regional plant to start at the beginning of 2019.
“A report linked to this, requesting additional funding for the replacement of aerators, will be served in council. The engineers have advised that the aerators must be completely replaced. These measures will in the near future deal permanently with the smell and the spillages currently experienced,” Mothapo assured.
