In keeping with its mandate to provide technical advice and support to municipalities so that they optimise municipal infrastructure provisioning the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) provided assistance to the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality in Eastern Cape Province by undertaking the project of replacing the old dysfunctional Nqweba Dam lower sluice valve as part of a highly specialized works project.
This work follows the installation of three pumps at the Nqweba Dam Raw Water Pump Station undertaken by the Dr Beyers Naude LM in October 2020, through the MIG Reprioritisation Projects. The scope of the project encompassed the repair works required at the pump stations in order to operate the extraction of raw water from the dam in a bid to ensure sustainable water supply to the Graaff-Reinet community and surroundings. However, the then recently refurbished pump station could not function optimally because the sluice valve servicing the pump station developed a substantial leak in the valve seat, due to age and corrosion. The leak posed the substantial risk that once opened, the valve would never tightly close again. Failure to tightly close the sluice valve would then lead to substantial loss of water from the dam.
The first part of the two-pronged project included removal of the old valve, slinging and welding of the new sluice gate flange and preparation of the new valve seat. The second part was to instal the newly designed 1000mm diameter Sluice Valve.
Speaking to Mrs Sandra Mutangadura, a Professional Civil Engineer at MISA and a Project Manager for this project she said “I am excited that we are finally closing this project, after the long awaited shipment of the valve from China, since the project’s inception in April. I am confident that the community of Graaff-Reinet will receive sufficient water supply once they receive substantial rainfall, and raw water can once again be efficiently extracted from the dam to the newly refurbished raw water pump station, and to their water treatment works. I am honoured to have taken part in this prestigious project, that endeavours to restore dignity to our communities. I should also commend the entire project team, the Municipality’s PMU, the Contractor – LE Thato, the Engineers – MJM Engineers, the teams of Specialists: Divers, Welders and IT Telemetry everyone fitted in like clockwork, we made it team!”
The replacement of the valve was much-needed, as the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality continues to experience severe water shortage challenges under the persistent drought conditions. The current drought is by far the worst in history and has thus far resulted in strenuous low dam levels in the Nqweba Dam, the primary dam supplying Graaff-Reinet.
The replacement of the valve will provide lasting water solutions to around 8,393 households, mohair, sheep and ostrich farmers as well as tourists who visit national monuments as well as those making their way to the Valley of Desolation and the Camdeboo National Parks.
“I am very grateful for the intervention provided by the MISA as you would imagine it becomes very difficult to run a lodging establishment without water. It becomes impossible to prepare food and to keep ablution facilities running. Lack of water is essentially tempering with a person’s basic human right,” said Ms Brenda Pringle, a business owner who runs a guest house in town.
The project’s main objective is to replace an old dysfunctional Sluice Valve supplying raw water from the Nqweba Dam to the recently refurbished Raw Water Pump Station, and ultimately to the Water Treatment works to ensure sustainable portable water supply to the Graaff-Reinet town population. The project will also provide a sustainable solution to eliminate leakage water losses from the Nqweba Dam, and providing a silt tight seal that protects the raw water pumps from siltation, and ensure the optimal operation of the Nqweba Dam Raw Water Pump Station.
Mr Bannie Arends, the Technical Services Director at the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality said “the valve is critical because it controls the flow of water and the preservation thereof. So, if the valve is damaged it becomes impossible to store water during rainfall. The intervention assisted as we are now comfortable that when rain falls there will be no leaks and there will be adequate control of water”. He went on to say that “the team from MISA displayed highest form of professionalism and efficiency in dealing with the technical, administrative and financial aspects of the project”. “We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with MISA” he concluded.