http://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Follow @EngNewsZA

Water Engineering and Infrastructure

Newly constructed R1.8m pipeline due for operation

29th May 2015 eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) says a 14 km stretch of pipeline from Inchanga station to Ashley drive in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, which forms part of the first two contracts of the R1.8-billion Phase 2 of the Western Aqueduct project, has been commissioned and tested and is expected to be... →

Local company completes R21m EC water project

By: Pimani Baloyi 29th May 2015 Local pipeline systems manufacturer Rexus completed a project to supply pipes, valves, fittings and couplings to the value of R21-million for an Eastern Cape municipality water project in January. Rexus director Allistair Balutto tells Engineering News that the company also offered training on... →

Photo by Duane Daws
SKILLS TRANSFER Rexus shares its experiences and research in all aspects of pipeline design and often provides technical seminars and on-site training

R97m pipe supply contract to be completed soon

By: Pimani Baloyi 29th May 2015 The supply of steel pipes, fittings and valves to the value of R97-million to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’s) Valdezia-Mowkop water line project, in the Makhado local municipality, in Limpopo, is well under way, says pipe supplier Incledon, noting that construction of the... →

BULK WATER SUPPLY The R513-million Valdezia-Makhado project aims to solve water challenges in the Makhado West area

Recyclable dam liner prevents excess water loss

By: Pimani Baloyi 29th May 2015 With South Africa facing high levels of water loss and having to secure existing water resources, industrial packaging and sheeting company Damax Kahn and Kahn Plastics says its dam liner is an effective barrier against water loss that is caused by seepage and pollution in farming, and municipal... →

SECURING WATER Damax Kahn and Kahn Plastics’ dam liner is an effective barrier against water loss

Study finds 50 dams infested with harmful bacteria

29th May 2015 A study jointly funded by the Department of Science and Technology and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has found that harmful cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which is toxic to humans, is widespread in South Africa’s 50 largest dams. The study, through the use of... →

Photo by Duane Daws
WATER QUALITY 50 dams in South Africa contain harmful bacteria

SA should focus on regional partnerships to deal with water challenges

By: Pimani Baloyi 29th May 2015 Advisory firm KPMG says South Africa should focus on forming regional partnerships with its neighbours when creating water infrastructure, such as dams, reservoirs, pumpstations and pipelines, to deal with its water challenges. KPMG projects advisory services partner Jeff Shaw tells Engineering... →

HIGH DEMAND Fewer sites are available on which to build new dams in South Africa, as existing water resources become increasingly strained

Southern Pipeline Contractors

29th May 2015 Level 1 black economic-empowerment contributor, Southern Pipeline Contractors (SPC) has been a precast concrete manufacturer of reinforced pipes since 1965. SPC manufactures pipe for drainage, stormwater sewer and jacking applications, ranging in diameter from 300 mm to 3 000 mm. The company... →

Retail group saves nearly 8 000 kℓ/y of water

By: Pimani Baloyi 29th May 2015 South African retailer Massmart has saved about 7 750 kℓ/y of water since implementing its water efficiency strategy at ten Makro stores and 65 Builders Warehouse stores in 2014. Massmart group sustainability manager Alexander Haw tells Engineering News that the strategy is part of the group’s... →

MAKRO ALBERTON Massmart conserves water by capturing and reusing condensate from its carbon dioxide refrigeration plants at its new generation Makro stores

Competition boosts industry awareness

By: Dylan Slater 10th October 2014 Brackenfell High School, in Cape Town, was the winner of civil engineering institution South African Institute of Civil Engineering’s (Saice’s) yearly water infrastructure competition, which was titled Aqualibrium, this year. →

MANAGING WATER NETWORKS The competition required learners to create a water distribution network to distribute 3 ℓ of water equally between three points on a grid using two different diameter pipes and connection pieces

Sewerage system recycles water

By: Dylan Slater 10th October 2014 A locally developed septic tank sewerage system, the Bubbler Water Efficiency System (Bubbler system), can recycle different types of water while reducing the amount of accumulated solid waste, says Cape Town-based wastewater treatment company Bubbler. →

MINIMAL MAINTENANCE The only maintenance required on the Bubbler system is replacing the chlorine every month and the bacteria every three months

Uplifting disadvantaged communities through sewerage upgrades

10th October 2014 Fluid conveyance company Incledon is providing underprivileged communities in the Free State with improved hygiene standards and sanitary conditions as part of a multimillion-rand sewerage upgrade project across the province that involves the replacement of portable toilets with permanent... →

BETTER SANITATION Incledon's community project involves the upliftment of thousands of Free State residents that have previously been using the portable toilet system in their communities

Fibreglass products aimed at water engineering sector

10th October 2014 Corrosive conditions in the African water treatment sector have created a high demand for hard-wearing, versatile materials, designed for enhanced safety, according to gratings, treads, pressed floors and handrails company Vital Engineering. →

SIMPLE GRATING Advantages of Vitaglass gratings include a weight reduction to about half of steel gratings

Asset management key to longevity

By: Dylan Slater 10th October 2014 Managing risk in the water services sector is key to the longevity and cost efficiency of South Africa’s water infrastructure, according to multinational professional services firm Arup. →

WATER IMPORTANCE The major problem with the current management of water infrastructure is a lack of uniformity

Multimillion-rand water project enhances water recycling

10th October 2014 A R125-million water infrastructure project in Namibia, undertaken by water treatment company Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies South Africa, will enhance the wastewater treatment in an industrial zone near the country’s capital Windhoek. →

SYSTEM UPGRADE The new wastewater treatment plant replaces the region’s older Ujams wastewater treatment plant, located about 20 km north of Windhoek

Stormwater infrastructure lacking

By: Dylan Slater 10th October 2014 A significant amount of stormwater infrastructure in South Africa is insufficient to handle the country’s rapid urbanisation, according to consulting engineers and scientists SRK Consulting South Africa. →

PETER SHEPHERD South Africa’s big cities have had a severe impact on river systems, with increasing urbanisation compounding the situation

Water projects progressing on schedule, within budget

By: Dylan Slater 10th October 2014 Bulk water and sewerage service projects in Midvaal (Sicelo) and Vaal Marina (Mamello), undertaken by consulting engineering firm Gibb, are progressing according to plan and within budget. →

MAMELLO PROJECT The project includes the construction of a sewerage pumpstation, a 110 mm rising main, an outfall sewer and refurbishments

Pipe joining suitable for difficult terrain

30th May 2014 A Sedibeng Water Board pipeline installation is set to become the benchmark for rapid and robust piping installations for municipal water supplies and similar applications in South Africa, says developer and producer of mechanical pipe joining systems Victaulic. After the discovery of leakages in... →

Windhoek gets flagship wastewater plant

30th May 2014 A wastewater treatment project near the city of Windhoek’s northern industrial zone has been designed to treat up to 5 000 m3/d of industrial wastewater for re-use and irrigation, and is one of the city’s key water infrastructure projects aimed at complying with Namibia’s updated national water... →

Plastic piping perfect for water systems

By: Carina Borralho 30th May 2014 In light of looming water scarcity in South Africa, plastic-piping solutions provider Marley Pipe Systems is constantly exploring ways of conserving water, wherever possible. “In South Africa, excess rain can cause floods on roads and in certain low-lying areas. Attenuation is carried out when... →

Conference will discuss relation between gender and water issues

30th May 2014 Addressing the issue of gender inequality in Africa is being prioritised as a mechanism for creating more equal societies and spurring development in Africa, says the Water Research Commission of South Africa (WRC), which is hosting a Gender, Water and Development Conference in July this year.... →

Upgrading dam infrastructure in Angola

30th May 2014 As part of the Angolan government’s ongoing efforts to provide improved basic services, such as water to residents, global engineering, management and specialist technical services provider Aurecon is increasingly becoming involved in projects focused on the reconstruction, rehabilitation and... →

Technology can solve South Africa’s water problems

By: Carina Borralho 30th May 2014 In addition to a possible water shortage predicted by 2020, South Africa’s water problems are being exacerbated by other challenges, such as leaking pipes, ageing infrastructure and poor municipal administration, resulting in billions of public funds being wasted every year, says consulting... →

WRP MD Ronnie McKenzie discusses M2M applications.

Engineering phase of water supply units 90% complete

By: Carina Borralho 21st November 2013 Global participant in the water management industry Degrémont reported that the engineering phase of the engineering and procurement contract for four water supply units for two floating production-storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels was 90% complete. “The procurement phase for the water... →

Energy efficiency influencing water developments

By: Carina Borralho 11th October 2013 These days there is a high awareness of energy efficiency in society, which is influencing new developments and upgrades in water technology, says South African research funder the Water Research Commission (WRC). “Greater emphasis is being placed on using energy efficient equipment, such as... →

PAYING THE PRICE The Water Research Commission notes that energy will in future remain a high-cost item for municipalities and utilities, which operate and maintain water and wastewater processes

Need to adapt to growing water demands

By: Carina Borralho 11th October 2013 A large portion of South Africa’s water infrastructure has fallen into a state of disrepair and many of the facilities are being operated at much higher capacities than the original design intended, water management company Veolia Water Solutions and Technologies South Africa tells Engineering... →

Seychelles water supply study under way

By: Carina Borralho 11th October 2013 To address the Seychelles islands water supply challenge, owing to irregular rainfall and longer dry periods, South African consulting engineering firm Gibb, in partnership with Gibb Mauritius, is conducting a feasibility study to increase the storage capacity of the existing La Gogue dam... →

Nearly 5 000 leaks found

By: Carina Borralho 11th October 2013 Engineering and contracting firm Bosch Munitech has located 4 497 leaks in 3 395 km of pipe reticulation, which it surveyed for eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS), after being awarded a R7.5-million leak-detection project that will result in the company surveying about 5 000 km of water mains... →

Stakeholder management key to sustainability

By: Carina Borralho 11th October 2013 Independent consultancy The Narrative Lab is finishing a two-year study into stakeholder engagement regarding the water management of the Wilderness and Swartvlei lake systems, in the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park, on the southern Cape coast of South Africa. The final... →

Range of energy efficient variable speed borehole pumps introduced

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 Local fluid conveyance and pumping solutions provider Incledon Pumps and Irrigation product manager Bruce Crystal, says Incledon has been an official distributor of the Nastec range of variable speed borehole pumps and inverter package in South Africa since 2012, noting that the... →

Grooved piping system superior to traditional joining

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 Mechanical joints are increasingly being used in the transport of water, owing tothe advantages offered by grooved piping systems in laying pipework cross-country, which make them a superior choice to traditional joining techniques, mechanical pipe-joining systems manu-facturer Victaulic regional... →

SA’s water infrastructure under scrutiny

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 The existing steel and asbestos cement pipe infrastructure in South Africa has undoubtedly corroded since their installation fifty years ago, warns the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufactures Association (Sappma). “Water distribution, waste disposal, irrigation and telecommunications all rely... →

Consultants may solve management challenges

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 Appointing specialist water engineering consultants to oversee water infrastructure management could solve the challenges facing water infrastructure in South Africa, independent mining, water and environmental consultants SRK Consulting Durban office partner Murray Sim tells Engineering News.... →

R4m in pipes supplied to Moz irrigation project

31st May 2013 A total of 130 Mozambique farmers are expected to benefit from the privately funded Chinanguanine agricultural irrigation project. PVC pipes and fitting systems expert DPI Plastics supplied irrigation solutions provider Irritech with 72 km of modified polyvinyl chloride (mPVC) Ultraflo pipes,... →

DPI Plastics technical and product manager Renier Snyman discusses mPVC Ultraflo pipes.

Promoting water sense, targeting water loss

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 International integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol reports that its water use in South Africa decreased to 148-million cubic metres in 2012, from 151-million cubic metres in 2011. “Sasol takes environmental issues – particularly those relating to water management – seriously, which is... →

Govt seeks private-sector assistance to deal with water infrastructure challenges

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) expects the private sector, nongovernmental organisations, churches and other entities in South Africa to reduce water loss in South Africa by half in 2014, as a result of working with municipalites. Department of Water and Environmental Affairs Deputy... →

SA’s economic pathway water intensive

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 As a water stressed country, South Africa, is embarking on an economic pathway that is water intensive, reports water research and development organisation the Water Research Council (WRC). The rapid population growth and the continuing degradation of South Africa’s water courses through... →

Technologies introduced to tackle increasing sewage sludge production in Africa

By: Ilan Solomons 31st May 2013 International water-treatment plant specialist Degrémont is in the process of introducing new water technologies into Africa to tackle the challenge of treating increased volumes of sewage sludge owing to the rapid development taking place on the continent. Degrémont South Africa deputy MD Dumi... →

Vaal water deficit expected by 2015

By: Samantha Herbst 12th October 2012 Experts warn that if a proposed long-term solution to deal with acid mine drainage (AMD) in the western, central and eastern basins of the Witwatersrand is not expedited, the upper Vaal river will go into deficit and water restrictions will come into effect by 2015. Alternatively, the dilution... →

Editorial Insight

Listen to the customer?

more

Business Leader

Yashin Brijmohan

more

Cartoon

PULLING THE PLUG

more

Photo of the week

FROSTY RECEPTION

more

Topics In These Articles

... more

RSS Feed

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe