Media Statement: George Municipality’s R1.1 Billion Infrastructure Overhaul to Secure Water, Boost Economy by 2025
George Municipality has made significant strides in its infrastructure development, thanks to a Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding (BFI) grant of R1.115 billion received from National Treasury during the 2021/22 financial year. By the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, the BFI project, which includes multiple components, has shown considerable progress in both implementation and expenditure, with full completion expected by November 2025.
In a bid to bolster the local economy, George Municipality is focusing on long-term planning and investment in essential engineering resources—water, sewerage, and electricity. The municipality currently provides water services to over 294,942 residents from 85,931 households across 28 wards, including coastal areas such as Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay, and Gwaing, according to STATSSA 2022 data.
This ambitious project aims to secure an adequate potable water supply for the growing population, support future social and economic development, and reduce pollution in key watercourses. The initiative comprises 12 components, several of which will be rolled out in multiple construction phases.
Component 1 and 2
The 20 Mℓ/day (20 million litres per day) extension to the New Water Treatment Works (New WTW) and the new WTW Residuals Treatment facility are components 1 and 2 of the project. The completion of this project will significantly enhance the purified water treatment capacity of the Municipality to a total daily production capacity of 60 Mℓ/d.
It will also eliminate the current problematic practise of discharging residuals (settled “sludge”) into the sewer system by means of the new WTW Residuals Treatment facility, which will effectively treat it to produce dry mass that will be disposed of at an appropriate solid waste disposal site.
Status: The construction of the first contract, valued at R284 million, for the civil engineering works is scheduled for completion by December 2024. The progress status of construction and installation of the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation (MEI) works to the value of R217 million, is at 85% and scheduled for completion by early 2025.
It will be thoroughly tested through a series of trial operational sessions in order to ensure that the purified water will be in full compliance with the required standards, before it will be supplied to the residents.
Component 3
The upgrade of three sewer pumpstations, being Eden, Meul and Schaapkop Pumpstations, will improve the long-term capacity and reliability of the aged pump stations.
Status: Construction of the first phase has reached completion at the Meul and Eden Pump Stations
• Phase 1: The first phase of the upgrading and refurbishment of the Meul Sewage Pumpstation was completed in June 2023, which inter-alia included a new standby generator and motor control centre. This is also the case for the new motor control centre at the Eden Sewage Pumpstation.
• Phase 2: The construction of a sewer pipeline at the Meul Pumpstation has been completed and the Contractor to which the Mechanical and Electrical works has been awarded, is currently finalising detailed workshop drawings and manufacturing the equipment. At the Eden pumpstation the bulk earthworks for the civil works are underway.
The Mechanical and Electrical works contract has been awarded and will commence late October 2024. At the Schaapkop pumpstation the bulk earthworks and retaining walls are progressing well.
The progress of the Mechanical and Electrical works is at 4%, with finalising of detailed workshop drawings and manufacturing of equipment being done. A third part of the works consist of a pipe bridge across the river, for which environmental and geotechnical investigations are being done.
Component 4
The upgrading of the Garden Route Dam Outlet and Supply project includes the replacement of the existing 600 mm diameter raw water pipeline from the intake tower at the Garden Route Dam to the raw water pumpstations, with a new 800 mm diameter stainless steel pipeline and a section consisting of a 900 mm diameter HDPE pipe, to accommodate a higher flowrate in accordance with the future raw water flow requirements.
The project also includes upgrading of a section of the pump pipeline from one of the raw water pumpstations to improve flow and reduce risk of pipe failures.
Status: The construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 34.2 million in May 2023. Construction progress is currently at 90%. The estimated completion date for the project is November 2024.
Component 5- COMPLETED
Two 1250 kVA generators have been installed at the Garden Route Dam raw water pumpstation. These generators are ensuring that during loadshedding or any other power outage, raw water can continue to be pumped uninterrupted to the Water Treatment Works for processing for drinking water supply.
Status: Construction and installation have been completed and the project has been commissioned. The generators automatically start and can operate during load-shedding.
Component 6
An additional 40 million litre (40 Mℓ) raw water storage and balancing dam is being constructed, as well as a 340m long 800mm diameter raw water outlet pipeline and a 1000mm diameter raw water pump main extension, to secure sufficient raw water storage capacity to supply the 20Mℓ/day extension to the Water Treatment Works and the existing two treatment plants.
The new raw water dam will supplement the existing storage dams that provide raw water to the two water treatment plants.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 93,1 million in December 2023. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 38%, with the key activities being the excavation of the dam, placing, shaping and compacting the spoil material and pipe laying. The estimated completion date for the project is August 2025.
Component 7- COMPLETED
The rehabilitation of the Old Water Treatment Works, located at 9th Avenue Denneoord consisted of the refurbishment of the existing treatment modules.
Status: This component consists of four separate contracts and the tenders were awarded at the beginning of 2022. All work has been completed under this component.
Component 8
Refurbishment of the Kaaimans River Pumpstation equipment included the installation of six (6) new robust pumps in the sump in the river, a strainer system and six new high pressure pumps and included the replacement of the electrical control equipment.
The Kaaimans Pumpstation discharges into the Garden Route Dam and contributes significantly to the George raw water resource requirements. It operates fully automated and the operational personnel will monitor it daily through the SCADA telemetry system.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 16.5 million in June 2023. Construction progress is currently at 90%, with the main scope of work completed and the pumpstation undergoing trial operations since mid September 2024. The estimated completion date for the project is November 2024.
Component 9
The new 14,5 Mℓ Pacaltsdorp West Reservoir and Pumpstation will address the current inadequate emergency and balancing potable water storage and provide adequate water security for the medium term future developments in the western area of Pacaltsdorp.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 106,9 million in January 2024. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 32%. The estimated completion date for the project is November 2025.
Component 10
The new 3 Mℓ Pacaltsdorp East Reservoir, 300 kl Tower and pumpstation will address the inadequate emergency and balancing potable water storage in the eastern area of Pacaltsdorp.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 59,9 million in December 2023. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 38%. The estimated completion date for the project is July 2025.
Component 11
A new pumpstation and control valves will be provided at the existing Thembalethu West Reservoir and Tower and an existing bulk supply pipeline will be upgraded to ensure adequate potable water storage and increased security of potable water supply to the western area of Thembalethu, as well as provide capacity to meet future development water demands.
Status: Two construction contracts were awarded for a total amount of R 23,9 million on December 2023 and March 2024. Construction commenced on site in May 2024 after receiving all statutory approvals. Construction progress is currently at 80% and 40% for the respective contracts. The estimated completion date for the project is June 2025.
Component 12
A new 8 Mℓ Thembalethu East Reservoir, 1000 kl Tower and Pumpstation will be provided to ensure adequate potable water storage and increased security of potable water supply to the eastern area of Thembalethu, as well as provide capacity to meet future development water demands.
Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 106,5 million February 2023. Construction commenced on site in April 2024. Construction progress is currently at 41%. The estimated completion date for the project is June 2025.