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Updated status on the BFI Water Projects for George – Components 7,8,9,10,11 and 12

George Municipality received a Budget Facility for Infrastructure Funding (BFI) grant to the value of R1.107 billion from National Treasury in the 2021/22 financial year and the BFI project with its various project components, has shown significant progress and expenditure in the 2022/23 financial years. George Municipality is actively working to keep our economy on the go, by ensuring adequate long-term planning and investment into our resources – that is water, sewerage and electricity.

The full BFI project is planned to be completed by 30 June 2025. George Municipality provides water services to over 243 996 residents from 67 787 households across 28 wards including the coastal areas of Kleinkrantz, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay and Gwaing in the city of George area. The objectives of the project are to ensure adequate potable water supply to meet the demand of the current population and to provide security for future development, both social and economic, and to reduce pollution of certain main water courses.

Updates on the Potable Water Security and Remedial Works components funded by BFI Grant
The project consists of 12 components, some of which will be executed in more than one construction phase.

Component 7
The rehabilitation of the Old Water Treatment Works, located at 9th Avenue Denneoord will allow for the refurbishment of the 20 Ml/ per day treatment plant.


Status: This component consists of four separate contracts and the tenders were awarded at the beginning of 2022. Construction is under way at the Old Water Treatment Works(Denneoord)  and some condition assessments of the existing infrastructure necessitated design changes at the start of the contract, causing unforeseen delays. The air extraction from the filter galleries was completed and the emergency chlorine scrubbers have been ordered. Both shipments of filter media arrived in 2022 and fence construction has reached completion, with only minor works still outstanding.

The Old Water Treatment Works  Module 1 upgrade has been  completed, with the exception of lamella pack installation. Module 2 is completed and Module 3 is partially completed.  A temporary package water treatment plant was installed and commissioned in mid-December 2022 to facilitate scheduled plant shutdowns to enable work to proceed uninterrupted. This temporary plant also increased the volume of potable water available to meet the peak holiday season demand in December 2022.


Component 8
Refurbishment of the Kaaimans River Pumpstation equipment will include the installation of six (6)  new submersible vortex impeller pumps in the sump, a strainer system and six  new high lift centrifugal pumps and includes 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.

Status: The project construction contract was awarded for an amount of R 16.5 million on 2 June 2023. The manufacturing and shipping of the twelve pumps and associated equipment will take several months, with delivery to site expected in January 2024. The planned commissioning date for the project is May 2024.

Component 9 and 10
The new 14,5 Ml Pacaltsdorp West Reservoir and Pumpstation; 3 Ml Pacaltsdorp East Reservoir, 300 kl Tower and pumpstation will address the inadequate emergency and balancing storage in this suburb.

Status: The detail designs are completed and procurement of a contractor for the construction of the works has commenced. The environmental and town planning processes are well advanced and aligned with the design and procurement timelines. It is planned that these projects will be commissioned in June 2025.


Component 11 and 12
A new pumpstation and control valves will be provided at the existing Thembalethu West Reservoir and Tower; an existing bulk supply pipeline will be upgraded, a new 8 Ml Thembalethu East Reservoir, 1000 kl Tower and Pumpstation will be provided to ensure adequate potable water storage and increase security of potable water supply to Thembalethu, as well as provide capacity to meet future development water demands.

Status:

Thembalethu West Bulk Supply Pipeline Upgrade – The procurement of a contractor has commenced. The planned completion date is June 2024.
Thembalethu West Pumpstation: The detail designs are completed and procurement of a contractor for the construction of the works will commence in due course.
Thembalethu East Reservoir, Tower and Pumpstation: The design of the works is in progress and procurement of a contractor for the construction of the works will commence mid September2023. It is planned that these projects will be commissioned in June 2025.