GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality appointed Royal HaskoningDHV to design and implement the 10-megaliter-per-day biological nutrient removal (BNR) extension of the Outeniqua Waste Water Treatment Works (OWWTW).
The project was subdivided into phases to accommodate budget constraints and since 2014, three phases have been successfully completed and commissioned.
The total project cost for the upgrade or expansion of the Outeniqua WWTW is estimated at R130-million.
At a meeting of the George municipal council on 25 October 2017, the civil engineering services commented that at that time, "the OWWTW has reached its full design capacity and no further development can be accommodated until additional sewer treatment capacity is available. The cost of extending the treatment capacity by an additional 10-million litres per day is in the region of R130-million."
Grant
When asked recently to elaborate on an October 2017 council agenda item, Chantel Edwards-Klose, George Municipality communications manager said, "In the 2016/2017 financial year, the Department of Human Settlements provided a grant fund of R50-million, which allows for a considerably larger fourth phase. Icon Construction was appointed for the construction of the civil work for the main reactor plant, a secondary sedimentation tank and accompanying infrastructure. It is expected to be completed by July 2019."
Funding
The intention is to upgrade the ageing infrastructure of the existing carousel at the Outeniqua WWTW after the completion of the extension work.
"Funding is in the process of being secured for this project," said Edwards-Klose.
"George Municipality has seven wastewater treatment works (WWTW), of which the Outeniqua WWTW and Gwaiing WWTW are the largest.
"The sewer masterplan for George determined that the Outeniqua WWTW must be extended to accommodate the area's current population growth."
Benefit to UFP
After the upgrade, the better quality outflow of the Outeniqua WWTW module will contribute to the ultrafiltration plant (UFP) performing more efficiently. George's UF plant in Rosedale was completed at a cost of over R90-million in 2010, to transform waste water from the sewage plant to an acceptable standard before pumping it into the Garden Route Dam for reuse. The outflow of the Outeniqua WWTW is discharged into the Schaapkop River, which flows to the ocean.
Quality
The quality of all final effluent must adhere to specific national standards, and to meet the standards, further treatment at the UFP provides additional water security for George.
After conventional treatment at the WWTW the effluent is treated to a higher standard using ultra filtration (membrane filtration), after which it is pumped to the Garden Route Dam.
Dilution takes place through natural mixing with raw water, while also being exposed to the strong natural disinfection properties of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
The existing raw water pumping system at the dam pumps the blended water to the water treatment works, where it is treated using conventional methods, but with the addition of activated carbon as added security.
All potable water adheres to national standards and standards are monitored continuously by the municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation in its oversight role.
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