Following the appointment of a service provider in March to address ailing water sewage pump stations, Mogale City’s Water Services confirmed that some of the most severely affected pump stations are getting attention.
This includes the Munsieville Ext 4 sewage pump station, where a contractor has been involved since last month, while there is visible progress being made at the Brickvale sewage pump station.
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While the municipality acknowledges the urgency of the project and remains dedicated to completing the task at hand, Mogale City Local Municipality communication officer Refilwe Mahlangu said project management and a commitment to cost containment are among the factors leading to delays.
Mahlangu also confirmed that although the amount required for repairs is estimated at R2 million, final figures for the Munsieville pump station refurbishment project will be determined upon the conclusion of negotiations and approval of rates by the city’s Water Management Services division. She continued that these auxiliary project requirements among others include barbed fencing, safety signage, and other requirements that can impact on operation of the pump station.
Aligned with the urgency of the work, both the municipality and the service provider have agreed to prioritise the primary requirements which cover the following three major elements at the sewage pump station, they are:
• Servicing of the mechanical screen and press
• Ordering and installation of a new pump
• Refurbishment of electrical panels
“Following the site handover, the service provider commenced work on these critical outlined components. With the above-prioritised areas of work done, the pump station should optimally function and see an end of sewage spillage from the Munsieville side into Percy Stewart Waste Water Treatment Works and the Blaaubankspruit thence the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site,” Mahlangu said.
• Brickvale residential settlement sewage pump station
Mahlangu added that progress has been made on the rehabilitation of the Brickvale sewage pump station.
She said the contractor responsible for the required repair work is currently at work and the removal of sludge from the pump sump has been completed to make way for the required refurbishment work.
“To prevent spillage, a temporary sump in the form of a trench has been excavated with regular draining of accumulating sludge from the temporary sump conducted. Once the Brickvale pump station is fully operational, the trench will undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the consulting environmental service provider.”
Further, the municipality reported that mechanical pumps at the station have been repaired and re-installed, electrical components have been installed and repairs are underway for the backup generator. In response to vandalism concerns, the municipality also reported that armed security personnel have been stationed on-site to ensure the safety of the generator and electrical components.
The pump station is expected to be fully operational by the end of May this year.
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Apart from the Munsieville and Brickvale pump stations, Mahlangu said the municipality has in total allocated R7.5 million in the current 2023/ 2024 financial year ending June 30 for the refurbishment and maintenance of three additional major sewage pump stations, namely:
• Muldersdrift – Rietfontein Village
• Muldersdrift – eThembalethu
• Magaliesburg – Ga Mohale
“All this prioritisation of work, swift interventions, and stringent project management have been key areas of focus for the municipality – all in light of the imminent threat to animal life, our biodiversity, and human health due to the sewage spillage,” Mahlangu concluded.
