WORK on Durban’s R250 million Northern Aqueduct Augmentation (NAA) project is gaining momentum with the project on track for commissioning by the end of the year.

Ednick Msweli, Head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS), thanked uMhlanga and Phoenix residents for their patience during disruptions along busy routes and said that the finalisation of the pipeline, which included extensive quality checks and some unforeseen interventions to rectify a few problems, would ensure that Durban had some of the best water infrastructure in South Africa.

“The good news is that the contractor will start testing as early as the end of June/July.  Water taken from the uMhlanga Reservoir will be fed into the pipeline and the pipeline will be filled all the way to Phoenix and Waterloo for testing,” he said.

Msweli pointed out that, when undertaking a project of this magnitude, it was imperative to ensure that all safety and quality specifications were strictly adhered to.

• Work will continue along Autumn Drive and it will be out of commission for the next two months. The soil above the pipeline is being excavated and recompacted and this work is expected to be completed during July.

• All the necessary work on the pipeline in Herrwood Drive in Umhlanga is expected to be complete by the end of July with the reworking of road layer works and the installation of a new wearing course continuing during August and September.

Msweli explained that the NAA forms part of long term plans to facilitate efficient delivery of water to the North of Durban.