The supply of steel pipes, fittings and valves to the value of R97-million to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’s) Valdezia–Mowkop water line project, in the Makhado local municipality, in Limpopo, is well under way, says pipes supplier Incledon, noting that construction of the pipeline is scheduled to take place over the next three weeks.

Incledon Polokwane sales representative At White tells Engineering News that the company and its tendering partner, engineering contractor Meetse Civils, were awarded the supply and installation contract in June 2014.

The project, which aims to resolve water shortage problems in the Makhado West area, involves the construction of a gravity line from Valdezia to a booster pumpstation, and the connection of the booster pumpstation and pump line to the Mowkop reservoir.
The gravity line comprises two main sections. The first section starts at the 16-million-litre concrete-reinforced Valdezia reservoir. It features a 544 ℓ/s design capac-ity, and is a DN 800 steel pipeline that spans 2 329 m to its end point at Node T1, where the second section begins. Section Two has a design capacity of 412 ℓ/s, and is a DN 750 steel pipeline that spans 14 653 m to its end point at the booster pumpstation.

“The project is being execu-ted on a fast-track basis to enable early water delivery to surrounding communities. “Owing to the urgent nature of the project, the contract period for the manufacture and supply of the steel pipes, fittings and valves was just 36 weeks from the date of order,” highlights White.

He adds that delivery of the pipes, fittings and valves will be complete by the end of this month, but Incledon will continue to supply valves and fittings in accordance with the DWS construction team’s priority list throughout the course of the project, which is scheduled for completion in 2017.

Incledon will supply more than 16 km of 750-mm- and 800-mm-diameter steel pipes in 18.2 m lengths, with epoxy lining, three-layer polyethylene coating and ends prepared for site butt welding.

White adds that an inspector has been appointed for quality assurance and will inspect all the pipes, fittings and valves to ensure they comply with the specifications stipulated by the DWS.

Further, all respective manufacturers drew up quality control plans that had to be approved by inspectors before manufacturing could start.

“This is a highly challenging project; however, it has been running smoothly to date, owing to the excellent working relationship among all parties involved . . . I am, therefore, confident that the project will be completed within specified deadlines and budgets,” he maintains.

About the Project
The R513-million Valdezia–Mowkop water line project is Stage 3 of Makhado local municipality’s water project to supply water to villages in the Makhado West and Valdezia reservoir west areas.

The first stage of the project included the Sinthumule Kutama area, where two pipelines – one from Mowkop to Makhado and another from Mowkop to the Tshikodobo reservoir – and a new 10 Mℓ reservoir at Mowkop have been constructed.

The second stage covered the Bluegumspoort area and involved the development of a borehole and pipelines to the area’s collection reservoir, the construction of a pumpstation and a pump line, as well as a gravity line with balance and pressure break tanks.

Stage 4 of the project, the timelines of which are yet to be determined, will link the Elim and Vleifonte pipeline.

The project has created several employment opportunities for the local community and boosted local manufacturing.