IMIESA July 2020 by 3S Media

www.infrastructurenews.co.za

IMESA The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

INFRASTRUC TURE DEVELOPMENT • ROADS • BUILDING • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

Thought Leadership

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

SA’s quality gatekeeper

New frontiers in wastewater

Dams & Reservoirs

Tumelo Gopane

Managing Director, ERWAT

Constructing a joint-free reservoir

MARISWE

Evolving to provide life-cycle solutions

Water & Wastewater

Leveraging water infrastructure

Public Lighting

Smart energy savings

Municipal Focus City of Ekurhuleni

IN THE HOT SEAT We have an excellent order book, particularly for turnkey projects. We also expect our OEM business to grow significantly in the coming months.”

John Montgomery General Manager, APE Pumps and Mather+Platt ISSN 0257 1978

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WE CAN’T BE SUSTAINABLE WITHOUT IT. Let’s plastic responsibly

Plastic polymers impact our lives every day, from medical equipment, to food packaging, to our iMPACT 100 ® piping. Which is why we must all stand for the correct use, disposal and recycling of plastic.

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INSIDE

VOLUME 45 NO. 07 JULY 2020 A SMART CITY • A LIVEABLE CITY • AN ECONOMIC GATEWAY • THE INDUSTRIAL HEARTBEAT OF SOUTH AFRICA A partnership that works www.ekurhuleni.gov.za

INSIDE 40

Excellence is earned

Housing the people

Producing water reticulation hardware post Covid-19

Transport solutions that empower

Striving for sustainability in waste

Lighting up one of Africa’s greatest cities

Designing the best possible outcomes

Lighting up communities

www.infrastructurenews.co.za

IMESA The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

INFRASTRUC TURE DEVELOPMENT • ROADS • BUILDING • MAINTENANCE • SERVICE DELIVERY

Thought Leadership

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

SA’s quality gatekeeper

New frontiers in wastewater

Dams & Reservoirs

Tumelo Gopane

Managing Director, ERWAT

Constructing a joint-free reservoir

MARISWE

Water & Wastewater

Leveraging water infrastructure

Evolving to provide life-cycle solutions

Public Lighting

Smart energy savings

City of Ekurhuleni

Regulars

Pipes, Pumps & Valves

Editor’s comment President’s comment Index to advertisers

Becoming part of the infrastructure solution

IN THE HOT SEAT

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ISSN 0257 1978

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ON THE COVER

The Mlalazi River Bridge is one of several included in the contract for the upgrade of the N2 North Coast Toll Road between Mtunzini and Empangeni by Concor Infrastructure. The SANRAL project, with construction monitoring by Mariswe, was completed in early 2020. P6

IN THE HOT SEAT APE Pumps and Mather+Platt have led the market in South Africa since 1952, building on a proud legacy dating back to the world’s first industrial revolution. General manager John Montgomery discusses the challenges and opportunities. P10 DAMS & RESERVOIRS Constructing a joint-free concrete reservoir

Thought Leadership South Africa’s quality gatekeeper

Hot Seat The masters in fluid control

Industry Insight New frontiers in wastewater

Transportation Non-motorised transport and intersection crash prediction models 14

Geotechnical Engineering Resins to the rescue

Leveraging our water infrastructure 20 Water architects of our own destiny 22

24 26 29 38

PUBLIC LIGHTING Securing and sustaining smart energy savings

40 41 43 44 45 47 49 50 52

Energy Transitioning away from coal

Public Lighting 55

Building Systems Built-in soundproofing with clay masonry walls

Dams & Reservoirs

A city at work Excellence is earned Housing the people Striving for sustainability in waste Designing the best possible outcomes Producing water reticulation hardware post Covid-19 Transport solutions that empower Lighting up one of Africa’s greatest cities Illuminating communities

Securing and sustaining smart energy savings

Water & Wastewater

Constructing a joint-free concrete reservoir Fast-tracking bulk water delivery Cost-effective reservoir rehabilitation Aquadam: saving water without breaking the bank

32 35 37

Plastic pipelines add value The power of polyethylene The strength of steel

Ekurhuleni

We have an excellent order book, particularly for turnkey projects. We also expect our OEM business to grow significantly in the coming months.”

John Montgomery General Manager, APE Pumps and Mather+Platt

MUNICIPAL FOCUS

Cover Story

Municipal Focus

A city at work

Cement & Concrete The benchmark for green production Silo refurbishment at Mamba How admixtures influence concrete designs

60 61 62

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Ranking among the world’s best, ERWAT leads in South Africa and Africa in the field of wastewater process engineering. MD Tumelo Gopane discusses new developments, including participation in a Covid-19 research project and potential PPP projects. P12 IMIESA July 2020

SABS - 75 Years of dedication to Quality Compliance The South African Bureau of Standards supports the industrialisation effort of the dtic. SABS has an established network of national, regional and international partners that develop technical solutions adopted as South African National Standards (SANS), this in return enables business and government to:

Improve the quality of products and services Enhance competitiveness and access to markets Ensure that procurement of products and services meet quality standards Improve the delivery of services underpinned by best practice and support policy and regulatory objectives SANS 10142-1 latest Edition Published (Pre-Order: webstore@sabs.co.za)

SABS_IMIESA_07/2020

The standard was revised due to the outdated requirements and to align some of the requirements with the international norms. Why you need the new edition?: • Combined gas and electrical installation requirements have been referred to SANS 10087-1; • Introduction of arc fault detection devices in electrical installation; • Modification of earth continuity conductor requirements has been aligned with international norms; • Introducing lightning protection requirements which refers to SANS 10313; • Reference to SANS 60439 has been replaced with the SANS 61439 series; • Modify resistance of earth continuity conductor requirements; • Modify electrical installation test report, introduce electrical installation test report for secondary distribution; • Modify electrical installation test report in a hazardous location. • and much more...> SABS provides services to assist the implementation of best practice solutions • More than 7000 South African National Standards • Laboratory Testing Services for a diverse range of Products • Certification of Companies to Management System Standards • Certification of Products and the Application of the SABS Mark Scheme • Training of Management and Employees on Implementations of SANS

SABS a Trusted Partner in Delivering Quality Assurance. Contact SABS to establish support for your Standardisation, Testing, Training and Certification Aspirations.

Tel.: + 27 (0)861 277 227 E-mail: info@sabs.co.za Website: www.sabs.co.za

EDITOR’S COMMENT MANAGING EDITOR Alastair Currie SENIOR JOURNALIST Danielle Petterson HEAD OF DESIGN Beren Bauermeister CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Tristan Snijders CONTRIBUTORS Dhiren Allopi, Bevan Davis, Randeer Kasserchun, Bryan Perrie, Arvin Sarjoo PRODUCTION & CLIENT LIAISON MANAGER Antois-Leigh Nepgen PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jacqueline Modise GROUP SALES MANAGER Chilomia Van Wijk FINANCIAL MANAGER Andrew Lobban BOOKKEEPER Tonya Hebenton DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nomsa Masina DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha Pursotham SUBSCRIPTIONS subs@3smedia.co.za PRINTERS Novus Print Montague Gardens +27 (0)21 550 2300 ___________________________________________________ ADVERTISING SALES KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Joanne Lawrie Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 / +27 (0)82 346 5338 Email: joanne@3smedia.co.za ___________________________________________________

PUBLISHER Jacques Breytenbach 3S Media 46 Milkyway Avenue, Frankenwald, 2090 PO Box 92026, Norwood 2117 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 www.3smedia.co.za ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: R600.00 (INCL VAT) ISSN 0257 1978 IMIESA, Inst.MUNIC. ENG. S. AFR. © Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. ___________________________________________________ IMESA CONTACTS HEAD OFFICE: Manager: Ingrid Botton P.O. Box 2190, Westville, 3630 Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263 Email: admin@imesa.org.za Website: www.imesa.org.za BORDER Secretary: Celeste Vosloo Tel: +27 (0)43 705 2433 Email: celestev@buffalocity.gov.za EASTERN CAPE Secretary: Susan Canestra Tel: +27 (0)41 585 4142 ext. 7 Email: imesaec@imesa.org.za KWAZULU-NATAL Secretary: Ingrid Botton Tel: +27 (0)31 266 3263 Email: imesakzn@imesa.org.za NORTHERN PROVINCES Secretary: Ollah Mthembu Tel: +27 (0)82 823 7104 Email: np@imesa.org.za SOUTHERN CAPE KAROO Secretary: Henrietta Olivier Tel: +27 (0)79 390 7536 Email: imesasck@imesa.org.za WESTERN CAPE Secretary: Michelle Ackerman Tel: +27 (0)21 444 7114 Email: imesawc@imesa.org.za FREE STATE & NORTHERN CAPE Secretary: Wilma Van Der Walt Tel: +27 (0)83 457 4362 Email: imesafsnc@imesa.org.za All material herein IMIESA is copyright protected and may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. The views of the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa or the publishers. _____________________________________________

Remaining relevant and essential

p until now, the common approach to fixing poorly planned and executed infrastructure has been to throw more money at the problem. However, the only way to correct this is by addressing the root cause within the public delivery space. That’s especially important as South Africa steadily accepts the need to move towards the public-private partnership (PPP) model for the execution of critical projects. It can only work well when competency, experience, commitment and accountability are common and shared values for all those who sit on these PPP boards. Depending on their scale, listing PPPs as limited companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) would also provide far greater scrutiny and control for investors, especially pension fund shareholders. Within the SOE domain, Sasol is a classic example of a predominately government entity that took its vision to the stock market, first registering on the JSE in 1979 and then the New York Stock Exchange in 2003. There are also great opportunities for private sector investors to buy out or take a controlling stake in public entities, as the government follows the international trend towards unbundling statecontrolled companies.

Managing for profit At the local government level, the AuditorGeneral (AG) of South Africa’s audit outcomes on municipalities over the past three years have clearly highlighted that people, policies, and processes are not aligned. The result is massive irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The Covid-19 lockdown has compounded the problem by placing an additional brake on revenue inflows as private citizens and industry struggle to pay their municipal bills. Electricity and water continue to be consumed, but there’s a sharp drop in those able or willing to pay for these services. Some municipalities can’t or won’t collect, so Eskom and the water boards also end up not being paid. Heavily indebted municipalities cannot survive purely on government grants.

The ABC logo is a valued stamp of measurement and trust, providing accurate and comparable circulation figures that protect the way advertising is traded. IMIESA is ABC audited and certified.

2018/19 local government performance Referring to the latest local government audit report for the 2018/19 period, Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu said, “The best practices at these municipalities include a stable leadership that is committed to a strong control environment and effective governance.” Another key commendation is their “proactive approach to dealing with emerging risks”. In Gauteng, Midvaal was the only municipality to receive a clean audit for 2018/19. However, this was also the only province where all its municipalities attained unqualified audit opinions, with findings. Inadequate monitoring of preventative controls was an issue, and irregular expenditure incurred for municipalities in the province came to some R1.7 billion. The Western Cape retained pole position in terms of the percentage of municipalities with clean audits. Around 93% obtained unqualified audit opinions. However, irregular expenditure still totalled some R2.7 billion for this province. Overall, financial performance variations within provinces, and from one province to the next, show what a difference the right leadership, skills and experience can make. With the right teams on board, it’s clear that vast improvements can be made in a relatively short period of time. And we need to make them. Covid-19 has tested our resilience, but when times are tough, winners evolve and innovate.

Alastair To our avid readers, check out what we are talking about on our website, Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and have your say.

@infrastructure4 www.infrastruct

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Infrastructure News

IMESA The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

INFRASTRU C TURE

Novus Holdings is a Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Contributor, with 125% recognised procurement recognition. View our BBBEE scorecard here: https://novus.holdings/sustainability/transformation

For the AG, it’s a recurring story, despite repeated warnings. The upside, though, is that there are shining municipal examples, even in this recessionary environment. These higherperforming municipalities are planning the flight and flying the plane, with contingencies in place for bad weather.

DEVELOPME NT

• MAINTENAN CE • ROADS • BUILDING

New frontiers in wastewater Tumelo Gopane Managing Director,

ERWAT

WE MARIS to provide

Cover opportunity

• SERVICE DELIVERY

Though t Leader ship er SA’s quality gatekeep

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Dams & Reserv oirs

Construc ting a joint-free

In each issue, IMIESA offers advertisers the opportunity to get to the front of the line by placing a company, product or service on the front cover of the journal. Buying this position will afford the advertiser the cover story and maximum exposure. For more information on cover bookings, contact Joanne Lawrie on +27 (0)82 346 5338.

reservoir

Water & Wastew ater Leveragin

g water infrastru cture

Public Lightin g

Evolving ions life-c ycle solut

Smart energy savings

Muni cipal Focus City of Ekurhu leni

IMIESA July 2020

IN THE HOT SEAT

We also for turnkey projects. order book, particularly coming months.” We have an excellent significantly in the business to grow expect our OEM APE Pumps and Mather+Platt General Manager, John Montgomery 5.00 8 ISSN 0257 197

20 • R5 . 07 • July 20 Vo l u m e 4 5 N o

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Watch this space for future announcements! IMPORTANT NOTICE: Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, this year's 84th IMESA Conference has been postponed by the organisers until October 2021. Watch this space for future announcements!

CONFERENCE ENDORSED BY

t: +27 (031)266 3263 e: conference@imesa.org.za marketing@imesa.org.za www.imesa.org.za

IMESA ORGANISER

THE INSTITUTE OF MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING OF SOUTHERNÂ AFRICA (IMESA) TEL: 031 266 3263 DEBBIE OR MELANIE

PRESIDENT’S COMMENT

IMESA

Reshaping our urban landscapes Covid-19 has brought home the reality of poverty, job losses and hunger. It is also changing and reshaping society worldwide, presenting many opportunities to bridge inequality gaps in the process. This especially applies to living space and the minimum standards for the delivery of social housing.

lobally, social housing typically refers to rental or cooperative housing for low- to mediumincome households; however, within the South African context, we should also include affordable and RDP-type housing categories as well. In both the developing and developed world, most countries have social housing programmes in place, but experts are now questioning whether current models are outdated. Internationally, a frontrunner in this regard is Housing Europe – the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing based in Brussels. This is an umbrella organisation for some 43 000 social and cooperative housing providers in some 24 countries collectively managing close to 25 million dwellings.

Housing in crisis During a press statement in June 2020,

Randeer Kasserchun, president, IMESA

Housing Europe said that “the coronavirus pandemic has put the spotlight on Europe’s housing crisis, exposing the shortcomings of our housing policies that have increased inequalities and destabilised our societies.” Designers at home and abroad are questioning the status quo. Beyond the provision of adequate shelter, they argue that social housing must also provide a sense of pride, security, family and space. Another important shift in thinking is the need to plan and build urban environments around people, rather than the other way around.

need has been addressed, it still means that residents are at a disadvantage in terms of transport costs, plus the family time lost due to long daily commutes. In a sense, this perpetuates pre-1994 models. The latest thoughts on smart city developments tackle that issue head on, making sure that income thresholds are not the deciding factor for living there. A great example is Cornubia – a partnership between eThekwini Municipality and Tongaat Hulett Developments.

Redefining settlements Integrating communities In South Africa’s post-1994 landscape, housing agencies and developers are faced with the ongoing challenge of dismantling apartheid spatial planning. One of the key objectives going forward is to create integrated rather than excluded communities. Brownfield opportunities, like inner-city renewal projects, offer huge potential because existing infrastructure like water, sanitation, electrification and public transport systems are already in place, although they may need upgrading. Greenfield developments hold even greater potential for positive change because they start with a clean slate. Projects like Melrose Arch in Johannesburg and Century City in Cape Town are earlier examples of smart city concepts where residents could live and work in self-contained precincts. From the onset, though, residential properties were priced at a premium, which meant low- to medium-income earners working there still needed to commute. Traditionally, RDP-type developments have been constructed on cheaper land some distance from urban centres. While the housing

Situated approximately 17 km from Durban’s city centre, the vision is to create a vibrant mixed-use and mixed-income residential, commercial and industrial zone. According to Tongaat Hulett, Cornubia is expected to create some 45 000 permanent jobs over the longer term and contribute around R25 billion to the economy. Addressing South Africa’s housing backlog is a pressing concern, as inward migration leads to burgeoning informal settlements surrounding urban areas. A classic example is Alexandra township in Sandton, where formal and informal dwellings stand back-to-back in some instances. Covid-19 has highlighted new dangers alongside the existing ones like poor sanitation. Metros like Cape Town and Johannesburg have already begun the process of de-densifying squatter camps and moving residents to newly prepared land earmarked for housing. This presents a golden opportunity to reflect on the design faults of the past and become far more creative with our social and affordable housing blueprints. After all, life is for living and everyone deserves a decent home.

IMIESA July 2020

COVER STORY

Becoming part of the infrastructure solution Covid-19 may have thrown the world off balance, but it has also opened the door to a smarter way of working and delivering construction programmes more efficiently, says Nonkululeko Sindane, CEO of Mariswe. A prime example is the recent launch of Mariswe’s Strategic Projects Unit.

he local construction industry has seen a sustained decline in infrastructure investment since the boom leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This has resulted in the closure of many companies and massive job losses, adding to an already dire unemployment situation, particularly among the youth, as well as poverty and inequality. Some companies in our industry restructured, while others diversified. Hope was somewhat restored by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA speech on 13 February, followed by Minister Tito Mboweni’s budget on 26 February 2020 – both of which suggested that long-anticipated investment in infrastructure was imminent. In addition, infrastructure entities such as Sanral started to issue substantial tenders, adding to renewed hope for the industry. “However, by March 2020, Covid-19 had hit our shores and put a dead stop to any hope of imminent investment in infrastructure,” says Sindane. “We are now challenged to think and do things differently to survive the inevitable economic meltdown.”

IMIESA July 2020

Oxidation ponds at Kaunda Square, part of the USD250-m, five-year Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage project, completed this year with Mariswe as the Construction Supervision Engineer. The project has provided clean water supply and sanitation for more than a million residents as well as improved storm water drainage infrastructure for the Zambian capital.

A leading civil engineering consulting company with strong project management and infrastructure planning experience, Mariswe has served South Africa and parts of Africa for 48 years.

Taking the initiative Mariswe underwent a significant restructuring process in 2019 aimed at improving its value proposition to clients, with leaner but more focused resources. “I believe the ability of our leadership team to make tough calls has enabled Mariswe to react appropriately not only to the challenging business environment, but also to Covid-19, which was not part of the plan at that time,” says Sindane.

Nonkululeko Sindane, CEO of Mariswe

Mariswe’s South African staff commenced working remotely a week before the government imposed the lockdown on 27 March. This was facilitated by the modern and seamless ICT systems developed by Mariswe over several years to support efficient workflow between its 10 South African offices and colleagues working on projects in other countries. “These systems have kept us connected and made the experience of working from home much easier for team members and for our clients," says Sindane. “We are also continuously investigating outward-focused technologies to help us deliver new service offerings that will be in demand for future infrastructure development across Africa.”

A change in strategic focus The courage to make quick and sometimes difficult decisions is keeping the company in tune with changing market needs. “This has included some management changes in recent months, including bringing younger professional engineers who have trained and grown with Mariswe on to the board to add to the quality of its strategic decision-making,” Sindane explains. “We make significant investments in new talent and strive to retain all our young professionals. To improve the gender balance in our leadership and encourage diversity, we focus on assisting young women who have achieved professional registration in rising to senior positions,” she continues. Transformation initiatives taken over time continue to positively change the face of Mariswe and the company retained its BBBEE

COVER STORY

Level 1 status for the third year in a row at the end of 2019; however, Sindane warns that the shortage of work in the civil engineering consulting sector threatens progress in transformation. Looking to the future, she adds that the social and economic mayhem caused by Covid-19 has already reduced funds budgeted for infrastructure. This situation will continue to be the greatest challenge to economic growth and equality in South Africa. The lack of access to clean water and adequate housing to self-isolate at home has magnified the dangers of poor infrastructure for the most vulnerable in our society. Sindane believes the public sector must create enabling conditions for the private sector to play a more active role in improving South

The largest-capacity water tower in South Africa, designed by Mariswe, is under construction in Benoni, Ekurhuleni. It will hold 5.5 Mℓ of water, equivalent to nearly three Olympicsize swimming pools, significantly increasing capacity for residents and businesses in the greater Benoni area

Africa’s infrastructure because government cannot do this alone.

Creating opportunities “In this environment, our sustainability as a firm depends on finding new projects. And where we cannot find them, we must create them ourselves. We need to leverage our 48 years of experience, our professional and technical competencies, and the Mariswe brand to grow our business by providing integrated services throughout the infrastructure value chain,” says Sindane.

Mariswe has completed significant, complex water projects in South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia, among others, and is currently executing outputand performance-based road contracts in Lesotho and Ghana. These competencies will help the firm as a springboard for new services.

Strategic Projects Unit “The next step is to broaden our focus so that we become not only consulting engineers, but also a supplier of solutions,” Sindane explains. “To achieve this vision, we have launched a new business unit known as the Strategic Projects Unit (SPU), led by Rod Stewart, who also heads our Management Services Division. The SPU will work alongside our current offerings in our Transportation, Water and Sanitation, Structures, Management Services and Infrastructure Planning divisions.” The SPU seeks not only to capitalise on sectors where Mariswe has a significant proven track record, but also to diversify its client base and business offerings by pursuing new opportunities from nontraditional sources such as energy, ICT, mining and agriculture. The SPU will provide comprehensive lifecycle solutions, including securing funding for infrastructure projects, and exploring 4IR technologies to gain a unique edge in project development, management and maintenance. “We aim to offer a leading role all the way from capital development (where Mariswe is currently active), through the operation and maintenance phase, to project closure,” explains Stewart. “For example, Mariswe may acquire a financial interest in revenue generating projects or source funding for water or power projects and then sell these commodities to end-users.” He adds that the SPU will focus on the private sector, public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the public infrastructure sector, and institutional finance organisations such as the World Bank.

The Lesotho Roads Directorate appointed the Mafube-Mariswe joint venture in January 2020 to undertake consulting services for the upgrading of the 54 km route from Thaba-Tseka to Katse from a gravel to a surfaced road. The project will help improve living conditions as well as access to education and health in the mountainous areas of Lesotho

Relevant contract methodologies In response to the demand for more innovative solutions in tendering for public sector civil and structural consulting engineering project work, Mariswe has gained significant expertise in specialised contract forms, such as PPPs, which are being touted as one way to move forward with major infrastructure projects in South Africa. A current example is an exciting project in the City of uMhlathuze, a key economic hub in KwaZulu-Natal incorporating Richards Bay, whose port handles approximately 60% of South Africa’s seaborne cargo. The City of uMhlathuze has prioritised the treatment and reuse of wastewater, which is readily available in large quantities, and Mariswe was appointed first to conduct a feasibility study and subsequently as a transaction advisor to procure a PPP agreement. The project entails the collection and treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater from the Richards Bay and Empangeni areas, as well as the distribution of the reuse water to industrial offtakers in and around Richards Bay. It is funded by the City of uMhlathuze and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. “We are not sitting back and waiting for work to come to us. Instead, we are making sure we have the teams, the expertise, the out-ofthe-box thinking and the vision to help South Africa and Africa develop the sustainable infrastructure needed for its people to survive and thrive,” Sindane concludes.

www.mariswe.com

IMIESA July 2020

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

South Africa’s quality gatekeeper

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is being remodelled and realigned. Alastair Currie speaks to Jodi Scholtz, lead administrator, are many opportunities for a change in direction. SABS, about the key steps being What are the key taken to bring the organisation elements of the SABS’s back on track following turnaround strategy? Dr Rob Davies, the former Minister a period of sustained of Trade and Industry, cited various governance and performance issues, financial losses.

How does the SABS rank against other international standards bodies? JS The SABS celebrates its 75th anniversary in September 2020 and remains a respected brand worldwide. Internationally, there are two standards bodies – namely the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC). The SABS is a member of both. In fact, the SABS is a founding member of ISO. We also play a pivotal role on the African continent. For example, we are affiliated to the African Organisation for Standardisation, and the African Electro-Technical Standardisation Commission. In terms of reputation and brand management, the SABS has successfully evolved through many testing years of technological change. With Covid-19, there

IMIESA July 2020

which subsequently led to the SABS being placed under administration. This process began in July 2018 and, from the beginning, we had a three-pronged strategy: Stabilise, Fix and Chart a New Course. We’ve reached the stabilisation stage, which has entailed undertaking a comprehensive organisational review to ensure a fit-for-purpose SABS. As we emerge out of Covid-19, we’re going to need different types of skill sets. Traditionally, the SABS received around 30% of its funding from the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC). The balance was sourced via our conformity assessment services. This DTIC funding has now been reduced even further, which means that the SABS must rethink and reposition itself to remain commercially viable. For this reason, we’re engaging extensively with our external stakeholders. What assurances are in place for clients? Concrete steps so far include major

investments in our laboratory testing infrastructure, which is the backbone of our technical capability. We’ve made infrastructure investments in the humidity chamber for fibre and polymers, the rubber and plastics laboratories, in the pharmaceutical chemistry laboratory, as well as in the chromatographic services laboratory, to name but a few of the investments that have been made. We’re also shifting the organisation towards a more sector-focused approach. Once you have a sector focus, you’re able to deepen the technical know-how, skills and understanding within a specific industry. Standards are developed from an industry perspective, so maintaining a win-win partnership is essential. Tertiary institutions must also be part of the process.

Jodi Scholtz, lead administrator, SABS

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP There have been some missed opportunities in the past. We are now committed to providing shared value. For example, there have been issues raised concerning the affordability of our testing services. In response, we recently reviewed our pricing strategy to make us more cost-competitive against other local and international standards bodies. For the public at large, the SABS mark is about providing quality assurance: that products have been manufactured and tested according to strict criteria. Carrying the SABS mark, also known as ‘SABS Approved’, is a hallmark that most people still ask for by name. How can the SABS help to promote local content and manufacturing? Local content verification is crucial in building Brand South Africa. The SABS has been appointed to assist, with some funding provided by the DTIC. We’re also in talks with Proudly South African to explore synergies. Companies that are producing and verifying locally should be recognised and rewarded. For example, the SABS is currently offering testing services discounts to those manufacturing PPE for Covid-19. Where it affects public health and safety, then the South African National Standard is referenced in the compulsory specification and this then becomes compulsory for the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). It is also generally a requirement for public sector tenders in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (No. 1 of 1999), and wherever stipulated by the NRCS. In all other cases, the mark is voluntary. But who would buy a product today without a widely recognised quality standard? The SABS doesn’t have regulatory powers; however, where manufacturers abuse the SABS mark, such as through making false claims, we do engage from a legal viewpoint and issue cease and desist letters

to those manufacturers. We’ve always been acknowledged for fiercely protecting our mark. From a business perspective, all SABS Approved products are listed on our website. For instance, we currently have some 24 approved manufacturers/suppliers of medicalgrade hand sanitisers listed. For marketers, that’s a great lever when promoting their product to potential buyers. The SABS is also aligning with sectors that the DTIC is keen to promote. That includes supporting black industrialists. How will the SABS remain relevant? We want to broaden our basket of services. We’re looking at using our space differently to make better use of SABS labs that are not always fully utilised. That could include partnering with SMME laboratory specialists. During 2019, we also engaged with a number of our local and international competitors. One of the interesting things that emerged was the ideal of co-competition. There’s a definite interest in partnering with the SABS on international projects. For example, international donor funding is available to set up standards bodies in various African countries for specific industries or sectors. The UK-based standards organisation, BSI, works across the African continent and has indicated its willingness to enter into possible partnership opportunities. It recognises the SABS’s technical skills. Additionally, we’re forging closer relationships within SADC. These include signed agreements with the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI), as well as with the Botswana Bureau of Standards. In terms of our mutual recognition agreement with the NSI, we’re currently verifying PPE products manufactured by South African companies intended for export to Namibia. We’re also looking at digital platforms that can help us, including the way we have already set up our internal and external

We’re making positive gains in terms of business process optimisation, reducing costs and creating new revenue streams. The DTIC remains committed and sees the SABS as part of its industrial policy toolkit.”

technical committees online. To further ensure relevance, we are accredited with the RVA, the Dutch accreditation agency, which conducted a virtual audit in May 2020 where one or two areas for improvement were picked up. In response, we’ve submitted our action plan as part of the reassessment process. We’ve also reintroduced the old Customer Partial Testing offering. This enables customers to innovate parts of their product range instead of the entire process. This will help fast-track new products to market. What is the financial outlook for the current financial year? National Treasury recently cut the SABS’s funding for the current financial year by a further R64 million as government reallocates spending to meet Covid-19 priorities. And part of the envisaged R500 billion stimulus package had to come from existing funding. Despite our cost-cutting efforts to date, we will be reporting a financial loss for the year ending 31 March 2020. Clearly, the economic downturn before and after Covid-19 will be compounding factors. Some 60% of our customers are SMMEs and they’ve been hit hard by the pandemic. On a positive note, we’re making positive gains in terms of business process optimisation, reducing costs and creating new revenue streams. The DTIC remains committed and sees the SABS as part of its industrial policy toolkit. Any concluding remarks? In countries like Germany, standards permeate every aspect of daily life. In fact, German companies pay to serve and participate on such technical committees. They recognise the importance of standards. Most South African companies do too. It’s a proven fact that adhering to standards keeps companies and countries competitive. When we started the administration process, we weren’t planning to execute a ‘big bang’ approach. We’re effecting a culture change where SABS employees have the freedom to be a lot more agile and responsive to customers. The SABS – first and foremost – is a business that serves South Africa.

IMIESA July 2020

HOT SEAT

The masters

in fluid control

APE Pumps and Mather+Platt have led the market in South Africa since 1952, building on a proud legacy dating back to the world’s first industrial revolution. John Montgomery, general manager, speaks to IMIESA about the challenges and opportunities within the South African and broader African markets. What are the Group’s core areas of specialisation? JM APE Pumps has been an innovator in the field of fluid transfer solutions since 1952 across industries that include water utilities, mining, municipalities and the energy sector. This comprehensive skill set is aligned with

John Montgomery, general manager, APE Pumps and Mather+Platt

IMIESA July 2020

sister company Mather+Platt, which traces its own heritage back to England in 1845. Mather+Platt manufactures horizontal multistage pumps designed for high-pressure applications and split-case pumps chiefly for high volumes. In turn, APE Pumps specialises in the design and manufacture of vertical industrial turbine pumps, split-case and endsuction pumps for most industries. What sets APE Pumps and Mather+Platt apart from the competition? A major distinction is that we are both an OEM and a CIDB 8 ME registered contractor. In addition, we have one of the few pattern shops left in Africa, where our specialist artisans produce wooden patterns in the age-old tradition, alongside the latest trends in 3D printing. Our unsurpassed skill in patternmaking enables us to produce specialised patterns for our components on a breakdown basis. APE Pumps and Mather+Platt have completed major turnkey projects that include a complete overhaul of the Blantyre Water Board’s pump station and pipeline infrastructure in Malawi. We are currently working on some largescale installations in South Africa where we are responsible for delivering all the mechanical, electrical and civil components

as an integrated turnkey solution. That covers the design, installation and commissioning for variable-speed drives (VSDs), low- and medium-voltage switchgear, distribution boards, cabling, motors, pipe work and pipelines, and, of course, pumps. Another strategic advantage is our ability to turn solutions around quickly with a combination of project management acumen, technical know-how and a workshop equipped with the latest technologies. In a recent example, we completed a pump refurbishment for a client during a tight, fiveday shutdown window. Our team worked two shifts per day to accelerate the repair – delivering, installing and commissioning the pump ahead of schedule. How are your solutions helping to sustain the energy sector? APE Pumps and Mather+Platt have been part of South Africa’s power station landscape from inception. Our cooling water pumps are installed at every Eskom power station except Medupi and Kusile. Refurbishing older power stations is an ongoing process. Some of them date back to the 1970s. The upside is that we have the capability to restore any pump or fluid transfer process. Keeping power stations online is essential for a smooth-running economy.

HOT SEAT

What are your views on promoting local content and manufacturing? We are registered as a Proudly South African company. That symbolises our absolute commitment to local fabrication and local industry. Having an extensive inventory of locally manufactured pumps and allied electromechanical systems on hand was a vital factor when South Africa entered the Covid-19 lockdown in March. From the onset, we were able to continue uninterrupted operations. Simply put, we were not dependent on imports from overseas territories. Every component we needed was made in South Africa. Keeping our operations running during the lockdown has helped sustain our essential industries, which include the water, wastewater, energy and petrochemical sectors. Keeping the supply chain open has also sustained many of our suppliers and kept their workshops running. Since our local foundries are critical for our business, we ensured that they were kept busy with orders to keep their furnaces on. How are pump systems evolving? If you travel back in time 100 years, you’ll find that the skeleton of a pump – the main components – has not changed significantly. However, there have been major advances in metallurgy that provide unsurpassed durability. These include high-abrasion steels like CA6NNM, suited to very demanding environments like mining and wastewater, and Super Duplex for seawater applications. Pump sizes are also now more compact, but they yield far greater performance. On top of this, our new pumps are more maintenance friendly in terms of access. Additionally, the introduction of VSDs has added huge benefits, as have advances in instrumentation and telematics.

When we rebuild older pumps, we apply the latest technologies. Examples include impeller designs, anti-corrosive coatings, better-suited materials, and gauges. We are also currently working on a mobile app, which will enable remote monitoring of pump performance via smartphone. Technology is moving at a rapid pace and we need to make sure we advance along with it. If you don’t, you will get left behind. Are pirate parts posing a threat? Pirate parts pose a business risk, first and foremost, to downstream industries, municipalities and public utilities. It’s also important to note that whether the part is made locally or imported, it’s still noncompliant and unproven. Pirate parts are the weakest link. Most of the time, pirate parts fail unexpectedly and catastrophically. We’ve experienced many situations where we’ve been asked to intervene after the fact. A case in point was a client who scheduled a critical pump shutdown for emergency maintenance. Once stripped, the technical team discovered that the non-OEM sourced part wouldn’t fit. This is a part that typically takes up to six weeks just to ship if sourced from an overseas OEM. In another recent example, we resolved a downtime issue at a municipality’s water treatment works. Motivated by the need to save costs, pirate parts were specified for their vertical turbine pumps. These are 1980s-era units supplied at the time by APE Pumps. They were specifically designed for the plant’s raw water intake. Thanks to the use of pirate parts, the pumps failed because the valves became defective. We were commissioned by a water authority to completely overhaul the mechanical items at the treatment plant. We installed new pumps, as well as new motors running on VSDs, which, in addition to fluid optimisation,

reduce electricity consumption. APE Pumps has also redesigned the pipe works, which includes new 400 mm and 600 mm diameter manifolds, plus valves and flow meters. The upside is that we are seeing a major shift back to OEMs. This applies to water and wastewater utilities, power stations, the petrochemical industry and all other missioncritical industries. Predictive and preventative maintenance have become paramount to optimally sustain essential infrastructure. This was already a priority in the constrained macroeconomic environment prior to the Covid-19 lockdown. The deepening crisis has now made asset management and optimum life-cycle costing even more crucial. Is outsourcing operations and maintenance (O&M) a more viable option for municipalities? The findings of the Auditor-General’s 2018/19 audit outcomes for local government have again highlighted serious shortfalls. A number of these are in the infrastructure space. Water and wastewater plants and associated pump and pipeline systems are falling into disrepair, while allocated costs for maintenance are constrained. Some years ago, the private sector started outsourcing non-core areas, like water and wastewater treatment, and APE Pumps and Mather+Platt have various service-level agreements in place with key clients. This has now also become a common trend within the public sector. How has Covid-19 influenced your business model? As an OEM, we’ve been ahead of the curve for years, so, when the pandemic hit, we didn’t falter for a second. However, the demands on our business have grown exponentially. In response, we’re increasing our inventory volumes to reduce turnaround times even further. Every essential infrastructure project is now ‘Priority One’. What’s the outlook for the next 12 months? We have an excellent order book, particularly for turnkey projects. We also expect our OEM business to grow significantly in the coming months. As a Proudly South African company, we’re here to add value and we remain committed to sustaining and supporting local industry, whether public or private.

www.apepumps.co.za www.matherandplatt.com

IMIESA July 2020

New frontiers in wastewater Ranking with the world’s best, Ekurhuleni Water Care Company (ERWAT) is among the leaders in South Africa, Africa and the globe in the field of wastewater process engineering. IMIESA speaks to Tumelo Gopane, managing director, ERWAT, about new developments that include par ticipation in a Covid-19 research project and potential publicprivate par tnership projects. Tumelo Gopane, managing director, ERWAT

urrently, ERWAT has 19 operating wastewater treatment plants, serving major industries that include agriculture, aviation, logistics, manufacturing and mining. In turn, these industries make a major contribution to the region’s economy, helping to fund essential infrastructure and create jobs for the more than 3.5 million people who call the City of Ekurhuleni home. It’s a symbiotic relationship. Given ERWAT’s strategic role, the company has developed a series of comprehensive programmes to keep pace with intensified urbanisation. These are included in the ‘ERWAT Plants & Conveyancing Regionalisation and 50 Year Masterplan’. A central theme is the need to reduce the number of treatment plants from 19 to 10, along with a reconfiguration of the existing pump and pipeline system and conveyancing network, respectively. Tying in with this plant rationalisation study, ERWAT has also recently completed a pricing analysis that enables detailed financial modelling of present and future operational scenarios. This will prove invaluable for potential investors, in addition to providing a clearer understanding of

IMIESA July 2020

where present-day cost efficiencies can be improved in a typical wastewater utility. The financial model is zero-based, from each and every plant. Based on this analysis, the break-even cost to operate and maintain the current plants and network optimally is around R3.84/kℓ. Adding the capex cost for upgrades brings this to approximately R5.34/kℓ. Compared to the double-digit figures charged by some South African potable water utilities, ERWAT’s pricing is still very competitive, considering that treating wastewater is far more complex than treating potable water. “This has been a very rewarding exercise when it comes to benchmarking opex and capex costs in line with local and global best practice. We are excited about sharing this model with our industry stakeholders,” says Gopane. ERWAT employees will be presenting papers on this initiative at various industry forums in the coming months. “We understand that costs will vary slightly from one utility to another, based on factors such as the age of their plants, the technologies employed, staff complement, etc. However, we need some form of standardisation that we can

agree to as a country and the broader industry, especially when it comes to PPPs (public-private partnerships),” he continues. ERWAT’s financial model also highlights the funding gap. Currently, the City of Ekurhuleni pays ERWAT around R2.99/kℓ. Going forward, this figure is not likely to increase significantly given the current economic downturn pre and post Covid-19. This results in huge operational and capital investment backlogs, which compels entities like ERWAT to continually assess its strategic risks. Tariff revenue shortfalls from private and commercial residents have so far contributed to a city deficit in excess of R2 billion. Funding shortfalls, in a small part, are being offset by ERWAT’s ongoing diversification strategy, albeit still miniscule looking at the maintenance and expansion backlog. This includes the conclusion of a series of outsourced operations and maintenance agreements with key blue-chip industrial clients to manage their wastewater process requirements. However, new revenue streams need to be urgently added.

Expansion plans Allied to this are three key ERWAT initiatives, namely: - T he ERWAT Beneficiation Programme - The ERWAT Plant & Conveyancing Regionalisation Programme - The ERWAT Technology & Self-funded Programme. The first hinges on a PPP-funded programme, the second on both grants and loans, and the third on loans for self-sustainable loan funds, looking at the customer base. “The ERWAT Beneficiation Programme explores fresh opportunities to commercialise wastewater by-products, taking into account what other industry leaders are doing globally,” Gopane explains, adding that these by-products include biogas, sludge beneficiation and wastewater reuse. In addition to waste-to-energy, other opportunities could include the local refining of biogas fuels for the taxi, truck and bus industries. This cheaper, cleaner and greener solution is already being applied in developed markets, spearheaded by engine technology innovations from leading OEMs. The way ERWAT manages faecal sludge is also being revisited. Like most wastewater utilities nationally, ERWAT currently pays farmers to collect it; however, that could soon change, with plans in place to produce Class A1a graded product – the highest and safest standard.

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

“As an Agri SA advisory board member, I’m proposing that South Africa shifts its focus beyond the use of faecal sludge for purely manure and compost applications. As a Class A1a product, wastewater utilities will be able to brand, bag and sell it as approved compost/manure/fertiliser,” says Gopane. In other areas, ERWAT now forms part of a Water Research Commission group working on a study to determine the possible link between wastewater sludge and Covid-19 transmission. Other members of the group include the City of Cape Town, plus local and international universities.

Industrial effluent and leachate investigation ERWAT is also investigating the potential of constructing a dedicated industrial effluent treatment plant for local industry. This comes in response to a Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries decision to ban the disposal of all liquid waste to landfill, effective August 2019. This has created a gap in the market for treatment specialists. Discussions are at an advanced stage with key private sector waste management companies to build a pilot plant to test its commercial viability prior to going the PPP route. Gate fees for liquid disposal will be charged on a per kℓ rate. Services would also include the treatment of landfill leachate.

The ERWAT Plant & Conveyancing Regionalisation Programme ERWAT’s Plant & Conveyancing Regionalisation Programme is the most important element in the company’s restructuring plans, since it

forms the backbone of the whole operation. When ERWAT was formed in 1992, it assumed responsibility for the management of a diverse range of plants. Some are more modern, while others are close to 85 years old, like the Benoni water care works built in 1935. The technology employed across these plants also varies. “A number of these plants were originally designed to predominantly handle domestic effluent. Over time, though, allied industrial and commercial growth has steadily increased the organic loads, placing major pressure on our ageing wastewater treatment works,” Gopane explains. “With opex and capex costs rising, we needed to revisit the current business model.” This yielded the decision to reduce the existing 19 regional plants to 10 and approach the open market for funding. “ERWAT will shortly be releasing a request for information (RFI). We are inviting wastewater technology providers to study our plants and propose the optimum process solutions to upgrade their future capacities and efficiencies. Their proposals also need to be backed by a private sector investor,” he continues. ERWAT has categorised the 10 shortlisted treatment facilities into either commercially or non-commercially viable plants. Flagship plants like Hartebeestfontein, Olifantsfontein and Welgedacht are all located in affluent commercial, industrial and residential zones, and are in a stronger position to attract finance from the market. Those plants deemed non-commercially viable will remain 100% funded by the public sector, through grants.

Once all RFI proposals have been received, ERWAT will shortlist the technology providers and then put out a request for proposals.

A positive outlook ERWAT remains world class and geared for positive longer-term growth. This was confirmed recently by Moody’s, which graded ERWAT as Ba1 stable. “We regard the Moody’s opinion as a positive assessment of our efforts over the past two to three years to restructure the organisation, as well as its strategic focus, reduce debt, improve cash management, and put in place sound business plans for future growth – prime examples being our three main programmes discussed above,” adds Gopane. When Gopane joined ERWAT as managing director in Q3 2016, he outlined his vision for the company over the ensuing five years. A lot of ground has been covered since then. “At the time, I predicted that within five years ERWAT would be acknowledged as a successful and internationally recognised innovator in wastewater treatment. And we’ve come a long way in getting ourselves on that trajectory – this, thanks to our commercial and technical acumen. Now it’s time to take the next step, in partnership with the market,” Gopane concludes.

www.erwat.co.za

IMIESA July 2020

TRANSPORTATION

Within the global context, South Africa, like many developing countries with limited resources, faces the challenge of proactively managing, reducing and eliminating the high incidence of road crashes, injuries and fatalities. Using statistically based linear regression models helps to pinpoint the hotspots and prioritise funding. By Arvin Sarjoo and Professor Dhiren Allopi*

Non-motorised transport and intersection crash prediction models

he vulnerability of pedestrians and other non-motorised transport (NMT) modes in the event of traffic accidents is well documented in both international and national literature. The situation for South Africa, however, is especially dire. Statistics provided by the Road Traffic Management Corporation indicate that pedestrians account for approximately 40% of all road fatalities. A holistic systems approach is therefore required to address road safety and the wider range of factors that expose pedestrians to risk. These include human error, vehicle speed, poor road design, and inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations. As the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM), the main aim of our research was to develop procedures with measurable benefits in promoting a safer road environment, focusing on intersectionrelated crashes as an applied example. While intersections constitute a relatively small portion of the road network, intersectionrelated crashes contribute to 20% of all fatal crashes. The CTMM’s response to road safety challenges is partially addressed on a strategic level in its Comprehensive Integrated Transport Plan. However, on an operational or functional level, a need exists for the development of practical, measurable and results-focused road safety assessment and audit procedures. There’s a need for a paradigm shift from a

IMIESA July 2020

reactive approach to road safety – where investigations are only based on complaints or locations with high crash frequency – to a more proactive approach where road safety is incorporated into all stages of a roadway cycle. The South African road fatality rate as a middle-income country is reported to be 23.5 fatalities per 100 000 population, which is

DID YOU KNOW? Statistics provided by the Road Traffic Management Corporation indicate that pedestrians account for approximately 40% of all road fatalities.

notably higher than the 2015 WHO global status report on road safety. The worldwide average for middle-income countries is 18.4 fatalities per 100 000 population.

Causes and factors affecting crash rates The causes of fatal crashes indicate that human factors account for 73.6%, vehicles for 14.1%, and roads and the environment for 12.3%. Transportation engineering typically focuses on the 12.3% attributed to roads and the environment. However, greater reductions in fatalities could be achieved by directing scarce resources and funds towards a safe systems approach, which focuses on the predominant human factors. The safe systems approach is internationally accepted as best

TRANSPORTATION TABLE 1 Relationship between road classification and crashes

practice. It acknowledges that people make mistakes, and the road transport system must absorb these mistakes to prevent death or serious injury.

The relationship between road safety and traffic congestion The fundamental objective of traffic analysis is to measure a roadwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance in relation to specified volumes. This comparative analysis provides a method of prioritising and allocating limited funds to required projects. A graphical representation of intersection accident rates on the y-axis and traffic volume to capacity ratio (v/c) on the x-axis produces a u-shaped graph, with the lowest accident

rates typically at the 50% to 60% v/c ratio. The crash statistics provided by the Road Accident Statistics and Road Traffic Volumes 2014-2015 report published by eThekwini Transport Authority indicates that the largest percentage of crashes (31%) occur on Class 3 roads or distributors. The statistics show a distribution that follows a general trend of a reducing number of accidents as the road function becomes more defined, either in terms of mobility or accessibility. It may therefore be deduced that conflicts occur when significant levels of mobility and accessibility are accommodated on the same roadway, leading to a higher prevalence of crashes, as represented in Table 1.

It should also be considered and proposed for further investigation that the speed differential between motorised vehicles compared to NMT is a factor that contributes to the rate and severity of crashes on Class 3 roads.

The effect of intersection conflict points on crash risk Intersection conflicts occur when traffic flows moving in different directions affect or interfere with each other. Figure 1 provides a comparison between a typical four-legged, traffic-signalcontrolled intersection and a single-lane roundabout. A conflict point is a location where the paths of two vehicles, or a vehicle and a pedestrian, diverge, merge, or cross each

TRANSPORTATION

other. Figure 1 indicates typically 32 vehicle-tovehicle conflict points for four-leg intersections and eight vehicle-to-vehicle conflict points for roundabouts (a 75% decrease). Vehicle-pedestrian conflicts are common to most intersections on the urban road network. Signalised intersections reduce the probability of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts via the use of signal phasing, which allows only a few movements at any given time. A pedestrian crossing at a typical signalised intersection faces four potential vehicular conflicts, each coming from a different direction: • crossing movements on red (typically highspeed, illegal) • left turns on green (legal) • right turns on green (legal typically for right turn phasing) • left and right turns on red (illegal).

CTMM research methodology CTMM covers a land area of 6 368 km2. This makes it the third largest city in the world, by land area, after New York and Tokyo. Our research objectives were therefore to focus on a top-down view of road safety that addressed screening methods to identify the highest-priority areas for more detailed road safety studies. The primary sources of raw data used were available within the CTMM, namely accident data from the Traffic Authority Management Information System, traffic count data from the CTMM traffic database, with road classification data, intersection geometry and intersection control type from the ArcGIS geographic information system. A five-year accident record was used, between January 2014 to December 2018, with a sample of 112 intersections. The intersections were further categorised into five groups according to the type of intersection control, namely priority controlled, all-way

TABLE 2 Equivalent accident number (EAN) (Aucamp, 2014: 38)

ACCIDENT SEVERITY

EQUIVALENT ACCIDENT NUMBER 12 8 3 1

Fatal Serious Slight No injury Demand analysis 2015 12.96 (millions per annum)

controlled, traffic circle controlled, traffic signal controlled, and traffic signal controlled central business district (CBD) intersections, which are in the Pretoria CBD. As per recommendations provided by the Highway Safety Manual, and taking into consideration the data available, the most suitable road safety screening methods were determined to be the equivalent accident number (EAN), crash frequency, and crash rate. EAN takes the severity of an accident into account by the application of weights dependent on the cost of the accident. As per Table 2, a fatal accident is weighted 12 times that of a damage only or non-injury accident. Crash rates are determined based on exposure data, such as traffic volume and the length of road section being considered. Commonly used rates are rate per million of entering vehicles for intersections, and rate per 100 million vehicle kilometres for road segments. As crash rates may overemphasise intersections with low traffic volumes, it was necessary to compare crash rates for intersections with similar characteristics in terms of road classification, intersection geometry, traffic volumes, and intersection control type.

Data analysis and findings Traffic circles typically have eight vehicle-to-

vehicle conflict points. Traffic signals (CBD) typically have 32 vehicle-to-vehicle conflict points. However, the CBD environment is further differentiated from intersections in other CTMM areas in terms of the large number of pedestrians typically present, which significantly increases exposure rates. This study has found that an often-overlooked aspect in both national and international road safety studies is that pedestrian counts and other NMT modes are not assessed with motorised traffic counts. They are therefore are not a true reflection of exposure in terms of accident rates.

Conclusion and recommendations In addition to high pedestrian volumes, unpredictable driver and road-user behaviour exacerbates accident rates. Road safety screening methods account for the ‘hidden’ NMT traffic counts and specifically target high pedestrian volume locations. These include NMT corridors, schools, commuter nodes, and public transport routes. To work effectively, NMT master plans must be routinely updated. In addition, it is recommended that projects and performance scorecards specifically include measures such as the number of accidents and fatalities reduced annually, with a major emphasis on NMT and pedestrians. The linear regression equation and model developed through this study allows for the prediction of new or future observations of accident counts. However, the recommendations for future research would be to increase the sample size specifically for traffic circles and traffic signals (CBD) in order to develop significant regression models for these intersection control types. Precision modelling helps to ensure that scarce municipal funds are allocated to high benefit/cost projects to achieve greater reductions in road accidents. Managing road safety then becomes objective rather than reactive. *Arvin Sarjoo is an engineering consultant for the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and Professor Dhiren Allopi is a director at the Department of Civil Engineering at Durban University of Technology.

FIGURE 1 Typical intersection conflict points (Arizona State University, 2019)

IMIESA July 2020

This is an edited version of a technical paper. Readers can request the full paper, including references, by contacting the authors at arvins@tshwane.gov.za.

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Creating Concrete Possibilities

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GREAT ROADS START HERE

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Resins to the rescue Left unattended, foundation failures eventually undermine their suppor ting structures, whether it’s a bridge, a building or a concrete slab. Traditionally, demolition and reconstruction were among the remediation options available. However, the latest geopolymer resin technologies offer a far more viable, non-disruptive alternative, says Tony Pappalardo, director, URETEK Geo-systems SA.

ater ingress is one of the main causes of undermining in any structure, whether it be a gradual penetration of the underlying soils or a sudden event. The latter was the case for the new Chuma Mall in Dieplsoot, Gauteng. Just as it was nearing completion in November 2019, the first storm of the season caught the contractors unprepared. Some 30 mm of rain fell in just 20 minutes, with the bulk of the run-off accumulating between the north-east corner of the building and a retaining wall. Subsequently, water infiltration caused the main corner concrete column at the Chuma Mall to settle by 60 mm, affecting seven additional columns, 25 m of strip footings, 1

as well as some 200 m2 of internal floor slabs. DCP (dynamic cone penetrometer) tests revealed that the layer works between the strip footing and the retaining wall were compromised to a depth of 4 m. After considering their options, which included the possibility of extensive rebuilding, the client’s technical team decided to appoint URETEK Geo-systems SA to employ its revolutionary non-disruptive approach to complete the necessary ground support interventions. Remarkably, the columns, foundations and slabs were successfully resupported and relevelled in five days, ensuring that the contractor could meet the handover date. “This result seems amazing, and it is. URETEK’s pioneering solution increases the load-bearing capacity of the subsoil and

is a revolutionary technology that involves injecting the ground with structural resins to achieve permanent consolidation of the foundation soil below any concrete built structure,” Pappalardo explains, adding that different types of URETEK-patented resin are specified, depending on each project requirement. URETEK Geo-systems SA is a licensed partner of the URETEK network – spanning some 70 countries worldwide.

Deep injection and slab lifting For the Chuma Mall project, the two URETEK methodologies employed were deep injection and slab lifting. The resins are injected via tubes inserted to predetermined depths through 14 mm diameter holes spaced in a grid pattern. As it expands, the resin immediately starts to improve the

MAYDON WHARF WAREHOUSE FLOOR REINSTATEMENT 1 Resin injection operations in progress, with the rising concrete slab level being verified by continuous laser measurement 2 Resin being extruded to the surface through one of the drilled holes as the floor nears its original level KHWEZELA COLLIERY 3 A side view of the dragline service pads 4 Drilling into the pad

IMIESA July 2020

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING soil’s geomechanical properties, increasing the shear resistance by compacting the soils and filling in any macroscopic spaces present. Expansion is greater in the direction in which the resin encounters the least resistance, which is where the foundation soil is the weakest. Hence, the weakest soil layers are compacted first. Soil bearing capacity improvements of 200% to 300% are common. At Chuma Mall, a series of holes were drilled between the retaining wall and the strip footing. Each hole contained three injection tubes of varying lengths to evenly increase the bearing capacity of the fill material between the building and the retaining wall to a depth of 4 m. During the slab lifting stage, 14 mm diameter holes were drilled in a grid pattern to cover the 200 m2 of subsided surface. Resin was injected into 300 mm of the layer directly below the concrete, returning the slab to its original level. “When traditional methods and piling are not suitable, URETEK is often the most cost-effective, least invasive and fastest remediation solution,” Pappalardo continues. Water sealing is another key service URETEK offers to prevent soil settlements and ground erosion.

Khwezela Colliery Remediating dragline service pads truly underscores the success of URETEK’s proprietary technologies. Draglines are enormous excavation machines weighing thousands of tonnes, so the pads they rest on need to be very well founded, given the point loadings they’re subjected to. “If our methods work here, then they can work anywhere and for any ground support application,” Pappalardo points out. A recent example is URETEK’s project for Anglo American’s Khwezela Colliery in eMalahleni (Witbank). Hit by 2019’s unusually monsoon-like rainfall patterns, the site’s dragline service pads suffered severe settlement. The structure comprises two thick concrete pads, each measuring 40 m x 1.5 m x 0.8 m in height. A crack developed in one of the pads and it started to sink. “DCP tests revealed that the bearing capacity of the first metre of soil below the two pads was insufficient to carry the 3 600 tonne dragline,” he explains. “A further weak layer was also found at -3.5 m, having been compromised by water.” The option of removing and replacing the two concrete pads and ground works to a depth of 4 m proved to be too time-consuming and

At Chuma Mall, a series of holes were drilled between the retaining wall and the strip footing ahead of the resin injection process

price-prohibitive. The delay to the dragline operations would be too costly. Mobilising on-site, URETEK’s team drilled a series of 14 mm holes diagonally along the external face of the pads. Injection tubes of varying lengths were then inserted to evenly treat the weak soils under the 1.5 m width of the pads. The structural geopolymer injected increased the bearing capacity of the weak top 1 m layer. In addition, injections at -3 m stabilised the weak layer identified at this depth. “Expansion forces of up to 30 000 kPa can be achieved, depending on the requirements,” says Pappalardo. “The resin injections continue until the overlying structure begins to lift, as verified by continuous laser monitoring. This confirms the point at which the load bearing achieved at the treated point is now considerably greater than the static load.” The entire procedure at Khwezela Colliery was successfully completed in three days.

Maydon Wharf storage warehouse Concrete slab settlement is a common occurrence, whether it’s an airport apron or a warehouse floor. When the construction occurs on reclaimed land, factoring in the ground conditions can be especially challenging. This was the case for a storage warehouse floor at the Maydon Warf Port Terminal in Durban. The facility makes use of a high-density mobile racking system, which is electrically operated and runs on rails embedded in the concrete. The 2 600 m2 concrete warehouse floor is built on reclaimed land that, over the years, has developed problematic settlement issues. In the past, these problems were remedied by casting a new concrete floor over the existing one. However, the settlement

continued by some 60 mm and the operation and safety of the mobile racking system became compromised. Conventional options included the installation of additional piling or the construction of a new concrete floor slab. The latter would have been around 30% cheaper than the piling solution. However, the reinstatement of the embedded railing system would have caused further delays. In the end, going either route was ruled out from time and cost perspectives. URETEK’s repair solution was completed in around seven days via the application of its slab lifting and deep injection technologies. Demonstrating the precision of these operations, the 2 600 m2 floor was returned to its original level within a 3 mm tolerance. The above case studies showcase the fact that there’s always a solution and, to date, the URETEK Group has introduced more than 30 resins to meet varying project and soil parameters. “In the last 30 years or so, Group licensees have successfully executed more than 200 000 projects and we’ve certainly made our own unique contribution as the South African arm. Locally, URETEK technologies are rapidly becoming the mainstream choice in geotechnical engineering and ground support,” Pappalardo concludes.

www.uretek.co.za

IMIESA July 2020

WATER & WASTEWATER

Leveraging our water infrastructure South Africa is facing a water and sanitation infrastructure backlog of R900 billion. Danielle Petterson talks to Benoît Le Roy, CEO of the South African Water Chamber, about leveraging our existing infrastructure.

he National Water and Sanitation Master Plan (NW&SMP) paints a grim picture of South Africa’s water and sanitation infrastructure, citing insufficient infrastructure maintenance and investment as a contributing cause. According to the master plan, approximately 56% of municipal wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) and approximately 44% of water treatment works in the country are in

IMIESA July 2020

a poor or critical condition and in need of urgent rehabilitation and skilled operators. Le Roy points out that – with the exception of a few cases, such as the much-publicised Emfuleni sewage crisis – most of South Africa’s infrastructure is still operational and salvageable through maintenance and refurbishment. If this can be achieved, South Africa can leverage its existing infrastructure to ensure delivery of water and sanitation services at a fraction of the price of replacing that infrastructure.

Reduce, reuse, augment “There is a lot we can do without installing new infrastructure. As a country, we like to install new and forget about the old, but we need to follow the three key themes in the NW&SMP: reduce wastage, reuse water, and augment our supply,” says Le Roy. South Africa’s non-revenue water (NRW) average sits at 41%. Of this, 35% is lost through leakage. Shockingly, municipalities lose about 1 660 million m³ per year through NRW. At a unit cost of R6/m³, this amounts to R9.9 billion each year. While NRW is a global problem, it is particularly high in South Africa. Currently,

the best megacity in the world, Tokyo, boasts only 2% NRW. The standard for most European cities is somewhere between 20% and 25%. Locally, the City of Cape Town boasted an NRW figure of just 15% pre-drought. In South Africa, Cape Town has been the only city strongly driving NRW reduction, largely through pressure management. Using Cape Town as an example, Le Roy believes that South Africa can realistically reduce NRW to around 25% in the short term, working towards a target of 15% in the long term. “To replace our networks will take about two decades, and there are very few cities in the world who can afford to do that. Instead, we can measure demand and supply, manage pressure and use machine learning as we replace the more vulnerable infrastructure,” he says. While driving NRW reduction is difficult from a purely economic point of view, reuse is a very bankable option. South Africa has been practising indirect reuse for decades. However, the potential for direct reuse is vast and can largely be achieved with existing infrastructure. With direct reuse, no additional transmission and distribution

WATER & WASTEWATER

DID YOU KNOW? South Africa’s non-revenue water (NRW) average sits at 41%. Of this, 35% is lost through leakage. Shockingly, municipalities lose about 1 660 million m³ per year through NRW. At a unit cost of R6/m³, this amounts to R9.9 billion each year.

infrastructure is required. According to Le Roy, this represents the low-hanging fruit, especially since the technology is mature and already in use in places. Then comes augmentation. With our freshwater supplies largely exhausted, he argues for desalination. Although this is not a popular option in South Africa, Le Roy believes that if implemented at a large scale, desalination is feasible, which has been proven in Australia. Technological developments, driven by renewable energy and improvements in membranes, are driving down the costs.

The price of water While many sector professionals argue that water in South Africa is too cheap, Le Roy argues the opposite. “We are paying for our leaks. You could argue that the price of water is inflated by 35% to 41%. If you halve the losses in the system, the price of water should come down 20% to 30%. And that’s just driving one aspect of the distribution network’s inefficiencies,” he says.

According to Le Roy, South Africa’s price of water, not adjusted in terms of GDP per capita, is the same as Central Europe, which he considers very high. “We cannot attract industrial activity in our country with high water and electricity prices. “We have built inefficiencies into the whole water supply chain. We as the SA Water Chamber believe that we need to shift from cost plus pricing to zero-based costing – and the custodian of that should be an independent water regulator.”

Governance and accountability The SA Water Chamber has been calling for the establishment of an independent water regulator for some time. Currently, the Depar tment of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation is the regulator of the sector, custodian of our water resources, operator of bulk water facilities, and owner of the water boards. “You can’t be referee and player – it is not effective,” stresses Le Roy. He believes there is a lack of accountability in the sector. “An independent water

regulator wouldn’t be the silver bullet, but it would go a long way to putting the various stakeholders into silos and making them responsible. And this cannot take years to implement or we’ll be in trouble,” he says. Le Roy believes that an independent regulator will serve as a good tool for introducing governance so that we can leverage our existing infrastructure, bolt on new solutions and commercialise – not privatise – the water sector. This commercialisation means attracting private funding and reducing the burden on municipalities by allowing private companies to manage, operate and maintain our water infrastructure under contract. If the private sector doesn’t invest, our infrastructure will collapse completely, says Le Roy. But private sector involvement requires policy, contracting and regulatory certainty, which should all be driven by an independent regulator. The SA Water Chamber has engaged widely with government around the establishment of an independent regulator, which would act similarly to Nersa. Salga has bought into the concept, and Le Roy reports that national government has been receptive. However, getting the various stakeholders across departments aligned is a challenge. “There is a willingness, which is really encouraging. I believe there is a lot of hope, but we need to persevere and push hard,” he says. Le Roy believes the way forward is for the public and private sectors to continue to engage and collaborate at an accelerated rate. While the Covid-19 pandemic has diverted some resources away from these issues, it has put water at the forefront and highlighted the inadequacies. “People are starting to understand that our water and sanitation is in a very bad state and we have no choice but to fix it. We need to get going.”

IMIESA July 2020

WATER & WASTEWATER

Water architects of our own destiny In striving for a better world driven by innovation, engineers and scientists often neglect the human side of the equation. That has the potential to derail the best infrastructure initiatives. Rowena Hay, managing director, Umvoto Africa, shares her thoughts and experiences with reference to the company’s Cape Flats Aquifer (CFA) and allied projects. By Alastair Currie

ithin the developing world, poverty is an endemic issue that erodes hope and fragments communities, often with destructive results. South Africa is no exception, but the challenges become even more complex here because of our pre- and post-1994 experience. “Poorer communities tend to feel marginalised – that the solutions scientists and engineers deliver are prescriptive rather than participative,” says Hay. “This marginalisation makes it much more difficult to get buy-in if life is a day-to-day fight for survival. This observation has been highlighted time and again during our hydrogeology work for the City of Cape Town (CoCT), and particularly on the CFA project.” Identified as a major groundwater source in the 1970s, the CFA was only intermittently explored and monitored over the ensuing decades. That changed in 2018 when Cape Town initiated its Day Zero emergency programme in response to an unprecedented Taking a fresh perspective, Anni Snyman, a passionate land artist, presented a unique way to reimagine the Cape Flats Aquifer. The GIS grid lines suggested various imaginary forms, incorporating the central figure of a woman holding a ladle ready to dip into the waters of False Bay

IMIESA July 2020

drought. Verifying and preserving groundwater resources became a priority, and with it the need to manage environmental impacts and consumption behaviour. Umvoto’s project scope for the CFA began in 2017 when the company was appointed by the CoCT to investigate the development of the aquifer as an emergency storage resource. An allied project entailed the upgrading and refurbishment of the Atlantis well field as well as paced development of the Table Mountain Group Aquifer. All are ongoing. The CFA project includes detailed mapping of the aquifer’s extent and properties, the establishment and maintenance of a monitoring programme, plus the design and implementation of a scheme that includes both managed aquifer recharge and abstraction. Atlantis, in turn, has been restored to full operation and is being monitored and managed along similar lines. Extending below the city’s low-lying eastern suburbs, formal and informal townships, the CFA is fed by stormwater inflows that have occurred for many decades. As with

GIS mapping of six key zones within the Cape Flats Aquifer system. This initiated a discussion on aquifer protection zones, which have been further detailed according to contaminant transport pathways, life expectancy of contaminants and their characteristics, as well as likely resident times. This and the subsequent art rendered graphic can be used to illustrate the complex space and time relationships between human activities and groundwater flow regime and quality in a visually accessible and digestible manner for the layman. Insight inspires positive behaviours and possibility

most cities worldwide, some natural streams have been channelled to make way for urban development, generally as stormwater drains, treated wastewater outflows or irrigation canals – all of which influence the downstream quality and quantity of the groundwater.

Great Lotus Canal Within the CFA region, the Great Lotus Canal (GLC) is a dominant arterial. It was originally designed to channel stormwater from the

WATER & WASTEWATER

ABOUT UMVOTO AFRICA Established in 1992, Umvoto Africa is internationally recognised and has one of the largest groundwater specialty teams in Southern Africa. The company also operates within the fields of integrated water resource management, disaster risk reduction (DRR), geo-risk assessment and prevention, geoinformatics, and remote sensing.

site of today’s Cape Town International Airport, developed in the 1950s. Today, the GLC flows through formal and informal settlements. Formal settlements include Nyanga and Gugulethu. Urbanisation and rapidly intensifying human settlement invariably result in an increasing demand on the overall potable water available for consumption. Unfortunately, there’s frequently a corresponding rise in pollution levels, especially when it comes to informal communities. This has had negative downstream impacts for the GLC in terms of plastic and allied litter, and faecal waste. Given the GLC zone’s strategic contribution to the water cycle, it was identified for urgent intervention. The goal is to restore a healthy surface-water environment and protect a substantial sector of the underlying CFA from toxic pollutants of industrial and domestic origin. To achieve this requires ongoing community liaison and education.

Outreach challenge Umvoto’s early experimentation with community engagement began in 2002 during a groundwater project in Hermanus, Western Cape. “At the time, we felt that the environmental impact assessment process was too focused on a regulatory ‘tick box’ approach. It did not factor in human beings,” says Hay. A graphic from The Water Catcher animated film funded by Umvoto Africa as part of its transformative art outreach programme on the Cape Flats

“On our own initiative, we started an environmental monitoring group, which was very successful. Rather than confrontation, we achieved participation. We gave the community the knowledge to say yes, rather than the uninformed power to say no,” she continues. “Today, a monitoring committee is a standard requirement for water-use licence applications, but it wasn’t then.” While a similar methodology was needed, the extreme poverty and crime prevalent across the Cape Flats called for a different approach, which Umvoto coined the Great Lotus Canal Challenge. “If you change the conversation, you open up new worlds of possibility, and to achieve this we made transformative art the core of our outreach initiative,” says Hay.

The encroachment of informal settlements has exacerbated the chronic challenge of plastic and other solid pollution as well as untreated human waste, turning parts of the Great Lotus Canal – which was designed as a stormwater system – into an open sewer, even when there has been no rainfall

Transformative art South African artist Anni Snyman, from Site_Specific Collective, is Umvoto’s instrumental partner in changing hearts and minds. A land art specialist, Snyman encapsulates the end goal perfectly, “We can’t live without water, and we can’t thrive without beauty.” Umvoto Africa has mapped out six Collaborative Zones within the CFA footprint for the rollout of its community outreach programmes, working with Site_Specific Collective and allied partners. The Great Lotus Canal Challenge is the first in a series of transformative art projects planned across the Cape Flats. It inspired the creation of an animated short film entitled The Water Catcher. Adds Hay: “Art is a great equaliser – a medium of expression unconstrained by so-called expert knowledge. And if you truly want to effect permanent behaviour change, you need to capture people’s imagination and empower them with knowledge. If you can see a vision of yourself in the future, it builds optimism and hope. “From our collective teachings, that translates into an understanding and appreciation of the full water cycle, rather than just the scientific or infrastructure elements. The vandalism we’ve seen at certain borehole installations is a prime example of a knowledge disconnect – of hope that has been eroded,” she expands. The other Great Lotus Canal Challenge partners were Communitree, an organisation that specialises in urban greening to support local biodiversity and community empowerment, and the Edith Stephens Wetland Park. The challenge entailed the clean-up of a section of the canal, fence art to create public awareness and community pride, environmental stewardship training, and plant-growing workshops. Umvoto covered the cost of the one-week stewardship course, which teaches community

members about water, hydrology, biodiversity and conservation. The course was successful and Umvoto believes that similar programmes should become standard for public-sectorfunded projects. Working with its strategic partners, Umvoto plans to start on the next phase of its CFA transformational art and environmental stewardship initiatives as soon as new funding becomes available.

Lessons from Day Zero In the end, the rains came and fortunately Day Zero didn’t happen. What did happen was a remarkable change in water use behaviour and a real appreciation for this finite resource. The hard interventions only worked because of the ‘soft’ ones, particularly the community engagement forums. Within Umvoto’s specialist field, it is called social hydrogeology. In the past two and a half years, Umvoto’s contracting teams have drilled over 200 boreholes on the Cape Flats. The imminent threat of Day Zero back in 2017 meant that development and exploration had to take place simultaneously. “Things have stabilised since then, but Day Zero has taught us the dangers of complacency and the need for conservation. It has also exposed the stark realities of communities left without a sense of purpose or direction. We can only win if we work together as a society,” Hay concludes.

www.umvoto.com

IMIESA July 2020

DAMS & RESERVOIRS

Constructing a joint-free concrete reservoir Keeping concrete reservoirs watertight requires a new approach to design and build methodologies, a prime example being eThekwini Water & Sanitation’s Emoyeni project in Hillcrest. Kendall Slater, principal civil engineer at Knight Piésold (KP), presents the case for a new benchmark in reservoir design and construction. By Alastair Currie

ivided into two phases, the completed 25 Mℓ Emoyeni reser voir will be located on the site of an existing potable water storage facility that was demolished in Phase II to make way for the second of two new compartments. The old reservoir had a traditional circular shape, while the new one makes provision for two 12.5 Mℓ reservoir compartments forming a single rectangular footprint to fit within the confined space available.

IMIESA July 2020

The total dimensions for the entire reservoir are 100 m x 34 m x 7.5 m high. The two compartments each measure 50 m x 34 m. Included in the project scope are the inlet and outlet pipework and associated valve chambers. “Like the older reservoir, the client’s design brief was to construct the new one as a reinforced concrete structure,” explains Slater, who is the client’s engineer for the project. “While these are common across South Africa, their Achilles’ heel

Kendall Slater, principal civil engineer, Knight Piésold

is that the widespread use of expansion joints has traditionally made them prone to leaks.” Making provision for expansion joints inevitably results in discontinuity in the cast concrete. Traditionally, designers made provision for this by specifying the installation of rubberised water stops across each joint, as well as the installation of HDPE membrane liners. However, in many cases, leaks still occur because water stops often become misaligned when

DAMS & RESERVOIRS

casting the adjacent concrete panels. As the membrane liner deteriorates, and the seals around joints fail, water loss is inevitable. That requires ongoing maintenance and the loss of precious potable water. “As a consulting firm, we have over nine decades of experience in the design and construction management of dams and reservoirs, including operations and maintenance,” Slater explains. “That motivated KP to present an alternative proposal that excluded the use of expansion joints and waterstops, which was accepted by eThekwini Municipality.”

Extra reinforcing The decision was taken to eliminate expansion joints completely. This is believed to be the first time this has been done on a reinforced concrete reservoir for eThekwini Municipality. As Slater points out, going joint-free required more extensive steel reinforcing compared to conventional designs, but the result will be far more enduring and sustainable. During the construction of the first 12.5 Mℓ chamber of KP’s design, innovative construction techniques enabled the contractor to form the 8 m lift for the walls in one pour, thereby improving efficiencies. The norm for traditional concrete reservoir designs is to restrict single pours to no more than about 4 m. Additionally, special vibrating shutters were specified and tremie pipes were used to make sure the concrete didn’t segregate. The uniformity of the concrete was perfect and, since commissioning in October 2019, Chamber One has exhibited zero leaks. “One of the main reasons we built the new reservoir in two halves was that we had to commission the first chamber before we could start demolishing the existing reservoir,” Slater continues. “Furthermore, the two compartments enable the client to undertake maintenance and inspections on a chamber without disrupting supply to the reticulation.”

The current estimated construction value for both phases is R60 million, with final commissioning scheduled for October 2020. The upgraded reservoir will cater for the area’s water requirements until 2040.

A restricted site In the original scope, the client had requested a design proposal for a 30 Mℓ reservoir. One of the key factors stacked against this was the limited space available, plus the need to accommodate the surrounding property owners. At certain points, the new reservoir is only some 2 m away from the boundary fence. A laterally supported vertical excavation design was accepted as the best approach, with the new reservoir some 4 m below and 4 m above ground level. “When you design a reservoir, you design it for 48 hours of storage, so we needed to verify whether a 25 Mℓ facility would be fit for purpose,” says Slater. “Using a computer simulation model, we analysed the entire reticulation network, making provision for current and future peak demands. The data confirmed that a 25 Mℓ facility would meet the requirements. It also enabled us to build both compartments without getting too close to the boundaries.”

The village of Hillcrest has a relatively flat topography and this was taken into account during the study. “Even though there wasn’t a lot of elevation to work with, one of our goals was to minimise pumping costs. We achieved this by eradicating low-pressure zones and by altering the supply network,” he explains. “The main line feeding the new reservoir is now the Western Aqueduct pipeline coming from Pietermaritzburg. It also feeds designated water towers within the high-level zones.” Once fully commissioned, the two compartments of the Emoyeni reservoir will be interconnected via their outlet pipes, enabling balanced water storage capacity. However, each can be filled separately via their inlets or drained separately via their outlets. This will enable one chamber to continue functioning while the other is empty when future inspections or maintenance are required. “Non-revenue water losses are a key issue for utilities nationally, compounded by the rising cost of potable water purification, its transfer and delivery. Emoyeni’s design is meant to be futureproof and to ensure that all of the water stored reaches its end users,” Slater concludes.

IMIESA July 2020

DAMS & RESERVOIRS

Fast-tracking bulk water delivery Tango’s Consultants has helped devise a unique means of accelerating the completion of two new reservoirs in the City of Ekurhuleni. The method also ensures a high-quality final structure and provides construction cost savings.

he structures for the reservoirs are being prefabricated in a controlled factory setting far removed from the many variables encountered on a traditional construction site. This passes on savings in terms of formwork and staging, in addition to reinforcement bar and concrete. Guaranteed precision by the manufacturer and installer of the system has also eliminated the risk of wastage due to errors on-site. The precast concrete reservoir systems are being manufactured and erected by

The ring-beam supports the wall panels and is being built by an emerging contractor who is also being trained by the principal contractor and Corestruc

IMIESA July 2020

The centre portion of the roof structure is constructed first and the wall as well as the floor slab are constructed next

Corestruc as the specialist subcontractor, working alongside principal builders Anita Building and Selby Construction, for the Pam Brink and Selcourt projects, respectively. The works form part of the Ekurhuleni Water and Sanitation Department’s strategy to significantly strengthen water supply to these rapidly developing areas. The new 30 Mℓ reservoir in Selcourt will bolster the existing 11.4 Mℓ of water storage capacity and sustain new and planned large developments, including a megacity in the larger Springs area. In Pam Brink, a 25 Mℓ structure is being constructed to strengthen available supply from a 11.4 Mℓ reservoir. Existing bulk and distribution water infrastructure in this expanding area of Ekurhuleni has also come under extreme pressure over the years.

Both projects are 18 months in duration, with the reservoir in Selcourt due for completion by the end of this year, and the other in Pam Brink by the beginning of 2021, despite the Covid-19 lockdown and other extenuating circumstances that halted operations for periods. Certainly, this bears testament to the ability of the unique system to significantly accelerate the construction of reservoirs, which are notoriously complex and timeconsuming to build. Up to five months have been shaved off the works programme by enabling the construction of the floor, walls and roof simultaneously. Using conventional construction methods, only two trades would have overlapped. These include the construction of the wall, a complicated undertaking that demands

DAMS & RESERVOIRS

The precast concrete system has enabled the professional team to significantly fast-track construction

absolute precision to ensure water-tightness. This slow and meticulous process is followed by the construction of the roof, which entails erecting and installing tonnes of scaffolding and formwork inside the structure.

Local innovation and design excellence Andrew Singosho, structural engineer, Tango’s Consultants, has worked with Corestruc on another reservoir project for the Water and Sanitation Department, and introduced his consulting engineering firm to the modular reservoir system. Singosho was also responsible for adapting the design to these two projects, which initially incorporated in situ construction techniques that possibly would have delayed delivery of the infrastructure. “In reviewing its design to ensure that it was structurally sound, I was impressed by the extent of local innovation that has gone into the system and believe that there is potential for wider deployment of the technology in the country. This is considering the need to significantly accelerate the roll-out of water infrastructure in South Africa, especially in outlying areas that are not adequately serviced by readymix operations. Transporting readymix over long distances and poor road infrastructure in these areas is a significant risk, while batching concrete on-site requires strict quality control measures that would possibly delay projects,” Singosho says.

Assembly and sealing Corestruc’s system comprises prefabricated wall panels and buttresses that are used to reinforce the structure and, notably, uses both vertical and horizontal tensioning to resist applied forces.

The structure is sealed using a special grout that has been designed to reach a compressive strength of 100 MPa within four days and further react when it comes into contact with water, when the reservoir is being filled. It is pumped through temporary shutters around the circumference of the reservoir in a controlled manner after the installation of kilometres of post-tensioning ducts and cables. Meanwhile, the roof of the reservoir comprises precast concrete columns, beams and hollow-core slabs, which are stitched together to create a single monolithic structure. At both construction sites, the centre portion of the precast concrete roof was completed first to enable the main contractors to start constructing the ring beam that supports the wall panels. The roof will be completed once the walls have been constructed as part of the final phases of the projects, while work on the floor slab will proceed during the installation of the walls. These precast concrete elements are dispatched to site from the factory on a just-intime basis. They are lifted and placed directly from the truck trailers using a mobile crane as they arrive, with the first panel supported by props that are removed once it has set, to enable the remaining slabs to be placed against the other to complete the wall. By mitigating the use of propping, Corestruc ensures that it frees up space to enable work to continue unhindered. As is the case with the roof of the structure, state-of-the-art survey equipment is used to precisely install each panel, maintaining tolerances of about 5 mm throughout the process. The holes at the bottom of the wall panels perfectly align with the bolts grouted into the ring beam, as well as the steel plates at the top with the voids in the adjacent slabs. At the same time, the voids that traverse the full width of the panels through which the posttensioning strands are threaded also align.

Each precast concrete element has a compressive strength of up to 70 MPa and is accompanied by its own technical drawing and documentation. This includes detailed specifications and a thorough account of the pre- and post-inspections before being dispatched to the construction sites. Certainly, the high quality levels achievable in a factory setting were also a major selling point for Corestruc. Representatives of Tango’s Consultants also visited one of the company’s factories and completed reservoirs in Mpumalanga to witness for themselves the high quality of the company’s workmanship.

Labour-based construction elements Despite the extensive use of prefabricated concrete on these two projects, the professional team has been able to meet all its socio-economic targets on these Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) projects. “While the specialist work has been outsourced to Corestruc, there has been ample opportunity to deploy labour-based construction methods to create employment opportunities for members of surrounding communities. This includes the earthworks, as well as the construction of the ring-beam and in situ concrete floor slab and column footings. These are complemented by the employment prospects created at Corestruc’s factory. Notably, they are long term in nature and provide greater opportunity for skills development in the construction sector than is possible under the EPWP,” says Kadiebwe Mulunda, civil engineer, Tango’s Consultants. As the system continues to gain traction in the country, Mulunda adds that more sustainable and skilled jobs will be created in these factories, while there is also significant potential to train emerging contractors to install the system on smaller reservoir projects. This is in line with government’s SMME development policies in the construction sector. Willie de Jager, managing director of Corestruc, concludes that he is proud of his company’s involvement with Tango’s Consultants, which is known for the high quality of its engineering services.

www.corestruc.co.za

IMIESA July 2020

11 - 13 May 2021, CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

THE LEADING EXPO AND CONFERENCE CONNECTING THE AFRICAN POWER, ENERGY AND WATER VALUE CHAIN

10 000+

80+

visitors

countries

360+

350+

exhibitors

speakers

DAMS & RESERVOIRS

COST-EFFECTIVE RESERVOIR REHABILITATION Aquatan has created a cost-effective and acclaimed remedy for large concrete reservoirs that have degraded – sometimes to the extent that they are no longer serviceable.

DURBAN HEIGHTS RESERVOIR

Durban Heights Reservoir is a unique, irregularly shaped concrete reservoir, constructed in 1971. By 1991, it had become necessary to install a geomembrane lining system to counter a serious leakage problem that was causing a daily water loss of some 300 kℓ, and to remedy the deterioration of the concrete and the erosion of the reservoir’s supporting earthworks. The engineers appointed Aquatan to install the HiDrain leakage detection system below the liner and waterproof the reservoir using Hyperliner – also a good choice, as the lining addressed all the challenges facing them. And, the Hyperliner is still fully functional 28 years later.

PARKTOWN RESERVOIR

The 45.5 Mℓ Johannesburg Water reservoir was constructed in 1954 and is situated below ground level. Aquatan was commissioned to install the lining in 2014 because it was leaking to the extent that neighbouring downstream buildings were affected. Aquatan lined the reservoir with proprietary, formulated, blue, acidresistant and potable-water-approved Hyperliner. The picture shows a number of the 295 columns and 82 wall support buttresses in the reservoir: some that had been cleaned and prepared ready for receiving the Hyperliner, and others already lined.

quatan’s proprietary ethylene-vinyl acetate, known as Hyperliner, can accommodate an enormous amount of movement when compared to other mostly semicrystalline geomembranes. Its proven, superior functionalities – such as flexibility, drapeability, tensile properties, elongation before yield, the absence of stress cracking and, most of all, durability – make it perfect for waterproofing existing reservoirs. The 2 mm Hyperliner is guaranteed by Aquatan for 20 years, and the 1.5 mm liner for 15 years. The experienced life expectancy of 1.5 mm Hyperliner is at least 27 years. This predicts that 2.0 mm Hyperliner life expectancy will likely exceed 40 years. To date, Aquatan has rehabilitated more than 40 concrete reservoirs in this manner in South Africa and its neighbouring countries, and has never had any failures. Additionally, Aquatan is the only geomembrane installation contractor in Africa accredited by the International Association of Geomembrane Installers (IAGI) as an Approved Installation Contractor (AIC).

DR JS MOROKA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY RESERVOIRS

The eight reservoirs, ranging between 500 kℓ and 16 Mℓ, which are situated within the Dr JS Moroka Local Municipal area in Mpumalanga, represent the best possible application of resources. Overhauling the reservoirs rather than building new ones delivered dams with a 15-year lifespan at a 40% cost saving. This fits with government’s desire to deliver additional water resources to South Africa’s people in the most costeffective way possible.

WATERVAL RESERVOIR

Rand Water’s Waterval Reservoir in Roodepoort, Gauteng, was constructed in 1954 but was decommissioned in 2001 because it had developed large cracks, was leaking excessively and was causing concerns regarding its structural integrity. Aquatan lined the walls, floor and columns of the entire reservoir with its 2 mm Hyperliner geomembrane. This lining material was specifically suited for this project because of its elasticity, flexibility, ability to conform to complicated shapes, and excellent puncture and tear resistance.

IMIESA July 2020

Edisan™ & Swift™

Overview Edisan™ presents an innovative, integrated and simplified GIS-based approach to electrical network planning, whilst Swift™ performs GIS-based statistical analysis on utility billing data.

MODELS LIVE IN GIS The Edisan™ and Swift™ models are embedded in our own powerful Albion™ GIS platform. The power of GIS can now be applied to the engineering model, allowing the modeller to directly harness GIS tools when creating and editing datasets. Edisan™ presents a completely new, simplified approach to integrated network planning software where the electrical model is embedded inside a geographical information system.

Our software is designed by engineers for engineers. We aim to simplify the modelling process during every step and make the power of GIS available to the modeller.

Swift™ is the engineering interface between utility billing systems and GIS-based engineering models. It allows spatial analysis of utility treasury data including electricity consumptions, customer information, land use and zoning data, tariff analysis as well as the payment history per customer or per suburb. Swift™ allows the user to obtain accurate demands for modelling purposes and also reports non-revenue electricity, for the prioritisation of revenue enhancement interventions. Edisan™ and Swift™ both ensure productivity by providing the modeller with access to powerful modelling-, analysis- and planning tools, as well as customisable GIS-based themes and an extensive model reporting system. Interfacing Swift™ with Edisan™ allows the modeller to develop accurate demand models for electrical network modelling and planning purposes.

Key features of Edisan™ • Integrated electrical network modelling and planning tool • Simultaneously captures spatial and electrical network topology in a single model • Advanced spatial and electrical network based selection methods • Capable of creating very large systems • Consolidates several datasets into one master dataset • Master planning of electrical networks • Asset replacement prioritisation algorithms • Geospatial load modelling and forecasting using a customisable library of load profiles and ADMDs along with spatial correlation tools

Edisan™ model view with satellite background, Internal World and Street View

• Customisable load-growth curves for planning purposes • Vast library of electrical components • Detailed modelling of substations via Internal World • Ability to design and size LV network components • Distributed generation modelling • Steady state-, quasi-dynamic- and fault- simulations via onboard OpenDSS simulation engine • Herman-Beta method to cater for diversity in LV feeder voltage drop calculations • Export interface to DIgSILENT PowerFactory

Key features of Swift™ • Interfaces with Edisan™ • Electricity demand management initiatives • Energy consumption audits • Non-technical loss calculations

Simplified model building Edisan™ simplifies the process of model building from a wide range of sources including as-built drawings, CAD plans, GIS data sources, scanned images, schematic layouts, tabular spreadsheets or even hand drawings. Adding model elements with the minimum number of clicks has been at the forefront of the design to minimise repetitive tasks for the modeller. Customisable model element presets also simplify data capturing.

Interaction with web services Accessing Internet-based resources through web services, allows Edisan™ and Swift™ to display background maps from sources like Google™, Mapbox™ or OpenStreetMap™. In addition Street View is integrated in the software.

Data-handling Model database tables are dynamic, synchronised, fast and practically unlimited in size. This facilitates easy handling of large datasets, which is a key element in the data-centric focus of Edisan™ and Swift™.

GIS-themed views of data model

• Input to electricity master plans

A wide selection of predefined and customisable themes are available to render the model in GIS.

• Identification of faulty meter readings

Extensive model reporting system

• Energy balance calculations

The SQL-based reporting system provides access to predefined and customisable reports. Reports can be generated for the complete dataset or for user selections.

• Designing of electricity tariffs • Performing revenue enhancement

For more information, please contact us +27 21 880 0388, software@gls.co.za GLS Consulting 13 Elektron Street, Techno Park Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa www.glssoft.com

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

Plastic pipelines add value

Maintaining functional and efficient water and sewer networks requires an adherence to stringent design and product standards that extend the life of these vital assets. Alastair Currie asks leading industry experts to share some snapshots. How is SAPPMA/IFPA spearheading the change we need to see in public infrastructure? Ian Venter Through our well-balanced membership structure, we can add value to a wide variety of key pipe system performance areas. Differentiation is of great importance and will play a more prominent role going forward.

Ian Venter, technical manager, Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA), incorporating the Installation & Fabrication Plastic Pipe Association (IFPA)

IMIESA July 2020

Our national and international footprint and alliances position us well to offer guidance and assistance in the following areas: • system design • product design • standards • specifications • manufacturing

• quality management and control • handling and storage • installation and jointing • pre-commissioning testing • commissioning • maintenance and repairs. SAPPMA/IFPA selects its members through carefully controlled supplier evaluation. This is not a ‘one-size-fits-all process’. A degree of factory profiling and auditing needs to take place. In addition to product quality, ethics and a willingness to adhere to a code of conduct are just some of the criteria. This important initial supplier evaluation is part of a long-term partnership and supplier development programme. Ongoing manufacturer

Albert Vaartjes, global sales manager: RBlue PVC-O, Rollepaal

Government and other statutory bodies play a vital role in enabling and supporting development. This includes their regulatory responsibility to approve standards that are practical and cost-effective. In this respect, PVC, HDPE and equivalent pipe materials are long-lasting. Due to their relatively light weight compared to steel, GRP and concrete, plastic pipes are well suited to labour-intensive construction techniques. Unlike steel, there are no concerns about costly cathodic protection requirements.

Vollie Brink, consulting engineer

product and process audits ensure that quality is never compromised. We have developed a list of commonly required procedures, documents and process controls that can be assessed during our manufacturing process audit to achieve consistent and repeatable results. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital for specifiers when they order products for infrastructure projects. From a design and standards perspective, where is the industry falling short? Vollie Brink The objective of development is to uplift communities, which, in the South African context, means bridging poverty and inequality gaps. Water and sanitation infrastructure as well as housing are pressing priorities. Municipalities have a responsibility to adhere to engineering and product standards that deliver the best result. Embracing technology translates into more efficient construction processes and more durable structures.

Johann Wessels, consulting engineer

In terms of PVC pipe manufacturing, where is the R&D focus right now? Albert Vaartjes The key areas of focus are non-pressure systems (multilayer pipe) and pressure systems (PVCO pipe). Sustainability is of utmost importance and plays a key role in the conceptual approach. The ability to reuse postconsumer, recycled material in multilayered systems is also a priority to promote circular economies. Efficient water metering and the reduction of leaking pipes are another worldwide focus, with R&D departments developing more effective pressure and non-pressure pipe joints for their pipe components. All of this and more is achieved through effective design teams, modern, low-volume die-heads, automatic thermal centring, inline production systems, and continuous process improvements that deliver reliable pipe systems. This presents a viable alternative to traditional steel and GRP pipe systems, with all the added benefits of PVC pipe. The lower environmental impact of multilayer sewer PVC pipes also has the right properties to exceed design life. This has been achieved through innovative manufacturing processes that include effective foaming (foamed core with scrap) and by using filler and recyclates. When conventional solutions donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work anymore, what are the alternatives? Johann Wessels For the nonconventional construction of new pipelines, one can consider using pipe jacking, microtunnelling, auger boring, horizontal directional drilling, pipe ramming or impact molling as alternative trenchless techniques, rather than conventional open excavation. Further rehabilitation options include pipe bursting, slip lining, spirally wound lining, and cured-in-place pipe. These are all trenchless options that complement

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

Alaster Goyns, consulting engineer

conventional, open-cut methods to install new pipe. When should lining systems be installed on sewer pipelines? Alaster Goyns When water is extracted from natural resources, it is usually supplied in pipelines that flow full, under pressure and which are placed in shallow trenches. This means that most of the time it is just water being transported and the major stresses in the pipe walls are due to internal pressure. Wastewater is generally conveyed in pipelines that flow partly full, under gravity and frequently

placed in deep trenches. This means that water and air are being transported and the major stresses in the pipe walls are due to external loads. All pipelines are potentially subject to corrosion, which will depend upon the materials being used and what is being transported through the pipeline. Highpressure pipelines were traditionally steel. Effective ways of protecting them include coatings that can be bonded to the steel. Sewers 300 mm in diameter and larger were traditionally concrete. Under certain combinations of hydraulic performance and the effluent being conveyed, these sewers were subject to biogenic corrosion. This is due to the formation of hydrogen sulfide within the effluent and its subsequent release into the sewer atmosphere, where it is biologically converted into sulfuric acid. The latter then attacks the alkalinity of the concrete, causing its deterioration. Precautions need to be taken to prevent this. Examples include providing a control layer of more corrosionresistant concrete or an inert lining. Where precautions arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t taken, the corrosion attack can occur within a few decades, rendering the sewer structurally unsound and no longer watertight. However, if these problems

are timeously identified, the sewer can be rehabilitated at much less cost than replacement. Another point to note about sewers is that they are generally placed at depth and follow natural water courses, where they are subjected to external water pressures. This poses a problem for their rehabilitation, as concrete is permeable, although the rate is very slow. Unlike steel pipelines, where very thin coatings can be effectively bonded on to the host pipe to provide corrosion protection, this cannot be done on a concrete pipe. The bond between the coating and the host pipe is not strong enough to resist the external groundwater pressure. For this reason, the protective layer on either a new or rehabilitated pipe must be designed to withstand these conditions for their envisaged design life of 100 years or more. Conclusions As with all water and wastewater pipeline designs, the conclusion from the various speakers is that each application should be fit for purpose, with a major emphasis on minimising maintenance and a corresponding focus on optimising life-cycle costs. Within the mix, plastic pipes present a longlasting solution.

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

George Diliyannis Technical Service Leader Safripol

The power of POLYETHYLENE What are the benefits of HDPE pipes in terms of longevity and ease of maintenance and replacement? GD High-density polyethylene (HDPE) has an excellent design life when compared to the traditional alternatives, such as steel, ductile iron and concrete. HDPE pipes have a minimum design life of 50 years and can be designed to last for up to 100 years. HDPE pipes require virtually no maintenance and are corrosion resistant, unlike steel, for example, which requires an anti-corrosion wrapping or cathodic protection that must be maintained over the life of the pipeline. HDPE is also resistant to bacterial and microbial growth. Butt-welded and electrofusion joints are water tight, have the same strength as the pipeline, and are designed to share the same long life of 50-plus years of service. HDPE is also highly resistant to soil movement, which makes it excellent for use in dolomitic areas. How does HDPE measure up when it comes to sustainability and lifecycle costing? The life-cycle assessment of polyethylene is highly favourable and beats the traditional alternatives in many aspects, such as carbon footprint and environmental impact. First, it is more cost-effective to manufacture and transport HDPE pipes compared to steel and concrete. Second, HDPE pipes have a lower manufacturing carbon footprint than traditional materials and the energy required for conversion from resin into the final product is less than that required for steel. Additionally, the inner pipe surface of HDPE does not deteriorate in the same way as steel and concrete. This ensures that the pipe’s hydraulic capacity is maintained for its entire life cycle, typically without requiring additional maintenance costs. This is increasingly important as urban densification increases and higher volume demands are placed on existing water infrastructure.

Tell us about your iMPACT100® product. iMPACT100, Safripol’s flagship HDPE PE100 pipe resin, is produced with Hostalen bimodal technology and supported by international technology agreements with LyondellBasell Industries and Qenos. iMPACT100 exceeds the ISO and SANS 4427 standards for PE100 materials, with more than three times the required crack resistance. iMPACT100 is a premium material and,as a high molecular mass grade, offers good impact strength, abrasion, chemical and UV resistance. iMPACT100’s intrinsic properties – including resistance to cracking and longevity – make it suitable for potable water pressure mains, stormwater and sewerage pipes. Most notably, it is a locally manufactured, complies with global standards and comes with the benefit of the support and flexibility of a local company. Can you comment on the importance of being SANS 4427-1 certified? Our SANS 4427-1 certification, via the South African Bureau of Standards, gives our customers and end-users peace of mind in knowing that iMPACT100 meets and exceeds local and global standards for PE100 pipe materials. What are the opportunities for using recycled materials in plastic pipes? The current local and global ISO-based standards for pressure pipe applications do not permit the use of recycled material because the potential negative effects on pipe longevity are not currently known. However, opportunities do exist, via ISO and SABS standards, to use recycled material in non-pressure pipelines such as for stormwater drainage. What should engineers, specifiers and pipe manufacturers keep in mind when selecting a raw materials supplier? When selecting a supplier, you should look for a commitment to quality and

consistency, proof of conformance to relevant SANS and ISO standards, a good track record, as well as an ongoing commitment to the local market. Safripol has deep roots in South Africa, and we pride ourselves on bringing the very best technologies and products to the local market. As a local supplier of raw materials, Safripol offers many advantages to customers, including quicker access to product and technical support, reduced supply response times, as well as supporting local communities through job creation and various CSI initiatives. By pairing this with world-class products, we work to ensure that Safripol continues to shape your world responsibly.

www.safripol.com

IMIESA July 2020

Established in 1924

Steel Pipe for Water, Petrochemicals, Gas, Construction and Mining Hall Longmore ranks amongst the most reputable pipe manufacturers in the world. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world-class manufacturing facilities produce large-bore welded steel pipes for a variety of applications.

Electric Resistance Welded Steel Pipe Oil Country Tubular Goods Helical Submerged Arc Welded Pipe International Quality Standards International SpeciďŹ cation Coatings and Linings

+27 11 874 7300

info@hall-longmore.co.za www.hall-longmore.co.za

PIPES, PUMPS & VALVES

Kenny van Rooyen Managing Director Hall Longmore

The strength of steel Upgrading and maintaining pipelines is a key priority. Do you feel this is an area getting enough attention? KvR Maintenance is a key priority and should be done better. Having said that, I do believe that interference with pipeline infrastructure through theft and vandalism is difficult to control and does make proper maintenance very difficult. Applying new technologies might be a cost-effective way to address and improve current ageing pipeline infrastructure. Pipeline surveys using drone technology for example would open many new opportunities to assist in infrastructure monitoring assessment. I believe proper budget allocation and funding is a crucial building block that needs to be addressed. As a key focus, we could do more to keep existing infrastructure maintained and operational. What are the benefits of steel pipes in terms of longevity and ease of upgrade, maintenance and replacement? It is well known that South Africa is not blessed with an abundance of water and many areas critical to the future sustainability of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy

are situated a long way from natural water sources, particularly the Northern Cape, Limpopo and Gauteng. This means water will have to be transported vast distances to keep these mining and industrial hubs operational. Steel is infinitely adaptable, so you are able to match plate thicknesses and steel grades, enabling you to design specifically for the requirements. An established network of steel pipelaying specialists, inspection services, etc. gives the end-user a great deal of confidence in the installed product. How does steel measure up to alternatives like GRP, PVC and concrete when it comes to life-cycle costing? Steel pipeline infrastructure has a design life of 50-plus years. Correctly installed and maintained, steel pipelines still offer the lowest life-cycle cost available. The high-pressure bulk infrastructure pipelines installed in particular give credibility to this statement. Can you comment on the importance of coatings and linings for both internal and external protection? Coatings and linings do extend the life of

steel pipe infrastructure exponentially. The right product for the specific requirement is key in extending the life of steel pipe infrastructure. Potable water pipelines need accredited linings that are approved to ensure safe water for human consumption coupled with protecting the steel from corrosion. The external coating range needs to be selected based on the ground variables and other external variables to ensure optimal corrosion protection. Hall Longmore â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as the oldest supplier of steel pipes, linings and coatings in South Africa â&#x20AC;&#x201C; offers the widest range of coating and linings. We offer a full range of solutions to the consulting engineer, no matter what the challenges or variables are. What role do you see steel pipes playing as South Africa expands its pipeline infrastructure to unserved areas? South Africa and, in fact, Southern Africa as a region will be required to move massive volumes of water to sustain mining, industry, agriculture and an everincreasing domestic requirement. Steel is the only practical solution for these types of large-bore transfer pipelines.

IMIESA July 2020

DAMS & RESERVOIRS

Aquadam: saving water without breaking the bank

Aquadams for fish farming

A It’s not a thing of beauty, but it’s yours for life

If required, the Aquadam can be given a roof, while remaining lightweight – a 50 kg dam and 20 kg roof, including the counterweight and aluminium trusses

The ready-to-use Aquadam loaded on to a small truck, ready for delivery by long-standing Aquatan team member Sipho Ndaba

IMIESA July 2020

quadam is an ideal, ‘justadd-water’ instant dam, which folds in half to fit on to an LDV and can be moved as often as needed. Importantly, it does not need a concrete base. Simply level out the ground, remove sharp objects and place your self-standing dam. Aquadam’s salient features: • It is manufactured from durable highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) that is safe for drinking water. • Aquatan’s Hi-Driline (HDPE) is UVresistant and literally lasts a lifetime. • The dams, including the roofs, are premanufactured and lightweight: 50 kg dam and 20 kg roof (including the counter weight and support system). • They are easy to transport: one dam will fit on to an LDV, and three on a 6 m truck. • To reduce transport costs, one could put up to 20 Aquadams – in modular form – on one 6 m truck. The dams are then assembled on-site by an Aquatan professional technician. • The dam can be filled immediately after offloading. • Aquadams are supplied with inlets/ outlets or over flows positioned to meet your requirements. • One Aquadam can be handled by three persons. • Aquadam is a good example of thinking out of the box: a basic product that is cost-effective, durable and easy to handle.

A SMART CITY • A LIVEABLE CITY • AN ECONOMIC GATEWAY • THE INDUSTRIAL HEARTBEAT OF SOUTH AFRICA A partnership that works www.ekurhuleni.gov.za

INSIDE A city at work 40 Excellence is earned 41 Housing the people 43

Producing water reticulation hardware post Covid-19 47 Transport solutions that empower 49

Striving for sustainability in waste 44

Lighting up one of Africa’s greatest cities 50

Designing the best possible outcomes 45

Illuminating communities 52

EKURHULENI

A CITY AT WORK

Having heard the calls of the people of Ekurhuleni, Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina says the city has embarked of households connected to the on a pro-poor programme grid since the year 2000 to aimed at fast-tracking 93 000. In addition, nine mega housing projects are under way as and sustaining the city works towards the provision service delivery. of 100 000 housing units and 59 000

t the heart of Ekurhuleni’s propoor agenda is the Siyaqhuba Mayoral Outreach Programme, which Masina says has made a tremendous impact in fast-tracking service delivery within communities. “Our people mandated us to provide them with decent housing, proper access roads and quality services; they asked us to tackle corruption and expand healthcare services, among others. The people further appealed to us to, among others, ensure that we make informal settlements more liveable so that we restore human dignity,” Masina noted during his most recent State of the City Address. With this in mind, he highlighted that the city managed to record a 94.31% capex spending against the planned 95% target. The overall spending on grant funding was R2.067 billion. The city also achieved an unqualified audit with zero unauthorised, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and a substantial decrease in irregular expenditure.

Delivering services Over the past four years, the City of Ekurhuleni has connected 22 000 homes in informal settlements to the grid, bringing the total number

IMIESA July 2020

serviced stands. The city is also on track to address water security challenges through its Aqua-Leap Programme. This involves the simultaneous construction of 29 reservoirs and towers to the tune of R1.2 billion. One of these will be the biggest on the continent and among the biggest in the world. This infrastructure will add an additional 417 Mℓ of storage to the existing 954 Mℓ. Added to this, the city has reduced water losses from 34.3% in the 2017/18 period to 30.79%. Among the major roads projects completed across the city are 30 km of non-motorised transport, 27 km of newly constructed roads and the rehabilitation of 309 km of the existing road network. Furthermore, a total of 121 km was paved. Ekurhuleni has also introduced a bridge management system and a total of 198 bridges were assessed. Twelve bridges in need urgent attention have been identified. A number of catalytic roads projects have been lined up. Among these are the upgrading of the N12/Daveyton CBD interchange, which is expected to start soon, and the doubling of Barry Marais Road, expected to get under way in the current financial year. “We have a responsibility to provide an adequate and efficient public transport system. In this regard, four years ago we vowed to

Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina

fast-track the completion of the bus rapid [transit] system for ease of movement of our people between home and places of work,” said Masina. Since the launch of the system, roll-out has been accelerated, resulting in the construction of dedicated lanes, the purchasing of 40 buses, and nine median stations are expected to be completed soon.

Addressing spatial reform According to Masina, the city’s future spatial trajectory will ensure that historic challenges are aligned and budgeted for in realising a sustainable city. In this regard, the city will continue to implement its Municipal Spatial Development Framework. The city has unlocked 4 900 hectares of land for development and, through township regularisation, has realised over 95 000 stands to enable developments, specifically shops for local businesses. Advanced bulk investments in roads, sewer and water pipelines and substations to enable megaprojects and strategic urban developments are expected to see a return on investment of R1 billion in rates by 2021. This is will further increase as third parties take up spaces for developments, especially warehouses that service the Aerotropolis Precinct. Masina noted that the city’s plans focus on a commitment to build a local economy that grows in the hands of the people, and to develop communities economically, socially and culturally. “I cannot overemphasise the importance of all of us employing a great degree of urgency in the work that we are doing.”

EKURHULENI

Excellence is earned ASEDA Consulting Engineers is a professional consulting engineering and project management firm committed to making a positive difference within the built environment, both locally and further afield in Africa.

SEDA’s management team is driven by decades of experience, and a passion for excellence that builds communities and economies. This is governed by quality management systems that include ISO 9001:2000 accreditation. “We are committed to providing our clients with a high-quality service and to deliver designs and products that conform to customer requirements,” says Dennis Mathibe, director, ASEDA, whose specialisations include civil and structural engineering, project management and contracts administration. “We benchmark our efficiencies against worldclass engineering practices.”

on communities, whether it is a clinic, an affordable housing development, school sanitation, a rural road upgrade or a reservoir project,” he continues. The firm’s expertise in social engineering will prove invaluable during and in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. “The dedensification of informal settlements is a priority, as is the need to design and develop new spatial models that bridge major inequality gaps within South African society,” he adds.

Turnkey solutions

International projects

ASEDA’s core areas of expertise encompass: • civil engineering • transport and traffic engineering • township services and socio-economic development • architectural development • electrical and mechanical engineering • structural engineering • project management • quantity surveying. “Our client base includes both public and private sector clients. These range from state-owned enterprises to municipalities and private sector developers and investors,” says Kwaku Koranteng, director, ASEDA, whose key specialisations include roads, water and sanitation. “Within the mix, we’re especially proud of the positive impact our designs have had

South Africa’s engineering expertise is in demand across the African continent, ASEDA’s management team (L-R): Kwaku Koranteng, presenting excellent Thabo Msimanga and Dennis Mathibe opportunities for niche expansion. Current projects include work and traffic signage, the provision for nonin Ghana for Brightwater Property motorised transportation (in the form of Investments (BPI). sidewalks and cycle lanes), and pavement BPI was appointed by Ghana Airports structures. The brief further extends Company Limited in April 2019 to facilitate to include designs for stormwater, bridge the development of Airport City II near Kotoka and culvert systems, water reticulation and International Airport in Accra. sewer infrastructure. “ASEDA is part of the BPI team acting as “We’ve been delivering excellence since consulting civil engineers on the project,” 2005, progressively refining our niche market explains Thabo Msimanga, director, ASEDA, offerings, and to date have successfully an urban engineering and construction project handed over close to 100 projects. This makes management specialist. us well placed to help South Africa rebuild and ASEDA’s project scope here includes grow its multifaceted infrastructure platforms,” geometric road design, road markings Mathibe concludes.

LEADERS IN ENGINEERING, PROJECT & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT Civil Engineering

Architechtural Development

Traffic & Transportation Engineering

Electrical & Mechanical Engineering

Structural Engineering

Project Management

Township Services & Socio-economic Development

Quantity Surveying

Gauteng | North West | Eastern Cape

ASEDA

+27 (0)11 312 4070/1/2 • admin@aseda.co.za • www.aseda.co.za

Joint-Venture Partners: Urban Dynamics Inc. & Bigen Group

Addressing spatial inequalities for a brighter future A cataly�c property development addressing economic transforma�on through a broad mix of economic opportuni�es

The Leeuwpoort Integrated Housing Development will deliver more than 24 000 aﬀordable housing opportuni�es to meet the needs of Ekurhuleni

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN

Leeuwpoort Developments (Pty) Ltd Allan Cormack Street, Innova�on Hub, 0087 Pretoria | P O Box 29 Innova�on Hub 0087 Tel: +27 (0)12 842 8700 | +27 (0)11 482 4131

EKURHULENI

The R8.6 billion Leeuwpoor t Integrated Housing Development will provide the City of Ekurhuleni with a mixed-use development near social, economic and institutional oppor tunities.

he Leeuwpoort project forms part of the larger drive by government to implement mega housing projects that address past spatial challenges and the need for affordable housing in Gauteng. Developed for the City of Ekurhuleni, the project is funded by both the public and private sector, with funding raised through the Leeuwpoort Development (Pty) Ltd special-purpose vehicle, established by successful project bidders Urban Dynamics Gauteng Inc and Bigen Group. Located within the Gauteng Eastern Development Corridor, Leeuwpoort was declared a flagship project for the City of Ekurhuleni and a megaproject by the Gauteng province. Among others, the Leeuwpoort development is expected to create integrated and secure neighbourhoods, upgrade the urban environment, stimulate urban integration, generate downstream opportunities, and expand Ekurhuleni’s income base. The project will deliver a spectrum of affordable housing opportunities, totalling more than 24 000 units, to satisfy housing demand in the City of Ekurhuleni. Beneficiary communities include Joe Slovo, Ulana, Hlahane, Driefontein, Crossroads, Vosloorus, Katlehong, Reiger Park, Cinderella Hostel, Central Hostel and Ramaphosa.

Leeuwpoort:

helping build a smarter city

Development precincts This Greenfields development is strategically located in Boksburg near the CBD and

well on the Northern Development Area. Construction on the civil works for both the Reiger Park and Parkdene extensions began in 2018 and construction of housing units is expected to get under way soon. In the Southern Development Area, which represents extensions of Sunward Park, a larger-scale and equally prominent mixeduse node will be built along Rondebult Road and north of North Boundary Road for rental housing and business opportunities. Stands zoned for social housing will also be sold to accredited institutions. Leeuwpoort Developments is awaiting final approval of the southern townships before construction will commence. transport nodes. It comprises the Northern Development Area, where two townships (Reiger Park Ext 19 and Parkdene Ext 7) will be established, as well the Southern Development Area. Reiger Park Ext 19 West will comprise of fully subsidised houses and apartments. In the east, a secure mixed housing estate will be developed, including social housing, FLISP and bonded residential stands. Parkdene Ext 7 North will include a commercial strip next to Rondebult Road and a high-density housing node. A transport hub is also proposed to serve the lowerincome community. Parkdene Ext 7 South will comprise a mix of high-density sectional title and rental housing, as well as bonded houses. Leeuwpoort Developments will also supply residential units and serviced stands to accredited housing institutions for social housing. According to Charles Davis, project manager at Urban Dynamics, work is progressing

Driving local investment The City of Ekurhuleni is committed to a 10-Point Economic Plan to expand access to services to the most needy and poor, accelerate delivery and improve the quality of services it offers to address the needs of the poorest sections of the community. The Leeuwpoort project is pivotal to achieving these goals. The project value chain focuses on enterprise development, which includes project elements beyond construction. Leeuwpoort Developments has structured the project to maximise the participation of unemployed residents in the project catchment area. The development is also aimed at subcontracts for small and medium local enterprises. “The project will invest billions of rand into infrastructure, creating a positive local investment environment and attracting home buyers and commercial opportunities,” says Davis.

IMIESA July 2020

EKURHULENI

As the fourth largest metro in South Africa, the City of Ekurhuleni landfills roughly 1.2 million tonnes of waste per annum across its five disposal sites.

Striving for sustainability in waste

kurhuleni’s waste streams are varied, originating from households, as well as commercial and industrial areas. Roughly 47% of this waste comprises general domestic waste. This domestic waste is disposed of at the city’s five own landfills and the private Chloorkop Landfill without any form of treatment, except limited rubble crushing and shredding of garden waste. Most of the industrial waste that goes to landfill undergoes some form of sorting to recover recyclables.

Challenges and actions The City of Ekurhuleni faces numerous challenges when it comes to waste management and service delivery. The number of households in the city has grown at a faster rate than the national one. Addressing delegates at a recent Awareness and education is crucial to improve recycling levels

IMIESA July 2020

IWMSA seminar, on the topic ‘Addressing the landfill airspace crisis in Gauteng’, the City of Ekurhuleni’s Matome Magolela noted that the increasing flow of migrants places a strain on infrastructure and the city’s ability to provide services. A growing indigent population requires free services and an increasing number of hijacked buildings cannot be billed. For those who are paying, the costing model is based on bin size, comprising a flat monthly fee with no added costs for those who generate additional waste. The preservation of airspace remains a huge challenge. Compounding this, the city does not own a landfill in the northern service delivery region and is currently buying airspace from the private Chloorkop Landfill site. Illegal dumping is on the rise and the uncontrolled environment for informal waste pickers creates many additional challenges. To address some of these challenges, the city has identified five areas that require continual improvement: 1. Awareness, education and information dissemination 2. Community participation 3. Cooperation, coordination and partnerships 4. Municipal waste by-laws 5. Human resources. These are backed up by several strategic interventions. The first, according to Magolela, is a feasibility study for the development of alternative waste treatment technologies. Others include the deployment of bulk walk-in containers in informal settlements, the mechanisation of informal waste pickers through tuk tuks, and service point audits for

Preservation of airspace remains a huge challenge

waste management. Further interventions Magolela named are, among others, promoting education and awareness in all 112 wards through a clean city programme, rubble crushing at the Simmer and Jack Landfill, and the shredding of garden refuse at all sites except Platkop.

Current minimisation and recycling Magolela was frank about the fact that the national target to divert 25% of recyclables from landfill has not been achieved; however, he believes that the population’s mindset towards recycling and waste minimisation has been changing, albeit at a slow pace. Currently, the metal, glass, paper and plastic industries are driving recycling initiatives in Ekurhuleni, with the participation of informal and small buyback centres at the low end of the value chain. According to Magolela, a lack of municipal incentives to encourage recycling at source adds to the slow uptake of recycling at community level. The city has established a Waste Minimisation Unit to support community-based recycling cooperatives through infrastructure and upskilling. There are currently five kerbside recycling pilot projects under way in Actonville, Wattville and Thembisa. The city has also established a landfill gas extraction and utilisation programme at four of its landfill sites – Rooikraal, Rietfontein, Weltevreden, and Simmer and Jack. This reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions and prevents explosion hazards. At Simmer and Jack, methane gases are used to produce 1 MW of electricity. The City of Ekurhuleni has also signed 45 independent power producer agreements to generate renewable energy.

EKURHULENI

Designing the best possible outcomes Investment in infrastructure is a key priority. Marvick Janse van Rensburg, managing director, MDCC, expands on his company’s solutions and growth strategy.

DCC’s design, project management and programme management specialisations follow a multidisciplinary approach that combines engineering and architecture. Their core experience in buildings, concrete structures, water, wastewater, process engineering and roads was expanded in 2019 to include electrical and electronic engineering. Mechanical engineering, including HVAC, is being added during the balance of 2020. “Flexibility, adaptability and project management excellence have defined our business to date,” says Janse van Rensburg. “But perhaps our most defining quality has been the personalised service we offer. That will remain the mainstay of our business philosophy, working side by side with our private and municipal clients. This ensures that design and cost are fit for purpose. In other words, projects are not over- or underengineered, since we know that assets must add value.” “At MDCC, our architects and engineers constantly evaluate new technologies and approaches proven elsewhere in the world. An example is steel frame construction for commercial and residential buildings, as well as the specification of more thermally efficient materials that reduce HVAC loads,” he continues Based in Gauteng, MDCC has completed larger- and smaller-scale projects for private clients, local municipalities and metros

KLERKSDORP +27 18 468 8000 kdp@mdcc.co.za JOHANNESBURG +27 11 646 6999 jhb@mdcc.co.za PRETORIA +27 12 001 6322 pta@mdcc.co.za

nationwide. The latter include Ekurhuleni, where MDCC designed a series of main bulk outfall sewers.

Water and sanitation projects A prime example of a value engineering project in the water sector was the Pudimoe water purification works in Taung, North West, for Dr Ruth S Mompati District Municipality. The project was split into two phases. Phase I entailed the refurbishment of the original 1962 plant, which was brought back online with a process capacity of around 6 Mℓ/day. This was followed in Phase II by the design and construction of a new and adjacent 8 Mℓ facility. “Given the tight footprint, we needed to adopt an unconventional approach for the new plant, which features a very compact design,” explains Janse van Rensburg. “That meant holistically assessing the interconnecting structural and process engineering elements to achieve the best result. Being in a remote area, we further ensured that the plant would be robust and simple to operate, with minimal instrumentation.” The 1962 plant featured pumps and related components supplied by a USA-based OEM at the time. Mechanical breakdowns, combined with the difficulty and expense of sourcing parts, became a major issue. MDCC made sure that the upgraded and new plants were equipped with locally sourced and accredited components.

“Where municipalities don’t have the in-house capacity to operate and maintain plants, we strongly recommend that they outsource these functions to specialists like MDCC,” he adds. For either water or wastewater, Janse van Rensburg says another option to fast-track delivery is the installation of plug-and-play package plants for schools and communities. In rural areas, borehole water can be used for treatment and treated wastewater can be used for purposes like irrigation.

Medical and pharmaceutical Within its commercial and industrial building portfolio, MDCC is seeing an upswing in the medical sector, where the firm is currently involved on a range of projects. These include alternations and extensions to the Wilmed Park Private Hospital in Klerksdorp. Work is also ongoing for pharmaceutical clients for factory and warehouse expansions. “When it comes to hospitals, it’s essential that the project team leads with a specialist architect – a capability we have within MDCC,” says Janse van Rensburg. Construction is also nearing completion on a R350 million upgrade at the Excelsius Nursing College in Klerksdorp. The scope includes new six-storey residences, and training facilities. “Our MDCC team has a proven track record in innovation and our mission is to apply this approach across our specialised disciplines in helping to rebuild and revitalise South Africa’s infrastructure-led economy. Good design practice comes from experience and the results speak for themselves,” Janse van Rensburg concludes.

CONSULTING CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS | ARCHITECTS | PROJECT MANAGERS As a professional multi-disciplinary team we strive to share our passion, knowledge and expertise with clients who require an above-average service.

Manufacturers, designers, exporters and distributors of quality water management systems

LEADERS IN WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Global pioneers in the design, development and production of advanced engineering plastic products for the water and other specialised polymer engineering products since 1980.

Testing and quality procedures All products are tested to the most stringent requirements. Because of previous system failures in the field, due to poor installation and or supervision, we fully assemble and test all our valve boxes, meter boxes and above-ground meter box assemblies up to 24 bar for three minutes.

Lea��r� �� n�us�� f�� mos� 40 �e�r�

About us Davis & Deale Irrigation have been in the technology of developing, manufacturing, marketing and exporting of water-related innovative products since 1980. Mr Davis has many past and current patents held in water-related and other polymer products.

www.davisanddeale.co.za

Contact Details

Physical Address

Postal Address

Office: +27 (0)11 827 2460 Fax: 086 619 0799 E-mail: tarynne@convertek.co.za

6-8 Coert Steynberg Street Van Eck Park Ext2 Brakpan

PO Box 5070 Delmenville, 1403 South Africa

EKURHULENI

Producing water reticulation hardware post Covid-19 Davis & Deale and Conver-Tek have been in the water supply and plastic injection moulding business for over 40 years, but have been forced into a serious dilemma by Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown. By Bevan Davis, founder, Conver-Tek

oving forward, we don’t know what final effects the government lockdown will have, but it is clear that many businesses will not survive the debilitating lockdown. Our plastics industry has been seriously compromised, and many companies – from small to large – will shut their doors.

From concept to finished, produced and tested product Production, in future, will be radically affected. People and stable staffing are already a massive problem due to power outages. After power outages, we take four to five hours to get up and running in our production. The costs to reset machines, recheck quality, wastage of purged materials, first samples, etc. costs us over R11 000 per hour, which is a crippling cost that can’t be sustained or recuperated. At Davis & Deale, we design the concepts, develop the products, build the tools and run production from concept to finished product, all under one roof. This is a unique benefit to our customers. We then assemble and test all the products used to supply the water industry and to many other key industries needing specialised injection moulding.

Some materials, at roughly R300/kg, are devastating to our injection moulding machines during a power outage and can cause damage of more than R300 000 to a single machine. We cannot risk running these materials with the outages we have, given the potential damage to our machines. Continuous electricity supply is critical to the survival of our plastics converting industry. It was recently announced that the boiler tubes in the new generating plants will all need to be replaced due to quality and design issues. What happens then?

Combating power outages It is sad, but a simple fact, that, as an SMME, we will have to spend capital – not necessary or budgeted for – of R5.3 million to stay in business and shift off the Eskom grid, to be able to operate effectively. The only good result of the Eskom power outages and price increases is that the ridiculously inflated cost of electricity will pay off our unnecessary investment in a maximum of four years. It is a reality that any key manufacturing industry SMME has two options, namely: 1) Get off the grid at a huge cost and risk. 2) Liquidate and shut down.

Our junk status can’t get any worse. This is simply the reality we face, and continue to face, given the gross mismanagement, corruption and implosion of Eskom. This has had the most devastating impact on all businesses, especially industries needing 24/7, reliable, cost-effective power. Instead, we’re being fleeced on taxes and still paying R5.3 million to be able to keep the lights on to stay in business. Instead of fixing the problems, corruption and mismanagement, the price of power continues to increase. We pay three times our normal rate in peak periods and are then charged the full peak period rates. This is simply not sustainable for industry and cannot be passed on to the customer. Eskom is busy crippling SMMEs, which are major tax contributors and employers in South Africa. We, as a manufacturer, should be spending R5.3 million on new, modern production machines that generate new jobs, pay more taxes and boost our economy. The government, via Eskom, is in fact killing the golden goose. The cost of importing opposition products – due to our junk status and exchange rate – is the only thread of hope keeping us competitive as manufacturers.

IMIESA July 2020

SIYAZI is an award-winning South African transport solu�ons provider that services both the public and private sectors. The company’s main service oﬀering focuses on public transport planning/ development and traﬃc engineering, for everything from municipal to residen�al and commercial developments.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLANNING Transport Registers Public Transport Plans Integrated Transport Plans Freight, Public Transport (Taxis, buses), Modal Integration Needs determination System design Taxi rank and bus terminus design Taxi industry facilitation Taxi Rank Management Strategies and Central Management Determining of Transportation Vision, goals and objectives on various spheres of government Policy development Modal integration Taxi Recapitalization plans

SERVICES

With oﬃces based in the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West, SIYAZI provides services that include:

Data surveys Database analyses Geographical Information Systems (GIS) development Development planning Travel demand management and modelling Community service (conﬂict handling, mediation and facilitation) Training and capacity building Economic analysis, municipal ﬁnance Public transport management

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING Impact Studies for developments such as shopping centres, ﬁlling stations and residential areas Setting and synchronisation of traﬃc lights Parking studies, including issues such as parking layout, parking demand and parking supply Designs for pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

Policy and strategy development Development of cooperatives

SIYAZI is a registered member of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

Together, SIYAZI and the various role players in the projects we work on can make a diﬀerence in the delivery of eﬀective solutions to meet the needs of people from grassroots level all the way up to executive management.

S IYA ZI +27 (0)12 343 6259

siyazi@mweb.co.za

www.siyazi.co.za

GAUTENG

EKURHULENI

Transport

solutions that empower Founded in 1996, SIYAZI has expanded to provide professional transport engineering solutions throughout South Africa.

s an award-winning South African transport solutions provider, SIYAZI offers public transport planning, development and traffic engineering solutions for everything from municipal to residential and commercial developments and is a registered member of the Engineering Council of South Africa.

Economic Empowerment and has formulated a strategy aimed at establishing local offices in provinces across the country in order to empower and develop previously disadvantaged individuals. “We strongly believe that knowledge shared is knowledge gained, and skills development is key to unlocking the sustainable wealth contained in a resilient South African economy,” says Sias Oosthuizen.

Empowering communities SIYAZI places a strong emphasis on empowering communities and individuals through the implementation of sustainable transport solutions. “Our solutions offer sustainable approaches that empower local communities. Together with the various role players in the projects we work on, SIYAZI makes a difference in the delivery of effective solutions to meet the needs of people from grassroots level all the way up to executive management,” says Sias Oosthuizen, CEO, SIYAZI. “It is in working together that we will build a strong, equitable and prosperous South Africa, characterised by effective and convenient mobility solutions.” This view is embraced within the organisation as well. SIYAZI’s holding company, SIYAZI Legacy Holdings, has a 40% shareholding by previously disadvantaged individuals through Ukusebenzisana Investments, 91% of which, in turn, belongs to a SIYAZI workers’ trust. The company is strongly committed to ensuring sustainable Broad-based Black

Solid foundations SIYAZI’s service offering is built on solid in-house skills. As CEO, Sias Oosthuizen has more than 40 years’ experience in the transport sector. He has been instrumental in the planning of numerous integrated public transport plans for various municipalities, the development of guidelines for the first Current Public Transport Record surveys done in Gauteng, and negotiating and managing transport provision for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in eThekwini. Sias Oosthuizen was also involved in the development of the first taxi liaison committees in the East Rand, and SIYAZI has gone on to design several taxi ranks for the City of Ekurhuleni and other parts of South Africa. He is backed up by technical director Leon Roets, who has over 25 years’ experience as a transport and traffic engineer. Roets has extensive experience working with private and municipal entities – and in ensuring cooperation between the two – and has also been involved in projects

concerning the taxi industry for most of his career. “SIYAZI was founded with the express goal of empowering communities and individuals through the implementation of sustainable transport solutions. Our mission is to stay a key transport specialist in South Africa and the continent through effective, sustainable empowerment and skills transfer to provide transport solutions that favour job creation,” concludes Sias Oosthuizen.

IMIESA July 2020

EKURHULENI

Lighting up one of Africa’s greatest cities

Within the world of construction, the fact that designs and their ensuing execution last well beyond their planned life is testimony to value engineering. The design and construction of the 1 400 MVA Sebenza substation for City Power ser ves as a classic example of an inter vention that extends the functionality of 1960s era electrical architecture.

s a starting point, City Power’s Sebenza substation is a vital link in ensuring sustained 24/7 transmission. Once fully commissioned, Sebenza replaced the older Kelvin substation in supplying a large portion (the eastern third) of the City of Johannesburg via a bulk power line corridor consisting of 16 power line circuits.

GIS building showing the back view of the installed 38 bay GIS switchgear

IMIESA July 2020

Sebenza has the equivalent capacity to supply an estimated 700 000 households, in the process unlocking industrial, commercial and residential development. The process of implementing it was the responsibility of the PSW Nyeleti JV. “The key achievement was that the project team successfully constructed and incorporated Sebenza into the City Power network, while maintaining supply to existing customers, catering for the additional load growth during the project, and keeping within

City Power’s allocated budget,” says Juan-Dirk Voigt, director, PSW. Key elements within the project scope included the transfer of 2 x 275 kV and 16 x 88 kV existing power lines, while catering for the restrictions and limitations presented by the existing Eskom and City Power network. Not only did the Sebenza substation need to cater for the future 400 kV infeeds from Eskom, but also the integration and connection of the existing 300 MW Kelvin Power Station while in operation.

The old network Kelvin Power Station is an old (privately owned) power station dating back more than 50 years. Over this time, the load demand had grown to the present ≈450 MVA threshold, exceeding the 300 MVA capacity available.

Geotech image showing the Sebenza substation footprint

The three installed 315 MVA transformers at Sebenza substation, manufactured by Actom Power Transformers in Wadeville

To meet the increasing demand and load growth, the 300 MVA capacity at Kelvin was supplemented by the existing Prospect bulk infeed substation, located in the far southeast of Johannesburg, via a double-circuit 88 kV transmission line, constructed during the mid-1960s. This resulted in constraints on the available generation and sporadic overloading of the available transformer capacity at Prospect, placing the electrical supply to the whole city at risk. PSW was appointed in 2007 to conduct a feasibility study on the optimal positioning for the proposed new infeed substation. Several alternative positions and substation configurations were considered during this study. PSW was subsequently appointed in 2010 for the detail design, documentation and procurement phases.

Land space challenges The required land area for a traditional outdoor transmission substation meeting all the stated requirements amounted to an estimated 10 to 11 hectares. The available land within close proximity to both Kelvin power station and the existing 88 kV power line corridor was limited to only 5.8 hectares. “The most critical engineering challenge of the Sebenza project was to balance

and integrate the needs of all the related parties into a single bulk infeed substation, on a relatively small site and at a reasonable cost,” explains Pine Pienaar, CEO, Nyeleti Consulting. The appointed contractor was Consolidated Power Projects, which finalised all works at the end of 2018. Remarkably, over the four-year construction programme almost 1 000 000 man-hour major-injur y-free incidences were record. Eskom’s confirmed requirements entailed a total of 12 x 400 kV switch bays to cater for four incoming circuits, two outgoing circuits, four transformer circuits to City Power, and space for two future generator circuits from Kelvin. Due to the limited land area, Eskom agreed that a breaker-and-a-half fully outdoor scheme could be adopted to achieve the most compact design layout for the required 400 kV double bus-bar switchyard. Although the yard had to be designed and constructed at 400 kV to cater for Eskom’s future needs, the substation would be operated at 275 kV for the short to medium term. With the two 275 kV, 630 MVA overhead line feeders from Prospect substation approaching Sebenza substation from the south, crossing the 16 existing outgoing circuits in the power line corridor to the city became unavoidable. In order to eliminate the need to turn the entire city off to establish this essential crossing, the design was adapted to allow for two

275 kV, 630 MVA underground interconnector cable feeders over an average distance of approximately 250 m, crossing underneath these existing circuits, from a new 275 kV line-to-cable transition yard into the highvoltage switchyard. Because of the relatively compact design of the new technology SF6 GIS switchboard, the incoming and outgoing overhead line circuits, with their much larger electrical clearances, could not practically be terminated directly into the switchgear. It thus became essential to allow for the 132 kV underground interconnector cable feeders between the new GIS board, the 132 kV line-to-cable transition yard, and the several main substation components.

Self-build approach Budget constraints at Eskom delayed the project going ahead on the Eskom side; however, in order to meet their load growth and maintain network stability, City Power could not delay. Subsequently, Eskom approved City Power’s application to ‘selfbuild’ a major component of the 400 kV switchyard. Sebenza thus became the first self-built Eskom transmission project in the country. City Power confirmed the requirement for the substation design to provide for 4 x 315 MVA, 275/88 kV power transformers, fully controllable by City Power itself, for its short- to medium-term needs, to ensure the required future 1 000 MVA capacity under the N-1 configuration. It was decided that only three of the final four transformers would be installed during the first phase of the substation development. “Either way, not only the transformer enclosures, but the complete substation, have been designed and constructed to cater for future planned upgrades,” Voigt concludes.

Nyeleti is a consulting engineering firm specialising in water and sanitation, roads and transport, and structures. The word Nyeleti, meaning star in Tsonga, symbolizes the aspiration of the firm to deliver excellent service to its clients.

Offices in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Polokwane, Ethekwini and Mozambique

EKURHULENI

The City of Ekurhuleni has been rolling out solar high-mast lights in non-electrified informal settlements in an effort to reduce crime and increase safety.

Installing solar high-mast lights in Katlehong

Illuminating communities

s part of the City of Ekurhuleni’s programme to make informal settlements habitable and restore human dignity by installing basic services, the city recently installed solar high-mast lights at Tsietsi Phase 5, in Katlehong. The solar technology provides low-cost, low-maintenance lighting to communities. The city is targeting renewable energy to curb and minimise escalating costs of electricity to its residents. Cllr Makhosazana Mabaso, MMC for Environment Resources Management, says solar PV has been identified as the best available technology to invest in to augment the current electricity supply, which is facing increasing demand. Solar panels have already been installed on the rooftops of most of the municipal buildings. These are connected to the national grid to ease the pressure on the existing energy supply in

the short term. Ekurhuleni is also increasing solar panel installations for individual households, which will decrease residential household consumption. This is important because Ekurhuleni often experiences electricity grid overload in winter seasons due to illegal connections and meter by-passing, resulting in power outages. A renewable energy solution provides light for communities without adding a further load to the electricity grid. In direct response to this, Ekurhuleni has allocated R1.2 billion in the 2020/21 budget for maintenance and operations to deal with power interruptions and outages. The main focus areas will be illegal connections, cable theft, the refurbishment of substations, as well as streetlight and meter tampering. “Power interruptions experienced recently have been a source of strain for our people and businesses alike. We recognise that

electricity insecurity has a significant impact on the productivity businesses, particularly those in manufacturing, which make up a significant number of enterprises in our city,” says Cllr Nkosindiphile Doctor Xhakaza, MMC for Finance, ICT and Economic Development. To help stabilise supply, a programme to purchase electricity from independent power producers will be finalised in the new financial year. A total of 46 companies have already been awarded tenders to generate additional energy for the city.

Electrifying informal settlements Ekurhuleni has always prioritised the electrification of the city, including informal settlements. In his 2020 State of the City Address, Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina noted that, since the beginning of his term of office, 34 informal settlements had been reblocked and electrified, resulting in almost 50 000 people enjoying electricity for the first time. This includes an additional 6 546 electrified informal settlement households under the Eskom-licensed areas. A number of informal settlements were added to the electrification programme and by June this year, a total of 22 000 homes had been connected – bringing the total number of households connected to the grid since the year 2000 to 93 000. “In our quest to minimise the threat of our people becoming victims of crime, we have rolled out 3 646 streetlights across the city and 295 high-mast lighting [installations], mainly in previously disadvantaged areas and new establishments,” said Masina. He noted that cable theft remains a challenge that destabilises the effective functionality of government, business and the community at large. However, he added that Ekurhuleni had deployed new technology to fight cable theft and is also seeking an alternative to copper to minimise theft. Since August 2019, over 116 arrests had been made.

ENERGY

Transitioning away from coal It has been over three years since Eskom announced the imminent closure of five of its coal-fired power stations.

skom’s announcement was generally welcomed as one of the necessar y steps on the road towards meeting the countr y’s environmental commitments as a signator y to the Paris Accord. At the same time, however, this announcement gave new vigour to the concerns about the fate of workers and communities whose livelihoods depend on the coal economy. It was clear that a just transition from a coal-intensive energy system to a lowcarbon future would be needed. Such a transition would also have to be fair to energy users, offering them affordable prices and access to electricity. “The key argument behind a just transition is that our move away from coal must be a process that is well managed, with a phased approach and clear guidelines

that are followed in a planned manner. Importantly, this is an approach that the trade unions also support,” says Andrew van Zyl, director and principal consultant, SRK Consulting. Eskom CEO André de Ruyter has reaffirmed the utility’s commitment to contributing to global efforts to address climate change, but without deser ting employees and their communities Currently, coal generates 92% of South Africa’s electricity. In addition to new power stations Medupi and Kusile, Eskom has at least two other power stations with lifespans of another 35 to 40 years. With coal reser ves for another 100 years, the latter two face little chance of being shut down earlier than that. “The remaining life of many of the other generating facilities really depends on

their mechanical costs. If the investment is affordable, a number of facilities could still be run for another 20 years or more, taking us to 2040 or later for a ‘final’ transition date away from coal,” says Noddy McGeorge, principal mining engineer, SRK Consulting.

Social and economic transition The process towards tr ying to understand the social impacts of this transition, though, is already under way. “For the past couple of years, Eskom has been requesting technical input on what the likely socio-economic impact will be when power stations are closed. The closure process is likely to involve similar issues to the closure of the associated coal mines – such as the reskilling of employees, economic resilience of communities and

IMIESA July 2020

South Africa

ENERGY

diversification of local economies,” says Jessica Edwards, senior social scientist, SRK Consulting. There are certainly many lessons that can be learnt from countries who are travelling this path ahead of us, despite stark socio-economic differences. In the coal regions of Germany, Australia and Canada, researchers have identified which policies have been most successful in halting the production of coal without placing the economic burden on coal workers and communities. While workers in extractive industries like mining are often presented as the main opposition to decarbonisation policies, the research shows that they are actually quite supportive of environmentally friendly policies if their immediate interests are not threatened. Active and genuine dialogue with communities is key, followed by effective action such as developing re-employment oppor tunities in clean industries. Investing in people’s future

through training and business development, for example, is also vital.

Environmental legacy “With our ageing fleet of coal-fired power stations, we have no choice but to build more renewable generation capacity. The countr y’s Integrated Resource Plan commits us to a decarbonisation pathway hinging on the decommissioning of coalfired power stations and the rapid uptake of renewable energy,” says Ashleigh Maritz, senior environmental scientist, SRK Consulting. However, it is vital that the transition includes the rehabilitation and responsible closure of coal mines – the cost of which is often underestimated. “As many of the larger coal mining companies in South Africa withdraw from this commodity and sell to smaller firms, a concern arises over the financial resources available for closure. It is a particular concern when mines change hands just

5 to 10 years before their end-of-life. This timeframe is often not sufficient to make provision for the considerable social and environmental costs of closure,” says Lisl Fair, principal consultant: Social Sciences, SRK Consulting. The environmental impact of coal mining has historically been severe, with real efforts to reverse the damage coming only in the past couple of decades.

Moving forward Perhaps the novel coronavirus pandemic, ironically, could add momentum to the renewables transition. As UN Secretar yGeneral António Guterres has urged, governments should ensure that taxpayers’ money that is spent to rescue businesses should be directed at creating green jobs, as well as sustainable and inclusive growth. In South Africa, this could certainly contribute to a just transition from carbonintensive industries towards a cleaner economic base.

IMIESA July 2020

26 Nagington Road, Wadeville, Germiston 1400, South Africa Tel +27 11 824 4810 / Fax +27 11 824 2770 E-mail info@apepumps.co.za / info@matherandplatt.com Website www.apepumps.co.za / www.matherandplatt.com

Split Case Pump • Sugar and Paper Mills • Refineries • Petro Chemical

Horizontal Multistage Pump

Vertical Turbine • Cooling Water • Circulation • Irrigation

• Power Generation Plants • Cooling and Heating Systems • Mining Applications

Locally Manufactured

PUBLIC LIGHTING

Securing and sustaining smart energy savings

The Mt Edgecombe Interchange in Durban

Public lighting is a crucial visual aid. It reduces road accidents, increases safety and security, and may ultimately attract investment and growth within a municipality. However, it may also significantly contribute to a municipalityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electrical consumption and must be appropriately managed. By Danielle Petterson

irst introduced in 1878, public lighting has become an important part of most municipal master plans or town planning development strategies. Bjorn Smidt-Hart, senior engineer: Power and Energy, SMEC South Africa, describes it as a

Bjorn Smidt-Hart, senior engineer: Power and Energy, SMEC South Africa

service with the power to indirectly promote stimulus into the economic growth, and a state of well-being, within a municipality. While public lighting may assist in generating revenue indirectly for a municipality, it also adds to the electrical consumption and operational costs. Smidt-Hart stresses the importance of implementing energy-efficiency initiatives, which assist in reducing energy consumption by municipalities, thereby saving money and alleviating strain on the electrical grid.

Energy efficiency Energy-efficiency initiatives focus on replacing existing non-efficient luminaires with modern energy-efficient LED luminaires, as well as specifying LEDs for new installations. According

to Smidt-Hart, LEDs have a longer operational life, providing consistent and affordable public lighting infrastructure with reduced maintenance and operational costs. In fact, it is estimated that South African municipalities could save 40% of their total public lighting expenditure per annum by switching to quality LED luminaires. SMEC South Africa was appointed by the South African German Energy Programme (SAGEN), implemented by the German International Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ) with funding from the Swiss government through SECO, to develop and implement

IMIESA July 2020

PUBLIC LIGHTING

Quality lighting

A well-lit pedestrian bridge on the N1 in Botlokwa improves visual safety at night

a minimum energy performance standard document for street and area lighting to be used in pilot projects. Lucky Maduna from GIZ SAGEN emphasises the importance of building capacity in municipalities to select energy-efficient lighting options. “We at GIZ feel the minimum energy performance standard technical document will enable municipalities to procure the highestquality lighting with the best potential energy savings,” he says. The initiative has resulted in the roll-out of pilot Energy Efficient Street Lighting Retrofit Projects (EEStLRP) at five municipalities located in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The pilot projects will see around 2 900 fittings replaced with energy-efficient LEDs. The old luminaires and lamps, some of which contain mercury, are to be environmentally conservatively and safely crushed and disposed of. Using conventional non-efficient luminaires, the five municipalities were consuming nearly 8 million kWh per annum for public lighting, at a cost of approximately R11 million per annum. Following the implementation of the energyefficiency initiatives, the energy consumption could be reduced significantly to 4.8 kWh per annum. This may result in an annual saving of R5.9 million across all five municipalities, excluding operational maintenance, repair and security expenditure – a saving of around R1 900 per fitting per annum. Another example of savings is demonstrated by the Mt Edgecombe Interchange, where SMEC South Africa was appointed by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) to develop a street lighting solution in addition to the overall upgrade of the interchange itself. Because it is a free-flow interchange, good-quality lighting is essential for motorists travelling at speed.

IMIESA July 2020

SMEC South Africa opted to light the graded interchange with lighting along the bridges themselves, which provides safer, uniform lighting for motorists on all levels of the interchange, which is not necessarily provided by high-mast lighting. A total of 510 LED luminaires were installed, equating to a saving of around 282 tonnes of CO2 per annum compared to traditional non-efficient luminaire lighting installation. The LEDs are estimated to consume 401 500 kWh per annum and generate approximately 433 tonnes of CO2 per annum versus 662 475 kWh per annum and 716 tonnes of CO2 per annum for a conventional, inefficient lighting system for the interchange. The annual energy saving is 260 975 kWh – enough to power approximately 30 households per annum.

Combating vandalism Unfortunately, the lighting system at the Mt Edgecombe Interchange is facing severe vandalism problems. Poles have been cut down and removed, and luminaires and cables stolen. SANRAL has plans to install more secure systems, poles and masts to try to prevent vandalism. This is not a unique challenge being experienced by SANRAL alone. Vandalism is a long-standing problem in South Africa. Measures such as tagging or barcoding cables to identify stolen cables, constructing more secure vault-type power supply kiosks, and even implementing more vandal-resistant lighting poles and luminaires may not deter all criminal acts. More extensive measures like surveillance and active security are helpful but can only be implemented where cost appropriate. Smidt-Hart believes that infrastructure should be protected by legislation so that public infrastructure may become a high-risk item. “Theft and vandalism are a step backwards in delivering services to a community,” he says.

Although implementing energy-efficiency initiatives should be a priority, SmidtHart cautions that they should not be undertaken at the expense of lighting quality. The focus should always be on energy saving while maintaining quality and compliance to luminaire and lighting level standards, namely: • SANS 10098: Public Lighting (road and street lighting) • SANS 10389: Exterior Lighting • SANS 10114: Interior Lighting • Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 of 1993) Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, 1987. Should these standards not be met, the safety of the general public may be at risk. Landowners or employers could be held responsible for any injury within the workplace that may occur as a result of poor lighting, warns Smidt-Hart. Poor lighting contributes to night-time road accidents, especially those involving pedestrians. While this is typically considered in urban and residential areas, other high-risk areas, such as around informal settlements, may not necessarily be taken into account. SMEC South Africa has been involved in lighting several bridges to improve pedestrian safety, such as the Isando and Regents Park pedestrian bridges. Improving the quality of public lighting can also promote better use of open spaces, increase non-motorised transport activities, promote urbanisation, and improve safety and security. Smidt-Hart cites the Ekurhuleni BRT route from Thembisa along Zuurfontien Road to CR Swart Drive, which includes nonmotorised transport lanes and pedestrian walkways, as an example. SMEC South Africa designed the installed LED lighting system with incorporated telemanagement devices to assist in the control, monitoring and maintenance of the lighting system. Illumination along the new public transport route resulted in an increase in pedestrian volumes and the number of people using the route to exercise in an area where people were previously cautious to do so.

Automation and sustainability For South Africa, Smidt-Hart emphasises the need for sustainable solutions. “Before you advance, ensure that you have a sustainable and operational system. It’s about mitigating risks and moving forward from there,” he says.

PUBLIC LIGHTING

Lighting on the Regents Park pedestrian bridge in Johannesburg

Municipalities need to identify, understand and mitigate the risks that may undermine and challenge the existing and future delivery of the public lighting service. Some identifiable risks include theft and vandalism, behaviour of communities, and the ability of municipalities to operate and maintain public lighting infrastructure. The efficiency and quality of a municipality’s sustainable public lighting service could also be an advancement into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and significant potential exists to merge IoT (internet of things) systems with public lighting infrastructure.

The home of Infrastructure development, building, maintenance, service delivery

IoT can help to better control lighting systems, by identifying operational or faulty lighting systems, automating lighting installation operations and possibly only illuminating areas that need illumination. Wireless communication systems could be incorporated into the public lighting systems. These systems may also be set up with metering units to improve asset management, metering and billing of various utility services. Additional opportunities exist for using street light poles to piggyback other systems, such as Wi-Fi hotspots, surveillance systems,

or as a telecommunications platform, which may help generate income for a municipality. “It’s a different model to consider when it comes to smart city implementation,” says Smidt-Hart. The importance and potential of the public lighting infrastructure should not be underestimated. Instead, public lighting infrastructure should be considered a financial investment. “The return on investment could be secured through the implementation of responsible initiatives and strategies that promote sustainable and efficient quality public lighting infrastructure,” says Smidt-Hart. “Sustainable and efficient quality public lighting could ignite the possibilities of developing and advancing municipalities, communities, industry, businesses, families and individuals to an improved state of wellbeing or smart city status worthy of the Fourth Industrial Revolution era,” he concludes.

infrastructure Complete water resource and wastewater management

Promoting integrated resource and waste management

IMESA The official magazine of the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa

The official magazine of the Water Institute of Southern Africa

The official magazine of the Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa

Get your products, services and equipment noticed by infrastructure decision-makers

www.3smedia.co.za TO ADVERTISE Hanlie Fintelman +27 (0)82 338 2266 Hanlie.Fintelman@3smedia.co.za

Joanne Lawrie +27 (0)82 346 5338 Joanne.Lawrie@3smedia.co.za TO SUBSCRIBE +27 (0)11 233 2600 subs@3smedia.co.za

BUILDING

Built-in soundproofing with clay masonry walls Prolonged exposure to noise can cause hypertension, sleep disturbance and reduced mental performance. In contrast, acoustically ‘comfortable’ environments improve focus and make people feel calmer. Within the built environment, optimum design and material selection make the difference, says Mariana Lamont, executive director, Clay Brick Association.

onstruction materials suppliers who claim their products provide good sound insulation or noise reduction properties need to be able to prove this against set parameters. The sound insulation of a building or structure is expressed as a reduction factor in decibels (dB). Every increase of 10 dB (e.g. from 40 dB to 50 dB) represents a tenfold increase in volume, so any miscalculation can make life untenable. Within learning environments, for example, the World Health Organization states that safe classroom noise levels should not exceed 35 dB. Anything higher and the ability to learn is

impaired. Supporting this argument, a study in France found that with every 10 dB increase in classroom noise, students’ language and maths scores decreased by 5.5 points. “Sound is not just an objective measurement, but also a subjective and individual experience,” Lamont explains. In a home or office, a person trying to read, work or sleep will perceive outside sounds as louder and more disruptive. Children have sharper hearing and are also particularly sensitive to high-pitched noises. For this reason, learners trying to concentrate may be far more aware of noise than their teachers.

At the University of Mpumalanga, dense clay brick masonry resists the transmission of airborne sound waves. Due to these natural acoustic properties, pupils and teachers are not subjected to excessive noise transmitted from adjoining buildings or classrooms (Photo credit: Federale Stene)

IMIESA July 2020

The experience of auditory comfort also depends on ambient sounds in the room. A space that is occupied (especially in a school) will have an ambient level of noise that helps to reduce crossover sound from the adjoining classrooms or playground.

How construction materials are measured and rated The noise performance of a building system is called the weighted sound reduction index (Rw). The higher the Rw, the better the system is at isolating airborne noise. Airborne noise comes from common sound sources such as voices, TVs and traffic. The greater the mass of the wall or floor, the more difficult it is to set up vibrations in it, and hence more difficult to transfer sound from one side to the other. Brick walls perform well in reducing the transmission of airborne sounds due to their mass. Rw ratings are determined by laboratory tests and compared against reference curves. A high noise level is generated in one room and the difference in sound level between the source room and the receiver room represents the

Nelson Mandela University Business School was the first building in the education or public sector to achieve a 4 Green Star design rating by the GBCSA (Photo credit: Algoa Brick)

BUILDING

Zweletemba High School in the Western Cape makes extensive use of face brick. This provides an aesthetic, low-maintenance finish, as well as built-in noise and heat insulation (Photo credit: Worcester Brick)

transmission loss through the test specimen. Measurements are conducted over frequencies between 100 Hz and 4 000 Hz. When the building shell itself is impacted, noise travels easily via walls, floors and concrete slabs. Examples are heavy footsteps (particularly on bare timber or tile floors), banging doors, scraping furniture, air conditioning and plumbing. Multi-unit residential buildings with shared walls are particularly susceptible to this type of noise.

Sound transmission for clay brick masonry In a research report, Measurements of Sound Transmission Loss in Masonry, William Siekman of Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories tested 15 clay brick wall types, including face brick, singleand double-leaf walls, as well as walls with and without cavities and/or insulation. “They found that the average double-leaf plastered clay brick wall cuts over 50% of the noise from outside,” says Lamont. “Ambient noise of around 65 dB (moderate to loud) is reduced to less than 20 dB, which is barely audible. A double-skin clay brick wall is therefore defined as a superior insulator even without any additional insulation material or installation costs.”

noise,” she continues. “The sound insulation characteristics of hollow bricks and blocks can be complex, due to the different void sizes, and the placement of voids. In general, denser bricks perform better at blocking sound, and especially high-frequency sounds.”

Worst for acoustic comfort During in-situ tests, a recent EU study confirmed that aerated concrete walls fail to comply with the standard requirements. A 240 mm inter-dwelling with a typical density of 600 kg/m3 achieved an Rw rating of less than 40. For this wall type, sound reduction deficiency is significant and the recommended method to improve sound insulation between dwellings is to apply at least two layers of insulating mineral wool and gypsum-cardboard panels. Masonry veneer (a base cement block wall of 90 mm with a facing of clay brick cladding) is also insufficient, with an Rw rating of about 40. This makes it suitable only for interior walls unless they have additional insulation or plasterboard.

Understanding reverberation “Another factor that influences how we perceive sound and the experience of acoustic comfort is reverberation,” says Lamont. Reverberation is defined as the time taken for a sound to ‘fade away’ in an enclosed area after the source of the sound has stopped. If the delay is greater than 0.6 seconds, people find it hard to distinguish between consonants. The longer the reverberation time, the lower

the comprehension ability. This means that speaking louder will not make a difference to clarity, and it will make the environment more confusing. Reverberation, sound reflection and echoing increase when walling materials are smooth and glossy, rooms are large, and there are fewer objects to break up the sound. Reverberation can be reduced by plastering and painting a wall (which also helps to fill any gaps in the mortaring). However, little acoustic benefit is gained by rendering the other side because the relative increase in density is small and all pores and gaps are already sealed by the first layer of render. Textured brick and face brick are superior performers in reducing sound reflection and reverberation. Another common sound path occurs at wall junctions, such as at floor or ceiling level and the intersection with another wall. Larger voids should be solidly backfilled with mortar. Expanding foam sealant, which is nonshrinking, can be injected into the gap. Insulation placed between the leaves of a double-leaf cavity wall or above a ceiling also plays a role in reducing sound transmission. Generally, thicker insulation will contribute to improved sound reduction. “In general, masonry – whether it’s clay brick, cement brick, concrete block or stone – provides superior sound control compared with timber and solid structures made from poured concrete. But clay brick leads the pack when it comes to soundproofing and thermal efficiency,” Lamont concludes.

Best for acoustic comfort Although requirements differ from country to country, exterior walls are considered to satisfy sound insulation requirements if the Rw plus impact resistance index has a rating of 50 or higher. The density of ceramic clay brick provides an inherent resistance to the passage of airborne sound. This makes it a superior performer in attenuating low-frequency, airborne noise caused by building mechanical systems, elevators, amplified music, traffic and aircraft. “Cavity masonry walls have the added benefit of isolating impact sounds. Although some alternative systems may perform as well as masonry for frequencies in the speech range, these lower-mass systems have difficulty insulating against low-frequency

The timeless elegance of face brick provides a fusion of old and new in the construction of the new boarding house at St David’s Marist Inanda school (Photo credit: Corobrik)

IMIESA July 2020

CEMENT & CONCRETE

The benchmark for green production Over the years, AfriSam has pioneered and sustained numerous initiatives towards a greener future, honouring its values of people, planet and per formance. Nivashni Govender, environmental specialist, AfriSam, expands on emissions reduction and allied conser vation strategies.

s one of the top 10 CO2 emitters globally (when measured per capita), the cement manufacturing industry is often singled out as a culprit in the greenhouse gas debate, regularly coming under fire to reduce its carbon footprint. “To put actions to our concerns, we established our own environmental department as early as 1992 and developed an environmental policy just two years later,” says Govender. “It’s in our cement manufacturing business where the most notable impact on the lowering of carbon emissions is achieved. Our ongoing focus on alternative fuels and resources has allowed us to steadily reduce the amount of coal burnt in our cement kilns, which in turn contributes to lower CO2 emissions,” she continues. “One example is at our Dudfield plant, where we developed and implemented process modifications to allow us to co-process scrap tyres – a strategy that also contributes significantly to addressing the environmental hazards posed by tyres when they are disposed of in a landfill.” The introduction of AfriSam’s green cement product range in the year 2000 added to its goal of becoming one of the lowest

Nivashni Govender, environmental specialist, AfriSam

Believed to an industry first, AfriSam has introduced biodiversity management plans at all its mining operations

CO2 generators per tonne in Africa. “The use of extenders in our cement has resulted in a substantial reduction in our clinker factor, without compromising the quality of our products,” says Govender.

Water conservation, dust suppression In other areas, energy-efficient lighting has been installed across the company’s cement, readymix and aggregate quarry facilities, and water conservation has become a priority in all its operations. AfriSam’s programmes focus on reducing the amount of water per tonne of cement and aggregate produced, or per tonne of readymix prepared. “Our readymix plants, for instance, have strict reuse and recycling processes, and must recycle at least 50% of their greywater generated on-site,” she explains. Dust suppression remains another critical environmental priority for all AfriSam readymix plants. Where deemed necessary as an additional measure, automatic dust suppression systems, using fine recycled water mist, have been installed around the perimeter of identified plants, with additional systems where the readymix trucks are loaded.

Rehabilitation, biodiversity “When it comes to aggregate production,

IMIESA July 2020

rehabilitation and biodiversity at our quarry sites are priorities. As early as 1986, AfriSam formed the first trust of its kind specifically to cater for rehabilitation costs on closure – even before this was a legislated requirement for mines,” says Govender. “Our current strategy of concurrent rehabilitation – in which we rehabilitate as we mine – has proved very effective both from an environmental and ecological perspective, as well as a cost perspective.” AfriSam’s attention to protect and foster biodiversity, especially where species are protected by law or are endangered, involves detailed and ongoing research to measure the environmental impact of operations on species of flora and fauna. As a commitment to protecting biodiversity, specific biodiversity plans have been developed across all cement and aggregate sites.

Sterkfontein cultural heritage “Environmental protection also has implications when it comes to cultural heritage,” says Govender. “When an area of underground caves was discovered at one of our then active quarries near Sterkfontein, Gauteng – part of a World Heritage Site – we decided that the value of this contribution to our country’s cultural heritage and scientific knowledge far outweighed any income the quarry could generate for the company. Working with the University of the Witwatersrand, we donated this valuable national treasure for scientific and public use, while continuing to support its maintenance.” The environmental focus extends to the management of waste generated at all operations, where oil, conveyor belts and pallets are reused or recycled wherever possible, and waste is separated on-site to allow for more environmentally friendly disposal. Disposal to landfill is the last option.

CEMENT & CONCRETE

Our ongoing focus on alternative fuels and resources has allowed us to steadily reduce the amount of coal burnt in our cement kilns.”

As far back as 2000, AfriSam introduced Project Green Cement to actively reduce its CO2 emissions

Recognising excellence In addition to taking responsibility for its own actions, AfriSam plays a leading role in creating awareness and establishing open debate about sustainability within the broader context of the industry. One such platform is the AfriSam-SAIA Awards

for Sustainable Architecture + Innovation, launched in 2009. The awarded projects and programmes make a positive contribution to communities and reduce environmental impacts through strategies such as the reuse of existing structures, connection to transit

systems, low-impact and regenerative site development, energy and water conservation, and the use of sustainable or renewable construction materials. “AfriSam’s reputation of caring for the planet, people and the environment is evident in the way we manufacture our vast product offering and how we conduct our business,” adds Govender. “This philosophy is underpinned by the Centre of Product Excellence and applies to all business units to actively measure and manage their impact on the environment, while continuing to produce high-performance products with low carbon footprints,” Govender concludes.

Silo refurbishment at Mamba Mamba Cement’s operation in Koedoeskop

uring silo refurbishment operations at Mamba Cement’s Koedoeskop plant, structural repairs were carried out using Sika Monotop-412 NFG to restore the integrity of concrete sections. Sika says the product is ideal for restoration work, in addition to preserving or restoring passivity to the rebar. In addition, 94 m of cold joints and cracks on the structure were repaired by means of crack injection, using a low-viscosity epoxy, Sikadur-52 ZA.

Key advantages of this product include its shrinkage-free hardening properties, and its suitability for both dry and damp conditions. Sikadur-52 ZA is also solvent free and can be used at low temperatures. Finally, the top of the silo was waterproofed with Sikalastic-152 and a 4 mm x 4 mm alkali-resistant coated glass mesh fabric to add resistance to moving cracks. According to Sika, Sikalastic-152 affords an extremely easy application process and is a flexible, durable and aesthetically appealing waterproofing product. This was the first major maintenance project done on this relatively new, oneof-a-kind plant, which is thought to be the first in Africa to possess a waste heat recovery system – an innovative way of reducing its carbon footprint. The maintenance programme was carried out by Teichmann Contractors and BSM Baker Consulting Engineers.

IMIESA July 2020

CEMENT & CONCRETE

How admixtures influence concrete designs Over the past three to four decades, admixtures have become increasingly popular. Bryan Perrie outlines the rationale for, and type of, admixtures most commonly found in the mix.

dmixtures are chemicals added to a concrete mix to modify some of its properties; however, they should never be regarded as a substitute for good mix design, sound workmanship, or use of the correct materials. The most common reasons for using admixtures in concrete are to: • increase workability without changing water content • r educe water content without changing workability • achieve a combination of the above • adjust setting time • reduce segregation and/or bleeding • improve pumpability • accelerate or retard the rate of strength development at early stages • i mprove potential durability and reduce permeability

• reduce the total cost of the materials used in the concrete • compensate for poor aggregate properties. Below are various types of admixtures worth gaining an understanding of.

Plasticisers When added to a concrete mix, plasticisers (water-reducing agents) are absorbed on the surface of the binder particles, causing them to repel each other and de-flocculate. This results in improved workability and provides a more even distribution of the binder particles through the mix. The main types of plasticisers are lignosulfonic acids and their salts, hydroxylated carboxylic acids and their salts, and modifications of both. Plasticisers usually increase the slump of concrete with a given water content and can reduce the water requirement of a concrete mix for a given workability by about

Bryan Perrie, managing director, TCI

10%. The addition of a plasticiser makes it possible to achieve a given strength with a lower cement content, and it may also improve pumpability. However, some plasticisers contain a retarder and can cause problems if overdosed. While some entrain varying amounts of air, others are reasonably consistent in this. Where plasticisers are used to increase workability, shrinkage and creep will invariably be increased.

An admixture played an important part in the construction of the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg. Selfcompacting concrete, containing a superplasticiser supplied by Chryso SA, was used to build the towering pylons

Superplasticisers

These admixtures are chemically different from normal plasticisers and their action is more marked. When used to produce flowing concrete, a rapid loss of workability can be expected and, therefore, they should be added just prior to placing. Superplasticisers are usually chemical compounds, such as sulfonated melamine formaldehyde, sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde, modified lignosulfonates, and polycarboxylate-based materials. Superplasticisers are used to the best advantage in areas of congested reinforcement and where a self-levelling consistence facilitates placing. For highstrength concretes, they decrease the watercement ratio by reducing the water content by 15% to 25%.

IMIESA July 2020

CEMENT & CONCRETE

Air entrainment may reduce the strength of concrete and overdosing can cause major loss of strength Special mixes must be designed for superplasticisers and their use carefully controlled. Their effect varies from 30 minutes to six hours, depending on the admixture used.

Air entrainers An air-entraining agent introduces air in the form of minute bubbles distributed uniformly throughout the cement paste. The main types include salts of wood resins, animal or vegetable fats and oils, and sulfonated hydrocarbons. Uses include improving the resistance of hardened concrete to damage from freezing and thawing; adding workability, especially in harsh or lean mixes; and reducing bleeding and segregation, especially when a mix lacks fines. Air entrainment may reduce the strength of concrete and overdosing can cause a major loss of strength: 1% air may cause a strength loss of 5%, so it is important that the percentage of air entrained during construction be monitored. Because dosages are typically small, special dispensers and accurate monitoring are required.

Different types and sources of cement/ cement extenders may result in the entrainment of different amounts of air for the same dose and mix proportions. A change in cementitious content in the grading or proportions of the fine fractions of sand will normally alter the volume of air entrained. The amount of air entrained may depend on the source and grading of sand in concrete. Forced-action mixers entrain larger volumes of air than other types, while increased ambient temperatures tend to reduce the volume of air entrained. The use of ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash will reduce the amount of air entrained, and the duration of mixing can also affect air content.

Accelerators These admixtures speed up the chemical reaction of the cement and water, and so accelerate the rate of setting and/or early gain in strength of concrete. Among the main types are chloride-based, non-chloridebased and shotcrete accelerators. Shotcrete accelerators react almost instantaneously, causing stiffening, rapid setting and hardening of the shotcrete. Accelerators’ uses include: where rapid setting and high early strengths are required (e.g. in shaft sinking); where rapid turnover of moulds or formwork is needed; and where concreting takes place under very cold conditions.

All chloride-based accelerators promote the corrosion of reinforcing steel and should not be used in reinforced concrete, waterretaining structures, prestressed concrete, and steam-cured concrete. Overdosing with these materials can cause instant setting of the concrete, resulting in equipment damage. Accelerators work more effectively at lower temperatures.

Retarders These admixtures slow the chemical reaction of the cement and water, leading to longer setting times and slower initial strength gain. The most common retarders are hydroxylated carboxylic acids, lignins, sugar and some phosphates. They are mainly used when placing concrete in hot weather, particularly when the concrete is pumped; to prevent cold joints due to the duration of placing; and for concrete that needs to be transported for a long time. If a mix is overdosed beyond the limit recommended by the supplier, retardation can last for days. Retarders also often increase plastic shrinkage and plastic settlement cracking, and the delayed addition of retarders can cause extended retardation. For more information, download the leaflet on admixtures at www.theconcreteinstitute.org.za.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS

African Utility Week–Powergen

Hall Longmore

AfriSam

IMESA

APE Pumps Aquatan

10, 54 IBC, 29, 38

36 4, 64

Leeuwpoort Developments/ Urban Dynamics

42 OBC

ASEDA Consulting Engineers

Macsteel

Corestruc

MDCC 45

Davis & Deale Irrigation

Mather+Platt

ERWAT

Mariswe

GLS

Nyeleti Administration Trust

SABS SAFRIPOL

2 IFC

SAPPMA 33 Sika

SIYAZI Gauteng

SMEC

OFC, 6

Umvoto 22

URETEK Geo-systems SA 18

IMIESA July 2020

I M E S A A F F I L I AT E M E M B E R S

IMESA

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES

AECOM siphokuhle.dlamini@aecom.com AFI Consult banie@afri-infra.com Alake Consulting Engineers lunga@alakeconsulting.com ALULA (Pty) Ltd info@alulawater.co.za AQUADAM (Pty) Ltd sales@aquadam.co.za Asla Construction (Pty) Ltd johanv@asla.co.za Aurecon Fani.Xaba@aurecongroup.com Aveng Manufacturing Infraset werner.booyens@infraset.com Averda claude.marais@averda.com Bigen Africa Group Holdings otto.scharfetter@bigenafrica.com BMK Group brian@bmkgroup.co.za Bosch Munitech info@boschmunitech.co.za Bosch Projects (Pty) Ltd mail@boschprojects.co.za BVI Consulting Engineers marketing@bviho.co.za Civilconsult Consulting Engineers mail@civilconsult.co.za Corrosion Institute of Southern Africa secretary@corrosioninstitute.org.za Development Bank of SA divb@dbsa.org.za Dlamindlovu Consulting Engineers & Project Managers info@dlami-ndlovu.co.za DPI Plastics Farhana@dpiplastics.co.za EFG Engineers eric@efgeng.co.za Elster Kent Metering Mark.Shamley@Honeywell.com ERWAT mail@erwat.co.za GIBB marketing@gibb.co.za GIGSA secretary@gigsa.org GLS Consulting nicky@gls.co.za Gorman Rupp Cordeiro@gormanrupp.co.za Gudunkomo Investments & Consulting info@gudunkomo.co.za Hatch Africa (Pty) Ltd info@hatch.co.za Herrenknecht schiewe.helene@herrenknecht.de Huber Technology cs@hubersa.com Hydro-comp Enterprises info@edams.co.za I@Consulting info@iaconsulting.co.za INGEROP mravjee@ingerop.co.za Integrity Environment info@integrityafrica.co.za IQHINA Consulting Engineers & Project Managers info@iqhina.co.za iX engineers (Pty) Ltd hans.k@ixengineers.co.za JBFE Consulting (Pty) Ltd issie@jbfe.co.za JG Afrika DennyC@jgafrika.com KABE Consulting Engineers info@kabe.co.za Kago Consulting Engineers kagocon@kago.co.za Kantey & Templer (K&T) Consulting Engineers ccherry@ctokamteys.co.za Kitso Botlhale Consulting Engineers info@kitsobce.co.za Lektratek Water general@lwt.co.za Lithon Project Consultants (Pty) Ltd info@lithon.com Makhaotse Narasimulu & Associates mmakhaotse@mna-sa.co.za Malani Padayachee & Associates (Pty) Ltd admin@mpa.co.za M & C Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd info@mcconsulting.co.za IMIESA July 2020 Maragela Consulting Engineers admin@maragelaconsulting.co.za

Mariswe (Pty) Ltd neshniec@mariswe.com Martin & East gbyron@martin-east.co.za Mhiduve adminpotch@mhiduve.co.za Mogoba Maphuthi & Associates (Pty) Ltd admin@mmaholdings.co.za Moedi Wa Batho Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd info@wabatho.co.za Much Asphalt bennie.greyling@muchasphalt.com Mvubu Consulting & Project Managers miranda@mvubu.net NAKO ILISO lyn.adams@nakogroup.com Nyeleti Consulting merasmus@nyeleti.co.za Odour Engineering Systems mathewc@oes.co.za Ribicon Consulting Group (Pty) Ltd info@ribicon.co.za francisg@rhdv.com Royal HaskoningDHV SABITA info@sabita.co.za SAFRIPOL mberry@safripol.com SALGA info@salga.org.za SAPPMA admin@sappma.co.za / willem@sappma.co.za SARF administrator@sarf.org.za.co.za SBS Water Systems mava@sbstanks.co.za Sembcorp Siza Water info-sizawater@sembcorp.com Sigodi Marah Martin Management Support lansanam@sigodimarah.co.za SiVEST SA garths@sivest.co.za Sizabantu Piping Systems (Pty) Ltd gregl@sizabantupipingsystems.com SKYV Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd kamesh@skyv.co.za SMEC capetown@smec.com Sobek Engineering gen@sobek.co.za Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology director@sasst.org.za spc@vinci-construction.com Southern Pipeline Contractors (Pty) Ltd SRK Consulting jomar@srk.co.za Star Of Life Emergency Trading CC admin@staroflife.co.za Syntell julia@syntell.co.za TECROVEER (Pty) Ltd info@tecroveer.co.za TPA Consulting roger@tpa.co.za Ulozolo Engineers CC admin@ulozolo.co.za V3 Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd info@v3consulting.co.za south-africa@vetasi.com Vetasi VIP Consulting Engineers esme@vipconsulting.co.za VUKA Africa Consulting Engineers info@vukaafrica.co.za Water Institute of Southern Africa wisa@wisa.org.za Wam Technology CC support@wamsys.co.za Water Solutions Southern Africa ecoetzer@wssa.co.za Wilo South Africa marketingsa@wilo.co.za WRP ronniem@wrp.co.za WRNA washy@wrnyabeze.com WSP Group Africa ansia.meyer@wsp.com

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IMIESA July 2020

Articles inside

Fast-tracking bulk water delivery

Designing the best possible outcomes

Lighting up one of Africa’s greatest cities

How admixtures influence concrete designs

Silo refurbishment at Mamba

The benchmark for green production

Building Systems

Public Lighting

Lighting up one of Africa’s gr eatest cities

Energy

Illuminating communities

Transport solutions that empower

Producing water reticulation hardware post Covid-19

Designing the best possible outcomes

Housing the people

Striving for sustainability in waste

Excellence is earned

A city at work

Aquadam: saving water without breaking the bank

The power of polyethylene

The str ength of steel

Plastic pipelines add value

Fast-tracking bulk water delivery

Constructing a joint-free concrete reservoir

Water architects of our own destiny

Leveraging our water infrastructure

Geotechnical Engineering

Industry Insight: New frontiers in wastewater

Transportation

HOT SEAT: The masters in fluid control

Thought Leadership

Cover Story

Editor’s comment

President’s comment