WASTEWATER
Sanitation planning for eThekwini Following the completion of conceptual wastewater feasibility studies and financial modelling, eThekwini Municipality now has a master plan for bulk sanitation in two of its catchments.
T
he studies and modelling, undertaken by Bosch Projects and Bosch Capital – members of the Bosch Holdings group of companies – included a conceptual level infrastructure planning exercise for the Umlazi and Umhlatuzana catchment areas within eThekwini Municipality. The planning reports will serve as a master plan for the municipality, providing a strategic motivation for bulk sanitation augmentation and infrastructure investment within these catchments over the short, medium and longer term. According to Jason Holder, divisional manager: KZN Wastewater, Bosch Projects, the purpose and objectives of the bulk sanitation/wastewater catchment studies were to present the most favourable options to best serve key areas in the short to long term. “We also needed to assess the impact on existing and future
bulk sanitation infrastructure and considered human settlement housing plans, sanitation backlog areas and future developable areas. These wastewater feasibility design studies – which involved engineering, financial, social and environmental factors – were based on a high-level approach incorporating infrastructure designed for fully developed catchments.” This project, with an anticipated value of over R1 billion, spans 43 000 ha and will benefit 1.2 million people, which comprises a backlog of approximately 280 000 people who are currently without sanitation services.
Financial modelling
As part of financial modelling and cost benefit analysis components for this project, capital costs were calculated for the new infrastructure, while operational
costs were based on actual information provided by the eThekwini Wastewater Operations Department. A life-cycle costing approach was applied over a 20-year period and the project returns for each of the possible scenarios were compared through the use of indicators such as net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback and discounted payback period. The team conceptualised a multicriteria decision matrix, incorporating weighted scoring where applicable, to critically and transparently evaluate each of the potential scenarios. Parameters that were included in the scoring matrix included environmental, capex, opex, life-cycle costing, social benefit (backlog eradication) and alignment with eThekwini Municipality’s strategic planning. The Bosch Projects and Bosch Capital teams worked closely with key stakeholders within eThekwini Municipality to obtain relevant information for future developments, guidance and approval, where necessary. They also ensured the successful delivery of a project that was well designed to meet the client’s requirements. S E P T/ OC T 2020
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