The upgrade of the Caesars Dam Water Treatment Works, in the Addo region of the Eastern Cape, should ensure a consistent supply of water for the town of Paterson, which has an estimated population of 8 681 people.

Black-owned engineering consulting firm GIBB reports that the upgrade was completed at the end of April.

Design engineer Thulani Gumede says the scope of work on the project – part of the Paterson Bulk Water Supply Project – which started in August 2012, is valued at about R13.7-million and will expand capacity to at least 250 m³ of water an hour. The water treatment works currently only pumps 145 m³ an hour.

“The town currently obtains all its potable water from ground- water abstracted from boreholes. The water is supplied through five boreholes located outside the town, but only four boreholes are used for domestic consumption as the fifth borehole is contaminated. The upgrade will alleviate the problem of the town obtaining its water from boreholes, which remains largely inadequate and is a health risk,” he explains.

Gumede highlights that GIBB’s scope of work includes the upgrade of two raw water pumps with the combined capacity of 266 m³ an hour and a standby pump; the upgrading of 50 m of rising main from 150 mm diameter to 250 mm diameter; a new concrete clarifier and a set of rapid gravity sand filters; and the upgrade of a chemi- cal storage and dosing system.

”The upgrade of the Caesars Dam Water Treatment Works is critical, as the municipality has considerable ecotourism and agricultural potential. The Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) is an important economic driver in the area,” he notes.

Now the third-largest national park in South Africa, the AENP has expanded to conserve a wide diversity of biodiversity, landscapes, fauna and flora. It stretches from the semi-arid karoo area, in the north around Darlington dam, over the rugged Zuurberg mountains, through the Sundays river – which is regarded as one of the key production areas for citrus and deciduous fruit farming in South Africa.

“The upgrade of the water supply is expected to contribute positively to agricultural activities in the area, which have over the past year been severely affected by the water shortage. This has had a concomitant negative effect on employment sustainability and job creation in the area,” he concludes.