Name and Location
Northern aqueduct augmentation (NAA) project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS).

Project Description
The NAA project forms part of the eThekwini strategic master plan to deal with the increasing demand for water in the northern regions of Durban.

It is expected that the NAA project will inject 150-million litres a day of water into the area. The supply area will include the north-eastern regions of Durban north of the Umgeni river, south of the Tongaat river and east of Ntuzuma. Urban developments planned for Cornubia, King Shaka Airport, Dube Trade Port and the surrounding regions will also benefit from the project.

Water from the Western Aqueduct (WA) project is proposed to be injected into the NAA system through a pipeline linking Emachobeni to Umhlanga Rocks. The project will include some of the reservoirs in Ntuzuma and Phoenix, as well as the Blackburn reservoir, in Cornubia.

The project will comprise four engineering phases.

The first phase, which started in March 2014, will consist of 18-m-long steel pipes, ranging from 1 200 mm to 700 mm in diameter. The pipes will link the existing reservoirs in Phoenix to the existing reservoirs in Umhlanga and Waterloo, with a feed to the new Blackburn reservoir. This phase comprises 22 km of pipeline.

The first phase also includes a 1 200-mm-diameter steel pipeline over 6 km from Duffs road to Phoenix reservoir, valued at R 90 million.

The second phase, from Durban Heights reservoir to Duffs road, involves laying 15 km of 1 200 mm steel pipeline.

Phase 3 will involve the construction of the 1 200-mm-diameter pipeline between the town of Emachobeni and the Phoenix 2 reservoir, and will close the link between the current WA pipeline project and the northern-most portions of the eThekwini water supply network.

Phase 4 will comprise pipe construction from the town of Ntuzuma to the town of Ogunjini. This entails laying 22 km of 600-mm- and 300-mm-diameter pipes, the construction of a ten-million-litre capacity reservoir and a booster pumpstation, all of which are in the Ntanda region. 

Value
The project is estimated at R860-million.

Duration
Phase 1 is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2015.

Construction of phases 2 and 3 are scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Construction of Phase 4 is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2015.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2017.

Latest Developments
EWS has reported that construction of the NAA is still on track for completion in 2017.

Meanwhile, the tender award for the construction of the Blackburn reservoir, which is essential for further development in the Cornubia integrated development, north of Durban, is imminent.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Knight Piésold Consulting and Naidu Consulting (feasibility study) and Esor Franki Construction (Phase 1).

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
eThekwini Municipality, tel +27 31 311 1111 or email sizakala@durban.gov.za.
Knight Piésold Consulting (South Africa), Iain Watson, tel +27 31 276 4660 or
fax +27 31 262 2950.
Naidu Consulting, tel +27 31 262 0272, fax +27 31 262 2547 or email info@naiduconsulting.com.
Esor Franki Construction, tel +27 11 776 8700, fax +27 11 822 1158 or email info@esorfranki.co.za.