Multidisciplinary consulting engineering, project and construction management firm Zimile Consulting Engineers has completed a large-scale water supply scheme covering seven villages in the uMuzimkhulu local municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal.

The project, the implementation of which started in early May 2021, with handover to the municipality at the end of last month, aims to support rural communities with clean and safe drinkable water and to cater for additional families coming into the areas.

The scope of work on the multifaceted project included borehole drilling; network refurbishment; electrical work; design and construction of rising mains; and water storage solutions, besides others.

“With several sites needing our attention, each with its own unique requirements and challenges, we were able to put our skills to the test. We needed to be dynamic and flexible for this undertaking, to ensure the right solution was matched to each village’s water system,” says Zimile Consulting Engineers junior technologist Vuyokazi Radebe.

Many of the sites were in a poor condition, had illegal connections and had insufficient water treatment processes, rendering the water unsafe.

The firm refurbished a borehole and drilled a total of four new boreholes, as well as refurbished two springs.

Further, three new water reticulation systems were designed and executed, with the refurbishment of another three, and three new water storage tanks were added.

“The team at Zimile made sure that each site was equipped with the right control and monitoring technology where necessary, and repairs and replacements were made to the pipes to ensure the new water infrastructure would hold firm for many years to come,” Radebe explains.

Additions were made in terms of water treatment, with two sites being fitted with chlorine dosing plants to ensure the borehole water does not pose any dangers to the communities.

“As we near the end of another successful project, we have added even more experience to our team. Working across scattered and remote communities was no simple task, but we rose to the occasion and are ready to apply the lessons learnt to our next rural infrastructure project.

“Providing clean and safe drinking water is a priority for many local governments. We are glad to be playing our part by offering comprehensive and reliable water infrastructure solutions to public-sector clients,” Radebe concludes.