The South African government has set aside US $24m
for refurbishment works on all wastewater treatment plants in the Vaal River in
Mpumalanga province.
The project comes after the signing of
implementation protocol last month by Agriculture, Water and
Sanitation ministry, South African National Defence
Force (SANDF), Municipal
Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs Department in Gauteng, Emfuleni Local Municipality and East Rand Water
Care Company (ERWAT).
“On the implementation protocol, my department
appointed ERWAT as the implementing agent of the project. ERWAT is a wastewater
specialist company and its role will be ensuring that all wastewater treatment
infrastructure is resuscitated to an operational state and pollution of the
river stopped to reduce health risks,” said Agriculture, Water and
Sanitation Minister Gugile Nkwinti.
The project is part of Vaal River Rehabilitation
Projects which kicked off last year after the river was polluted by raw sewage
from pump stations in the Emfuleni Municipality on the north part of the river
posing health risks.
“The Vaal River Catchment Management Agency will
ensure that water is protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and
controlled in a sustainable and equitable manner,” the minister said.
About 120 000 households in the southern part of
Gauteng are set to benefit from the module 6 of the project while construction
works on module 7 will begin by July 2019. Minister Nkwinti also informed the
community that construction works on the Module 6 of Sebokeng Wastewater
Treatment are ongoing and set to be completed by May 2019.
According to the Minister a total of 250 youth and
community members will undergo training on carpentry, plumbing and bricklaying
to help on construction works on site.
“SANDF will also chip in to train 2000 youth and
community members to help in guarding the 44 pump stations until the project is
completed on March 2020” added the Minister.
Minister Nkwinti further announced that Vaal Catchment Management Agency will be established in the area to help in reporting on pollution incidents, river monitoring and also raise awareness on the importance of protecting the environment and water sources.https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/04/wastewater-treatment-plants-in-river-vaal-south-africa-set-for-rehabilitation/
