Drakenstein Municipality this week said its R426 million budget allocation for the “urgent upgrade” of Paarl’s wastewater treatment plant is aimed at increasing wastewater- and sludge-treatment capacity for Paarl, Mbekweni and Wellington as well as to meet demands of future developments.
Executive Mayor Stephen Korabie announced the allocation in his budget speech for the 2025-’26 financial year last week.
Additionally, R3,9 million was allocated for the rehabilitation and extension of the Wellington Wastewater Treatment Works and R20 million for bulk services in Simondium.
In 2022 National Treasury awarded the municipality R1,4 billion in what is known as the Bulk Infrastructure Facility (BFI) grant.
READ: R1,4 bn to boost wastewater
One project focuses on the urgent need to upgrade and expand the Paarl Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) and associated bulk outfall-sewer capacity, explained Municipal Executive Director for Engineering Services Louis Pienaar.
He said the Paarl WWTW upgrade will be implemented in two phases.
“Phase 1 involves upgrading the WWTW’s liquid-treatment process to handle an average dry weather flow of 35 ML/day, ensuring compliance with the Municipality’s Water Use Licence.
“This will remove current process limitations, reduce energy demand, optimise operational and maintenance costs, and help prevent any possible further pollution of the Berg River.”
Phase 1 includes two main construction contracts:
1. CES 01/2023 (Civil Works): Awarded to Stefanutti Stocks (Pty) Ltd; and
2. CES 04/2023 (Mechanical and Electrical Works): Awarded to Inenzo Water.
Pienaar said both contracts commenced on 13 September 2023, with completion targeted for April next year.
He pointed out that phase 2 will establish a centralised sludge treatment facility at the Paarl WWTW to process sludge from both the Paarl and Wellington plants.
“This intervention will increase wastewater and sludge-treatment capacity for Paarl, Mbekweni Wellington and surrounding areas, improving effluent quality, meeting current service demands, and enabling future development.”
Separately, the Southern Paarl Bulk Sewer upgrade is being implemented under Contract CES 2/2023, awarded to JVZ Construction, with Bigen as the consulting engineer.
This project also began on 13 September 2023 and was scheduled for completion by 30 June this year, he added.
At the Wellington WWTW, a further upgrade involves the supply of turbo compact compressor package blowers, Pienaar said.
“These will support the critical biological aeration process in bioreactors, ensuring compliance with final effluent standards set by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
“Completion is planned for the end of June next year.”
According to Pienaar the average lifespan of a wastewater-treatment plant is 40 to 50 years, while treatment equipment typically lasts 15 to 20 years.
