Emergency sewer upgrade was completed on time and within budget in a declared disaster zone.

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has successfully completed a R13 million emergency sewer upgrade in the Klippoortjie area with the assistance of Incledon after the area was declared a disaster zone as a result of extensive leakages in the corroded pipeline.

Incledon was contacted in April to supply more than 1 600 m of 1 000 mm diameter steel-reinforced spirally wound high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sewer pipes to replace the existing concrete pipeline. Installed in 1935, the pipeline had to be urgently replaced after it had been severely corroded due to toxic gases created by the raw sewerage, which had begun to spill into residential and agricultural land.

Ekurhuleni Municipality professional engineering technologist Oupa Matshate points out that the area was immediately declared a disaster zone following the spillage, which created serious health and safety concerns for residents in the area. “We urgently required the delivery of a suitable pipeline and Incledon was able to meet our demands in an exceptionally swift and professional manner.”

The steel-reinforced spirally wound HDPE sewer pipes that were supplied to the project by Incledon are manufactured by Amanzi  Starway, a leading local specialist in the supply of high-quality drainage and sewer pipes. Matshate notes that the brand was selected for the project due to its excellent corrosion and wear-resistant properties.

“At the time of installation, concrete pipes were recognised as the best material for sewerage pipes. After more than 75 years of operation, however, the concrete had been corroded as a result of prolonged exposure to toxic gases such as hydrogen sulphide, methane and carbon monoxide. High-quality HDPE piping was selected as the product of choice because polyethylene is a non-polar high-molecular weight hydrocarbon that is highly resistant to chemicals and other media such as salts, acids and alkalis,” Matshate indicates.

Due to its high ring stiffness and the axial flexibility of spiral reinforced HDPE pipe, the new pipe is able to relieve the excessive stress caused by soil settlement, groundwater floating and excessive loads through elastic deformation, which prevents leakage and damage at the joints.

Incledon departmental head of infrastructure, Ian Geldard, points out that the pipe product supplied for the emergency sewer upgrade project is of the highest quality and is manufactured according to SANS 674:2010 specifications.

The emergency pipeline upgrade project was divided into three phases with all contract work completed by Baatshuma Electrical within one month. The first phase of the project involved the installation of 425 m of piping; 777 m of piping was installed in phase two and a further 2 700 m was laid in the final phase. All 12 m length pipes for each phase of the project were delivered within 14 to 30 days of Ekurhuleni unicipality placing the order.

Matshate adds that the state of the environment that was affected by the leakage will be closely monitored and long-term rehabilitation measures will be undertaken when and where necessary.