Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality successfully completed a R13 million emergency sewer upgrade in the Klippoortjie area after the area was declared a disaster zone following leakages in the existing and outdated pipeline.

Incledon was contacted in April 2012 to urgently 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 existing concrete 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 in early April following the spillage of the sewerage, 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,” he explains.

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 manufacture of high-quality drainage and sewer pipes. Matshate notes that the Amanzi Starway 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,” he continues.

Due to its high ring stiffness and axial flexibility of spiral reinforced HDPE pipe, Matshate highlights the fact that the Amanzi Starway steel reinforced HDPE 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.

The pipes are manufactured with a steel reinforced polyethylene profile that is formed by integrating HDPE with steel strips by means of an integration machine, which allows for ring stiffness rating up to 8, 10, and 12.5 kN/m².

Matshate points out that the Klippoortjie emergency sewer 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, while the second phase saw 777 m of piping installed, and phase 3 had an additional 2 700 m laid. The contractors did a fantastic job in ensuring that the emergency sewer pipeline was rapidly installed to urgent deadlines, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and workmanship on a consistent and around-the-clock basis.”