A huge, newly constructed Mine Water Reclamation Plant (MWRP) in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, recently received assistance from of  leading structural strengthening giant.

Although not the first such plant in this coal mining area, it is the largest of its kind and will purify millions of litres of toxic mine water that will be safely returned to local municipal waterways.

Realising the restrictive work environment on this project, Delf Consulting Engineers had no hesitation in specifying Sika’s Sikadur-Combiflex SG system.

With its international approval for drinking water suitability, the Sikadur-Combiflex SG system was used to seal all construction and expansion joints within the water retaining structures, including all water tanks and clarifiers.

Sikadur-Combiflex SG is a high performance joint sealing system consisting of a modified, flexible Polyolefin (FPO) waterproofing tape and Sikadur-31 CF Normal, an advanced thixotropic, moisture-tolerant, structural two-part adhesive based on a combination of epoxy resins and special fillers.

When fixed to a joint, the Sikadur-Combiflex SG system allows for irregular and high movement in more than one direction whilst still maintaining a high quality seal.

Flexible and easy to install

Working under extremely difficult conditions that included confined spaces and rigid safety requirements; contractor Liviero Civils installed 2 000 metres of the Sikadur-Combiflex SG system.

Since it is extremely flexible, easy to install, and provides excellent adhesion on either dry or damp concrete surfaces, it was the ideal product for this challenging situation.

For highly effective chemical protection of the pump stations, chemical dosing areas and clarifier launders at the plant, Sika’s Sikagard-63 N (2 000m²) was specified. This 100% solids, two-part epoxy resin coating, designed for normal to aggressive chemical environments, is simple to apply, liquid-proof and solvent-free.

Since the application of these products was a high priority project that could not afford any delays, a restrictive time schedule was imposed. Unfortunately, severe weather conditions prevailed which caused major delays.

With increased emphasis on protection of the environment, Aveng Water, who constructed this plant, is playing an important role in combating the problem of acid mine drainage (AMD), while the use of Sika’s products ensures the durability of the plant and thereby the provision of millions of litres of potable water.