A Water Transfer System (WTS) Project that forms part of the Mooi-Mgeni Transfer Scheme – Phase 2 (MMTS-2)  is currently in the trial phase in KwaZulu Natal.

The project, which was completed and commissioned on 19 February 2016. was designed by AECOM who was also responsible for monitoring the construction for the State-owned Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA).

“The timely completion of the project has allowed the DWS more flexibility in managing its resources and supplying much needed water into the Umgeni River system in order to alleviate the water shortages due to the current drought,” J. Nyakale, Project Manager, TCTA, comments.

The Mgeni Water System in KwaZulu-Natal supplies water to about five million people, as well as the industrial sectors in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg regions, the economic hubs of the province.

Emergency measures

The growth in water demand and intermittent drought periods since 2003 necessitated the implementation of MMTS-2 as an emergency project to address the need for augmentation of the supplies to these downstream areas.

The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry at the time directed the TCTA to fund and implement MMTS-2.

The project comprised construction of a 37.7 m high dam on the Mooi River next to Rosetta, known as the Spring Grove Dam, with a storage capacity of 139.5 m³, and augmentation of the existing WTS through the construction of a pump station and pipeline.

The project increased the current yield of the Mooi-Mgeni System by 60 million m³/annum to 394 million m³/annum.

Ultimately it has boosted the available water resources in this area of supply, which comprises the six municipalities of eThekwini Metropolitan, uMgungundlovu District Municipality and the local municipalities of Msunduzi, Ugu and Ilembe.

Construction of the MMTS-2 WTS commenced officially after the successful completion of the Spring Grove Dam. Its main components are:

• A 5.8 MW pump station taking water from Spring Grove Dam, delivering a maximum 4.5 m³/s.
• A new 1 600 mm nominal diameter welded steel raw water rising main from Spring Grove Dam to the Gowrie break pressure tank at Nottingham Road, over 6.5 km.
• A new 1 400 mm/900 mm nominal diameter welded steel raw water gravity main from the Gowrie break pressure tank to the Mpofana River outfall works, over 8.2 km.
• A new 650 mm nominal diameter welded steel potable water pipeline for Umgeni Water, constructed in parallel with the 1 600 mm nominal diameter raw water rising main, and beyond, over 8.3 km.