A safe, reliable water supply is crucial for the vitality of a region’s economy and quality of life of its residents. The OR Tambo District Municipality (ORTDM) identified the need to consolidate water supply to the Libode Town and surrounding villages. This forms part of a long-term strategy to maximise the reliability of the region’s water supply and reduce water supply interruptions in the area.

The Rosedale Extension to the Libode Water Supply Project was approved under the presidential intervention as an emergency water supply scheme. The main aim of the project is to augment the existing water supply in Libode and provide the neighbouring villages with portable water.

Consulting engineering firm, GIBB, are the lead consultants working with SMME sub consultants in the roll-out of the scheme, which is divided into three phases.

“Currently, community members often end up reverting to local rivers for water due to continuous water supply interruptions.The scheme will improve the reliability and assurance of water supply to the project area providing a much needed additional water source to the surrounding suburb areas of Mthatha and Libode, thus relieving the pressure from the Thornhill WTW,” said Nokuphumula Mkhwanazi, Technical Executive at GIBB.

“The process will involve the use of an underground water trench in wetland areas with high water tables, which consisted of granite coarse stone laid below the bedding to create a soaker way system to channel away water from the pipe trenches,” he continued.

GIBB is currently in phase one of three phases of the project, expected to be completed by December 2013.

• Phase 1 consists of the construction of a bulk gravity pipeline and a rising main to convey water from a proposed 30 Mℓ WTW at Rosedale to Libode town and villages.
• Phase 2 will be the construction of a 30 Mℓ water treatment plant in Rosedale, including raw water abstraction from the Mthatha Dam.
• Phase 3 will provide reticulation from the tee-off to reservoir R532 to the rest of the rural villages to the east of Libode. This phase will consist of the construction of a 40 km pipeline and eight storage reservoirs. The project is packaged to promote the development of SMME’s with contractors having the opportunity to be mentored by large construction companies.The suppliers of Glass Fabricated Pipes deployed their skilled personal to assist and mentor the contractors in pipe laying. Engineering graduates were given the opportunity to gain experience on the design of various components and also on site monitoring as assistant Resident Engineers.
  “About 300 people will be employed at the project’s peak. The project creates vast opportunity for job creation and has enabled the engagement of local labour for excavation of trenches and construction of water mains,” explained Mkhwanazi.
  “What made GIBB particularly suited for the project is the fact that we are uniquely experienced in the nature of the project through our expertise in bulk water master planning and our vast track record and knowledge of the project area after having conducted a master plan report for the project area,” continued Mkhwanazi.
  The Libode area falls under the Nyandeni Local Municipality (NLM) which is part of the ORTDM.The Water Services Authority is responsible for the provision of water services to the area. The current population of 31 815 has been allowed for, in the planning of the project. This figure is expected to grow to 35 152 by 2033. A total of 33 villages will benefit from this scheme.