New era for dam

Gallery Update Video

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS AND VIDEO - The dysfunctional lower sluice valve servicing the Nqweba Dam pump station has been successfully replaced.

This highly specialised project, undertaken by the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (Misa) technical team and contracted engineers on Saturday 19 November, was necessary as the old valve had developed a substantial leak in the valve seat due to age and corrosion.

PHOTO GALLERY: Nqweba Dam gets replacement valve

Sandra Matungadura, Misa project manager, says the replacement of the old valve was much-needed as water is at a premium and Dr Beyers Naudé Municipality is experiencing huge water challenges. "The new valve will enable optimal functioning of the raw water pumps and as soon as we receive sufficient rain, Graaff-Reinet will have a sustainable water supply."

The project started in March but was delayed since the gate valve had to come from China. "The specialized crane arrived on site on Friday but because of the distance between where the old valve had to be removed and the new valve installed coupled with where the crane could safely be positioned, there had to be trial runs. We also had to send down divers to plug the gate with an inflatable balloon to block the water on the dam's side."

It took the team four hours to remove the old valve and then had to prepare the valve seat as the new valve is not the same.

Misa's technical team and contracted engineers installing the new valve.

Specialised welders had to fit a special flange before the new 1000-thousand-millimeter diameter valve could be installed.

Misa falls under national government and is accountable to the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

The replacement of Nqweba Dam's lower sluice valve forms part of Misa's mandate to support municipalities struggling to perform key functions involving infrastructure and basic services.

High praise for municipality

Matungadura speaks highly of the municipality. "As a project manager I work with seven different municipalities within the Sarah Baartman District, but the Dr Beyers Naudé municipality is one of the best municipalities to work with. We have never experienced any problems," she says. "The municipality is one of the few that always spends the money according to plan. In our line of work there are instances where some expenses are questionable, but never with this municipality." She also mentions that the municipality also spent their drought relief funding according to plan and on time. "It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Dr Beyers Naudé municipality," she says.

She says the final phase of the project will be the de-silting of the dam.

Bennie Arends, municipal director of infrastructure services, says the de-silting of the dam is included in the municipality's medium-term interventions, and they are in the process of obtaining approval and funding.