Sewer line upgrade project unpacked
In an in-depth discussion, Brand unpacked the different stages of the project and when the job will be carried out.
Ward 126 councillor David Brand has announced that Johannesburg Water has appointed contractors to undertake a vital upgrade and replacement project that will see 26,5 km of sewer lines and manholes being replaced.
In an in-depth discussion, Brand unpacked the different stages of the project and when the job will be carried out.
“The project will be delivered in three phases (covering three different geographical areas within ward 126) and all three phases will be carried out concurrently. The work is due to start early in January 2018, with contractors setting up their site offices and yards before the end of the year,” Brand explained.
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Brand tackled the disruption of services during the digging of trenches during the process. “Residents will be pleased to note that more than 60 per cent of the work will be trenchless, which will help avoid the problems experienced recently with other projects such as laying of the fibre optical cables, when other services were interrupted by damage caused while digging trenches,” he promised.
He added that, “Instead of digging trenches, a hydraulic tool will be run through the existing sewer line in a process commonly known as ‘jacking’.”
“In this process, the existing (asbestos) pipe is broken up and specially designed pipes are pushed through the surrounding earth, while rubble and the broken existing pipes are removed through the inside of the new pipe.”
Brand further explained that the sewer network that will be replaced was laid between 1972 and 1976 and made of asbestos, which has not only reached the end of its life-cycle, but is also difficult to join to newer materials used today when replacing broken pipes etc.
He also made it clear that the appointed contractors are contracted for each phase and will appoint Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) whose function it will be to communicate with residents on all the aspects of the project.
The project may take 8 to 18 months to complete, depending on the given time each contractor takes to complete a phase.
Technical queries can be directed to Nqobizitha Ndimande, the Joburg Water project manager for this project, on 011 688 6573.
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