Work at the Northern wastewater treatment works progressing well

 

THE restoration of the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works is progressing well, with noticeable improvement of treated effluent being discharged.

This follows an oversight visit to the WWTW by Head of the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit Ednick Msweli on 31 July to assess the progress of repairs. 

The plant is a hive of activity with the contractor working round the clock to ensure that effluent released from the plant aligns with water quality regulations and prevents contamination of the Umgeni River. 

Some of the interventions that have been implemented to improve quality of effluent and prevent contamination of the environment includes dredging of maturation pond sludge. 

The facility employs a system of ponds for further treatment and polishing of the final effluent prior to its release into the river. There are five ponds with a total of four kilometres combined. 

Periodic dredging of these ponds is necessary to mitigate the accumulation of solid substances within the process. 

Removal of surface vegetation and repair of embarkment is also in progress. 

The Northern Works was damaged during the floods, which left the plant non-operational as the entire facility was submerged underwater. 

The City undertook minor emergency repairs to partially bring the plant online (operational) while major refurbishments were being prepared. 

The contractor undertaking the major refurbishment commenced work earlier this year. The project cost R500 million and is expected to be completed in 2027. 

Refurbishment is being undertaken in different phases. This includes enhancing the quality of the effluent being discharged, repairs of damaged components of the 50 megalitres a day (Ml/d) and 20 Ml/d plants to enable the full plant capacity of 70 Ml/d, sludge handling and disposal. Cleaning of aerated de-gritters, functional repairs, and augmentation of the works to achieve maximum plant capacity are also being done. 

Msweli was impressed with the progress that has been made to date. He said the unit is also focusing on ensuring that nearby wastewater pumpstations are operational to prevent contamination of the environment. 

He said the theft and vandalism of electrical equipment at nearby pumpstations are the biggest challenges, which often result in the pumpstation overflowing into the river. 

''The City will continue to employ various interventions to prevent contamination and test water quality which is currently being done,'' he added. 

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Discussions with Umngeni-Uthukela 

water to improve water provision 

AS PART of an ongoing effort to ensure uninterrupted water supply in the city, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba led the city's Executive Committee in a meeting with Umngeni-uThukela Water on 26 July. 

Among the pertinent issues discussed in the meeting were interventions to address non-revenue water and water reduction measures while efforts to curtail non-revenue water are ongoing. 

The City leadership also received an update on major water and sanitation infrastructure projects that are currently underway to ensure sustainable water provision. 

Mayor Xaba welcomed the opportunity to meet with the leadership of the water utility to find lasting solutions to water challenges. He urged residents to work with the Municipality and continue to use water sparingly.

UMngeni-uThukela Water Board Chairperson Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo said it was important for the Municipality and the Water Board to continue working collaboratively in pursuit of sustained water provision for all. 

He added that uMnegni-uThukela Water would continue to support the eThekwini Municipality through fast-tracking various water delivery projects such as the Amanzimtoti Water Works and the construction of the uMkhomazi Dam project. 

to 6 AM, over the next three months. 

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Social housing to address need for 

affordable housing in inner city

APPROXIMATELY 7 000 

social housing units are expected to be built in the Durban inner-city in the next few years. This is to accommodate the growth in population and demand for affordable housing. 

This emerged during a Town Talk on social housing opportunities in the inner-city as part of the engagement for the inner-city regeneration campaign. 

With rapid urbanisation, cities are bursting at the seams and are compelled to reinvent the urban core to accommodate this growth in population. EThekwini is already feeling the impact of this rise in population in the urban centres. 

The Inner-City Regeneration Strategy aims to accommodate approximately 450 000 people in the inner city. At least 40 percent of the accommodation provided will be a mix of affordable, gap and social housing. 

Sma Moloi, Deputy Head of Formal Housing in the Human Settlements Department explained that social housing refers to housing which the government partners with the private sector to provide affordable housing for those who are earning a certain income and can enter into a lease agreement with the owner of the property. 

Government provides a partial subsidisation and disburses funding for infrastructure development. 

The City facilitates robust land release strategy to accelerate the development of affordable housing. 

Moloi explained that there are many incentives offered to developers of social housing. 

Land is released over a 50 year period for a highly discount rate of 90 percent. 

Land for gap housing is also discounted at by up to 70 percent making it attractive and viable to develop social housing. The City also offers a reduction in development fees and guides the developer to ensure success. 

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