Consulting engineering solutions provider Bosch Projects has been appointed by the Blue Crane Route municipality (BCRM) as consultants for the refurbishment of the water treatment works (WTW) for the towns of Somerset East and Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape.

“Although water of acceptable quality is currently produced at the existing Orange-Fish WTW in Somerset East and the Cookhouse WTW, urgent intervention is required to ensure water quality continues to meet required standards,” says Bosch Projects Gqeberha project manager Rowan Bode.

“The main objective of this R30-million project is to restore both plants back to a fully operational state and improve the water quality delivered to local communities.

“The Bosch Projects team conducted site investigations and has assisted the BCRM to acquire funding. These projects are extremely challenging as no as-built information is available and refurbishment activities must be planned to ensure the plants remain fully operational during construction.”

The scope of work on both plants entails refurbishment of the inlet works, settling tanks and gravel filters; refurbishment of air blowers and backwash pumps, renovation of chlorine rooms and to provide a new fully automated chlorine dosing system.

Bulk storage areas for chemical dosing will be renovated and new fully automated chemical dosing systems will be installed. These projects also require cleaning and de-sludging of sludge ponds, refurbishment of administration buildings and installation of new security fencing.

Electrical supplies at both WTWs will be upgraded, including the provision of new transformers and installation of back-up generators.

The Orange Fish WTW requires refurbishment of the high lift pump set and replacement of about 350 m of 200 mmØ UPVC Class 16 rising main. A new access road to the WTW in Cookhouse will also be constructed.

Refurbishment of the Orange-Fish WTW has commenced, with anticipated completion at the end of the year, while the three-year Cookhouse WTW project is expected to reach completion mid-2025.