Simondium Water Pipeline, Drakenstein
The Drakenstein Municipality proposes to increase the assured supply of water for existing and future developments within the Simondium area. The proposed project forms part of the broader water master plan to upgrade the municipality's water reticulation system, to anticipate and meet the requirements of future urban expansion.
The proposed activity can be divided into two components. The first component involves the construction of a below ground 110 mm diameter High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipeline and the decommissioning of an existing 100 mm diameter fibre cement pipeline, which currently supplies the surrounding area.
The second component of the activity involves the proposed construction of a 200 mm diameter (HDPE) water distribution pipeline, and the decommissioning and removal of an existing 100 mm diameter fibre cement pipeline. The existing 100 mm diameter fibre cement pipeline currently extends along the proposed route outlined for the 200 mm diameter pipeline. Subsequently, due to in-sufficient capacity to meet the growing needs of the surrounding area, this 100 mm diameter pipeline will be removed, and the proposed 200 mm diameter pipeline will be laid within the existing construction footprint. The proposed pipelines, for both components, would be installed within the road reserve of Main Road 191 (R45) and Watergat Road.
Current Project Phase
Our previous correspondence dated 7 and 30 July 2009, notifying you of the availability of the Draft and Final Basic Assessment Report (BAR) respectively, refers. As a registered Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) we would like to inform you of the current status for the Basic Assessment process currently being undertaken for the aforementioned project.
As previously explained, the Drakenstein Municipality proposes to construct two water distribution pipelines to increase the assured supply of water to the Simondium area. The proposed project forms part of the broader water master plan to upgrade the municipality's water reticulation system. The intention of the proposed infrastructure is to supplement the water supply of the current population and future development within greater Simondium area(s).
Based on a request from the Drakenstein Municipality, certain sections of the pipeline route have been amended. Consequently, the BAR has been revised and updated to include the proposed changes. In terms of the proposed pipeline, two amendments have been made, which are as follows:
The proposed 200 mm diameter water pipeline was initially proposed to extend along the southern border of Watergat Road, and connect to an existing chamber point located adjacent to the Clinic. However, the municipality has now decided to extend the proposed 200 mm diameter pipeline by an additional 196 m further up Watergat Road. Consequently, the proposed pipeline will now extend up to an informal settlement located at the top of Watergat Road. The reasons for this extension are to service the residents of the informal settlement and include future developments into the current design.
The proposed 110 mm diameter water pipeline was initially proposed to extend from south of the access road to the Rust en Vreugd Farm for approximately 390 m, until it links with the proposed 200 mm diameter pipeline on Watergat Road. Along this route, the proposed
110 mm diameter pipeline was expected to be attached to two pedestrian bridges when crossing two seasonal streams. However, the district roads engineers have indicated that there are future plans that may impact these pedestrian bridges, and consequently, will not allow the proposed pipeline to be attached to these structures. Furthermore, it was noted that the river embankment and retaining wall located adjacent to the pedestrian bridge that crosses the Meulstroom River was considered to be unstable in the long term. Based on these factors, the pipeline route has now been slightly amended. As a result, the proposed 110 mm diameter pipeline will now cross the Meulstroom River only, which is approximately 15 m downstream of the pedestrian bridge. Upon completion of the Meulstroom River crossing point, the proposed 110 mm diameter pipeline will revert back to its original route.
The Revised Final BAR was made available to the public for a 21 day comment period from 4 June to 16 July 2010. Copies of the report have been lodged at Pniel and Drakenstein Public Library and also below. As an I&AP, you are invited to review and comment on the Revised Final BAR. Should you have any comments, issues or concerns regarding the proposed project or the findings of the Revised Final BAR or simply want to register as I&AP, please provide your comments in writing to Aurecon by email, fax or post, on or before Monday, 30 August 2010.