The handover ceremony of the upgraded St Francis Bag wastewater treatment works [WWTW] for the Kouga Local Municipality, located in the Eastern Cape has recently taken place. The upgrade has taken the capacity from 750 m3/dag up to 2000 m3/day and includes the refurbishment of the existing works covering civils, mechanical and electrical. The upgrade ensures that effluent being discharged from the WWTW complies with relevant standards.
The Kouga Local Municipality, located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa forms part of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality. The newly upgraded plant serves the growing communities of St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Sea Vista and will cater for future development in the area. The Kouga Local Municipality is proactively providing infrastructure for future economic growth in the area.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Prentec's Managing Director, Stewart Buchanan highlighted that Prentec had constructed the original plant back in 1995, with two subsequent upgrades in capacity in 2000 and 2007. Each of the 250 m3/day phases being constructed as a turnkey design and construct contract. Buchanan said that Prentec has established an ongoing relationship with the Kouga Local Municipality by providing and supporting these pants over the years.
SRK Consulting were appointed as the Consulting Engineers for the client - to design and implement the upgrading of the WWTW. This includes the design and implementation of additional infrastructure to meet the increased volumetric and organic loading of the works. The sludge handling capacity of the works was also upgraded to accommodate the increase in sludge volumes. The hydraulic loading on the treatment works is extremely seasonal, since the town has a permanent population of approximately 10% of the peak holiday population, and therefore experiences peak leading in December/January (Christmas holiday) and in April (Easter holiday).
SRK Contributor:
Tiaan Claassen
