The Greater Bulwer Bulk Water Supply Project
Located within the Ingwe Local Municipality of the Harry Gwala District Municipality, the Greater Bulwer Bulk Water Supply Scheme entails the construction of a dam, raw water pump station and rising main water treatment plant (WTP), storage reservoirs and bulk distribution pipelines.
This bulk water supply scheme will provide a sustainable water service to the greater Bulwer, Gala, Nkwazela and Donnybrook areas. The current WTP in Bulwer only has the capacity to supply the water demands of the town. The remaining areas have either rudimentary stand-alone schemes that provide a basic level of service or no water services at all.
The bulk water scheme is thus seen as the long-term solution to water services for the Donnybrook, Creighton and Ixopo areas. This scheme could also be extended further beyond Donnybrook at a later stage depending on water demands in the area and the availability of water resources.
The project is expected to be undertaken in a phased manner over the next few years, based on priorities within the area and the availability of funding. The estimated long-term water demand is 11,000 cubic metres per day. The Scheme will consist of a raw water pump station, 5km of 350mm diameter raw water rising main, 11 Ml/d WTP and potable pipelines ranging from 160 – 350 mm in diameter. The total length of these pipelines is approximately 35km. The scheme will be rolled out in two Phases, namely:
As part of the first phase of the Greater Bulwer Water Supply Scheme, the Bulwer Emergency Intervention was constructed. The project consisted of a weir on the Luhane River, a pipeline from the weir site on the Luhane River to Bulwer Town and to a point to provide water to the Donnybrook/Gala areas, an abstraction system and pump station at the weir site, a package treatment plant at the weir site, a reservoir positioned at the existing reservoir and Water Treatment Works in Bulwer Town.
The project started with the construction of the Bulwer Emergency Intervention in February 2013 and it was completed in May 2015. It is currently serving a population of 20 448 people. The total project cost was R88 557 574 - 00, which was funded from the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG). The number of jobs created during construction amounted to 384.
Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Departmental Spokesperson: Media Liaison
Cell: 082 874 2942 or 072 024 6794
Mbali Mahaye
Cell: 082 601 5674
