Construction World December 2023

SPECIALIST CONTRACTORS OR SUPPLIERS

PROJECT INFORMATION

• Company entering: Corestruc • Client: Vhembe Municipality • Project manager: Infraburo Civil and Structural Consulting Engineers

PHIPHIDI 10 Mℓ RESERVOIRS V hembe District Municipality has harnessed the many benefits of precast concrete to deliver critical

associated infrastructure. This includes the gravity feed pipeline from Vondo Dam, as well as a pipeline from the WTW to a command reservoir. Moreover, a new command reservoir was constructed and work on the second water retaining structure was recently completed. This is to supply the 10 Mℓ daily water demand with an additional 10 Mℓ of water held in reserve. The construction of the two reservoirs was undertaken in phases. One of the reservoirs had to be commissioned before an existing water-retaining structure could be demolished to make space for the construction of a new reservoir on the restricted site. Morawa Building and Civils introduced Infraburo Civil and Structural Engineers to the system, noting the role it could potentially play in keeping this aspect of the work scope on track, while also providing two reservoirs of an unrivalled quality. Infraburo Civil and Structural Engineers initially designed conventional pre-stressed reservoirs for this project. However, the principal contractor had undertaken extensive research into Corestruc’s system and put forward the idea to use it to construct the two reservoirs. Representatives of the consulting engineering firm visited one of the company’s approved manufacturers’ factories and spent time with representatives of Corestruc to gain a greater understanding of the system. Especially impressed with the quality control processes deployed in the factory, use of the system was motivated to the client. Vhembe District Municipality was also already aware of the technology considering that it had previously been successfully deployed in several other municipal jurisdictions. 

infrastructure faster than would be possible using conventional cast-in-place methods. The absolute control provided by prefabricated concrete also facilitated a higher quality final build. The technology was successfully deployed to build two new reservoirs that form part of the upgrade of the Vondo Regional Water Scheme. The reservoirs were designed by Infraburo Civil and Structural Consulting Engineers and Corestruc. Corestruc was also tasked with erecting the system while working alongside principal contractor, Morawa Building and Civils. The various precast concrete elements that make up the system were manufactured by Coreslab, one of Corestruc’s approved manufacturers. The upgraded scheme will provide a reliable and secure source of drinking water to about 500 000 people who reside in Phiphidi. Located along the road to Sibasa to Nzhelele, the scheme consists of the Vondo Dam and water-treatment works (WTW). From here, water is pumped to two command reservoirs that supply specific areas within the scheme. Water is also pumped and gravitated to the WTW from two other reservoirs where it is distributed to various areas. Infraburo Civil and Structural Consulting Engineers commenced with the preliminary design of the upgraded scheme in 2012. Financed by the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, construction work went out to tender in 2017 and was awarded to Morawa Building and Civils, the principal contractor. The project entails upgrading the WTW and

56 22 nd Best Projects Awards 2023