ON SITE
FAST-TRACKING
A RESERVOIR
Delivering projects faster, especially at municipal level, is often highlighted by officials.
Couple that with the latest technology and machinery that complements this, and you
get even quicker delivery. This is exactly what one reservoir in Mpumalanga is doing.
By Ntsako Khosa
One of the completed reservoirs, located in the Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga.
L
ocated in Bundu, under the
Thembisile Hani Local Municipality,
the 10-megalitre reservoir is set to
strengthen water supply to Mpumalanga’s
economic hub, an area that comprises
about 160 towns and villages.
Monde Consulting Engineers
eight tons, about 10 metres long, two pump suited the site as it has the
metres wide, and 170mm thick, were ability to pump either extremely slow
lifted and placed to complete the wall or at a high rate. “That’s why it suits
structure. This is in addition to the us for different uses, like in-between
four buttress panels, each weighing the panels, as we can apply the exact
11.7 tons. The rigger and crane amount of concrete required.”
operator were supported by a skilled
and efficient team, also comprising the reservoir to install post-tensioning
engineering consultancy firm Ceenex, a project manager and surveyor. For ducts and cables. “It allows a bigger
are supervising the construction teams the precast wall structure, three cherry platform and can carry more staff.
and worked closely with Corestruc, pickers were used for installation. “We About 6.6km of ducts and cables are
a South African precast-concrete used one inside and two outside for installed by hand between the joints
specialist, in refining the design of the sealing the joints for grouting,” says of the wall panels, before the grout
two reservoir structures. Corestruc is site manager, Meyer van Rooyen. is pumped around the circumference
working alongside Mbako Projects
of the reservoir. It takes just more
& Trading, the principal contractor Equipment on site than a full shift to fill the joints with a
on this project. The Bundu Reservoir Other equipment used on site include specially designed grout, which reaches
is one of the first in the country to a static pump to pump concrete a compressive strength of 100MPa in
be built using a new South African underneath the wall for the floor as little as four days. Epoxerite blends
precast-concrete water-retaining wall slabs and a Liebherr 160-ton mobile the grout and packages it on behalf of
system from Corestruc. crane for the erection of the wall Corestruc,” De Jager says.
Willie de Jager, managing director
30
The scissor lift was used outside
and Project Managers, as well as
panels. “The static pump was used
Van Rooyen shares that because
of Corestruc, said that the wall took to get underneath the wall, because with precast, everything is planned
about eight workings to be installed the wall goes up so quickly that the prior to going on site and so, very
using one of Corehire’s cranes, a main contractor isn’t done with his few challenges are experienced on
Corestruc subsidiary. “We use our floor slab, so the pump was placed site. “Van Rooyen’s supervisor, Petrus
own equipment on up to 80% of underneath the wall to pump concrete Mehlape, knows exactly what to do
our projects,” he says. At the Bundu in a more controlled environment and he handles heavy elements with
Reservoir construction site, a total of devoid of wind and the like,” explains precision. It’s impressive that 12 panels
60 wall panels, each weighing about Van Rooyen. De Jager adds that the can be installed in a day without a
FEBRUARY 2019
www.plantonline.co.za