26 PROJECT
Future forward at Sibiti
by
Tanya Olckers with technical input from Duncan Keil of UPP Group and Stephen Walker , engineer and director of Ground 2 Tap .
Sibiti Estate is a private residential estate situated in Fourways , Johannesburg . It ’ s tucked among trees and grassy properties , a gem hidden behind a bustling shopping hub . It serves as a home for 179 residents , all of whom want an affordable , clean water supply .
All images by © Plumbing Africa
This seemed like a big task for UPP Group , the water solutions consultants which was asked to make this a reality for the residents at the estate , and one that didn ’ t come without challenges .
The estate has three boreholes . However , only two will be in use , each producing a yield of 3 600 litres per hour . For this to happen , all the paving had to be lifted and then put back . For a large complex such as Sibiti , a WULA license had to be obtained in order to use the borehole water for all the homes . The borehole water is blended with about 50 % municipal water .
This automatically drops the water bill for the complex by half . UPP continues to maintain the system with a monthly service level agreement ( SLA ).
A specially built hybrid filtration and purification system , from Ground 2 Tap , performs a complicated process of not just ensuring that municipal water makes it through the pipes to the 179 homes on Sibiti but that any stored water and borehole water is filtered and purified , ensuring safe and clean water for each residence .
This bespoke pump , filtration and purification station serves as the heart of Sibiti ' s clean water system . Together with municipal and borehole water , the system aims to keep water in the taps .
Ground 2 Tap was approached by the estate chairman , Grant Greef , to evaluate their existing borehole and explore options for reducing reliance on municipal water . The brief was to transition the estate toward off-grid water supply , establish a reliable backup during frequent municipal outages , and improve the overall water quality for the residents .
Ground 2 Tap ’ s innovative system .
Ground 2 Tap took responsibility for the entire project lifecycle , including borehole drilling , electrical connections , tank installation , plumbing , and water filtration . While their core expertise lies in water filtration ,
How does the filtration system work ?
• pH Dosing System : An intelligent system that monitors and adjusts water pH to prevent corrosion .
• Filtration Vessels : Glass media and fine-particle membrane filtration to remove turbidity and sediment .
• Chlorination System : Automated chlorine dosing to ensure water sterilization , with precise monitoring to avoid over- or under-dosing .
The system employs a 50:50 blending approach of borehole and municipal water to address the borehole ’ s limited yield . This ensures a constant , sustainable supply of water , with a full day ' s backup in case of municipal outages . The treated borehole water continuously recharges the supply , resulting in financial savings and reliability for the estate .
they provided an end-to-end solution by managing subcontractors for the other components .
The biggest challenge was sourcing reliable suppliers for each outsourced element and ensuring seamless coordination between all parties . Maintaining the project ’ s timeline and budget while managing these interdependencies required detailed planning and proactive communication .
After four months of meetings , proposal submissions , yield test and finally getting approval , the team was able to get the project under way including borehole drilling , civils , electrical work , plumbing and water filtration – a process which took six weeks . The filtration system itself took just one week to install and commission on site . Plumbing from the estate ' s main water meter ( 100 meters from the filtration plant ) to the filtration system , including an automatic changeover valve .
Additional Features and Benefits :
• Financial Savings : The sustainable borehole solution has saved Sibiti Estate over R260,000 in the past year by reducing municipal water usage .
• Automatic Changeover : The system includes an automatic changeover function . In case of a failure in the water treatment plant or boreholes , the system seamlessly switches to direct municipal supply , ensuring uninterrupted water service .
• Filtering Municipal Water : Even the incoming municipal
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline March 2025 Volume 31 I Number 01