A14 km, R52-million temporary, emergency bulk raw water pipeline, commissioned in Ermelo in June, was supplied with R12-million of high- density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, steel fittings and valves from fluid conveyance and pumping solutions provider Incledon.

“There was a crisis situation in Ermelo, where the demand for water had exceeded supply. The Msukaligwa municipality currently has two water treatment works – the South and the North water treatment works. The problem occurred when the capacity of the South water treatment works was not sufficient enough to meet the demand for water.

“The municipality implemented a water restriction system to control the supply of water, but this failed, resulting in an emergency pipeline being identified as a solution,” explains Incledon product manager Phillip Bawden.

He adds that it took about 40 days for the pipe to be manufactured and delivered to site from the time Incledon received the order until the day it was commissioned. The HDPE pipe was manufactured within the group and supplied based on Incledon’s quality approved brand Aquaflow, which has SABS 4427 specification.

The pipe was manufactured and supplied in 12 m lengths, and Incledon’s HDPE welding and fabrication division situated in Welkom, Free State, prioritised the welding of the pipes on site. The finished HDPE pipeline has a diameter of about 355 mm and can handle pressure ratings of up to 16 bar.

“The emergency bulk raw water pipeline will supply surplus raw water to Ermelo and is aimed at tackling the water shortages in the Douglas and Willem Brummer dams. The project will, therefore, address the water shortage issue in the Wesselton and Phumula settlements, in Ermelo,” said Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa at the launch of the project in June.

She further stated that the department provided the Msukaligwa municipality with two water storage tanks, worth R320 000 and R500 000 respectively. The Minister explained that a long-term measure was still under consideration to solve the Ermelo water shortage.

Part of the long-term solution under consideration was a parallel process for the provision of a permanent technical solution to provide water for the Ermelo/Wesselton service area through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant, which is worth about R32-million and should be completed by October this year, said Molewa.

Bawden points out that the precision and success of Incledon’s work in supplying the emergency pipeline is evidence of its high-quality service offering and ability to deliver under pressure and within constrained periods.

With 16 branches across South Africa, the inclusion of a plastics welding service and new product offerings available at some of its branches, Incledon believes it can cater to bigger markets such as bulk water supply. The company also continues to improve its product range through its association with pipe manufacturers in the country and abroad, adds Bawden.

“Incledon is also working on becoming a holistic supply chain, where it supplies weld solutions for piping and pipes to industry. Our focus is particularly on HDPE and on becoming informed about its weld proper- ties. This is an area in which we are starting to develop skills and gain the necessary expertise to guarantee high-quality solutions for our customers,” he concludes.