By Tanya Olckers
De Jagers Loodgieters Kontrakteurs face challenges head-on with their Murraysburg borehole and pipeline project.
Trench, Images supplied by De Jagers Loodgieters Kontrakteurs
The Karoo is known for its dry and semi-arid climate. It is a place that has become fixed in our collective imagination as a place without water, homes far apart from each other, and sparse animal life.
However, there are vibrant communities that call this sandy patch of our country home. One such community is Murraysburg, which needed two additional boreholes and two existing boreholes refurbished. Added to this, two new pipelines had to be installed to run from the boreholes themselves all the way to the town’s existing reservoirs.
De Jagers Loodgieters Kontrakteurs rose to the challenge and set about working on the project over a 16-week period. The Municipality of Beaufort West, who needed the work done, wanted measures in place that would not disrupt water during the daytime loadshedding schedule. To get this right, De Jagers chose to have a solar site placed beside the two new boreholes to ensure daytime water demands were met.
The ground levels of the area need to be at the correct gradient for the pipeline, which is something De Jagers did using its own in-house GPS total station. Once done, the consulting engineers could incorporate the ground levels into their construction plans so that construction could get underway.
After materials were secured, the pipeline route was set out with the GPS total station and obstructions were cleared from the site. Chalking and excavation of the route could then be undertaken, with trenches then being dug so that the pipeline team could start installation.
Breaking ground.
Once installation was completed, the trench was backfilled and compacted in line with SANS standards. Scour valves and air valves were then installed, and the ground was rehabilitated, returning it to its natural state.
Testing then commenced to make sure that there were no leaks. Once satisfied, the engineers could sign off the project, and the water could be allowed to flow – bringing much needed relief to Murraysburg.
In the meantime, while the pipeline was undergoing installation, boreholes were developed and solar sites erected. This was so that there was no delay in supplying water to Murraysburg.
While this is something that De Jagers is used to taking in their stride, there were some rather unique challenges that came with the project. For starters, water is scarce in the Karoo. This is something that the contractors and engineers had to keep at the back of their minds as they worked, because every precious drop counts.
Men at work.
As a result, leaks are treated with seriousness. Any damaged or burst pipe that occurs as a result of excavation is repaired as quickly as possible so that the loss of water is minimised.
The other challenge that the team faced was getting a section of the pipeline route through Murraysburg – with no plans of existing services to use as a reference. This made dealing with any existing water and sewer lines and electrical cables quite tricky. Many existing pipelines had to be replaced and marked for future reference.
The team also came up against an extremely hard section of ground at the southern part of the reservoir. A jackhammer had to be fitted on to an excavator to break the rock.
The team was incredibly aware of the ecological factors at play in the dry Karoo, but one thing the area had lots of, was sunshine. Two solar sites that could run both new boreholes during the day were installed, taking pressure off the grid. Mindful of the environment, a big effort was made to return the area to its natural state and brush was placed over the area to encourage plant growth.
However, the greatest challenge they met was completing the project in the given amount of time. Once again, the scarcity and great need for water meant that the team had to keep to a strict timeline so that Murraysburg could continue to get the water supply it needed.
| The client: | Beaufort West Municipality |
| The consulting engineer: | Zutari |
| Architect: | Zutari |
| Health and Safety: | OHS services – Steve van Lier |
| Main Contractor: | De Jagers Loodgieters Kontrakteurs |
| Subcontractor: | TG Elektries |
| Suppliers: | IRRI-CIV pipes |
| Vi-Biz Fencing | |
| Break Pressure tanks for Africa |
 Laying the pipe. |
 Pipe had to be laid on Murraysburg route. |
 Pipe in tench |
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