The Temba WWTW is currently operating beyond its design capacity of 12,5 mega litre per day (Ml/day) and any additional flows into the works will have a detrimental effect on the sewerage treatment process and the resulting effluent discharged into the Apies river. This project will expand the capacity of the Temba WWTW by another 20 Ml/day to a total design capacity of 32,5 Ml/day which will accommodate the additional flows generated by the backlog eradication programme and the other housing projects proposed in the Temba area.

Lesedi consulting was appointed as the lead consultant for the project and was responsible for the conceptual design, the concept development, document preparation, construction supervision, contract administration and Agent’s duties as defined in Occupational Health and Safety act and the associated regulations.

The Temba WWTW had been developed in two distinct sites. The Inlet works are situated 1000m north of the main plant, both on the western bank of the Apies river. The inlet works currently consist of one mechanical and one manual screen, a vortex degritter and a pumpstation. The pumpstation pumps the screened sewage to the main WWTW in a 450 mm dia fibre cement pipeline, before discharging into a division box. The division box divides the incoming flows into three, 2.5 Ml/day to the initial phase and to two 5 Ml/day biological nutrient removal plants. The initial phase consists of primary settling and trickling filters with the sludge drawn off to digester for anaerobic digestion. The stabilized sludge is then dried in drying beds. The remaining process streams constitute conventional biological rector with the three compartments anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic basins with return flows. The effluent of the three streams a then blended and clarified before being disinfected using chlorine and discharged to the Apies river.