Introduction to the Xhariep Pipeline Feasibility Study

The 2012 Reconciliation Strategy identified the need for sustainable water supply in the Greater Bloemfontein Area. It included a recommendation to consider a major surface water augmentation scheme. Subsequently, water shortages prompted the acceleration of the Greater Mangaung Water Augmentation Project – Xhariep Pipeline. Vaal Central Water Board (VCWB) and Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) each investigated three routes from the Gariep Dam to the GBWSS and reached different conclusions.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) appointed Zutari to conduct a pre-feasibility study. This includes reviewing the previous studies and recommending the optimal route and infrastructure sizing from a national perspective for further detailed feasibility analysis.

DWS has approved the preferred option concluding the pre-feasibility study. The detailed feasibility study, water use license application, and environmental authorisation processes are currently in progress.

Figure 1: Previously investigated pipeline routes from Gariep Dam to the GBWSS

Project Aims

This study conducted an independent pre-feasibility investigation that built on the information collected and analysed in previous work. The objective of this study was to:

Evaluate options for the Greater Mangaung Water Augmentation Project with Gariep Dam as the source,

Conduct additional necessary pre-feasibility level investigations, and,

Select the optimal size, phasing, and configuration of the preferred water conveyance infrastructure option.

After DWS approved the selected option and the pre-feasibility stage was concluded, the study continued to the detailed feasibility stage where the objectives were to:

Assess technical, financial, economic, and environmental feasibility,

Assess the risks and redundancy of the proposed bulk infrastructure system when operated in conjunction with the existing bulk infrastructure,

Assess the impact of the project on existing systems including the:

• Orange River System,
• Optimisation of the Orange River System Yield with the proposed abstractions, and
• Integration and utilisation of the available capacities in the existing infrastructure,

Conduct stakeholder engagement workshops.