KNYSNA - The municipality's Water Conservation and Demand Management Project is in the final stages of reaching completion.

In a municipal press release issued on Monday, Acting Municipal Manager Dawid Adonis said he was elated. 

"The project, funded by the Department and Water and Sanitation was undertaken as part of the Knysna Municipality's ongoing efforts to save water and reduce water demand, as well as to fill the gaps in information regarding the existing water infrastructure records, crucial for future operational and planning purposes."

The project forms part of the Department of Water and Sanitation's Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG), which was granted for the implementation of the Water Conservation and Demand Management Project within the municipality. 

It commenced in June 2021 and focused primarily on Greater Knysna, although other towns were assessed during the project.

"The project involved various investigations to audit the existing water infrastructure, identify potential metering problems and shortcomings, bulk and consumer level, as well as to optimise the system utilising discretisation tests and pressure management," said Adonis.

The joint venture between two civil engineering companies, Re-Solve Consulting (Pty) Ltd and Engineering Advice & Services (Pty) Ltd, was appointed to implement a fast-tracked turnkey solution during the implementation of the project.

The following was addressed during the nine-month project:

• Pilot water meter auditing project during which approximately 5 000 water meters were audited in Knysna to determine the condition of the meters, as well as internal property leaks to be repaired. The information was graphically linked to municipal systems and provides the municipality with the necessary information to plan for meter replacement projects.

• Valve and fire hydrant audits throughout Knysna and Sedgefield. This information was also captured electronically and indicates the condition, as well as positions of this crucial infrastructure.

• Discretisation of supply zones for the water network to establish the water supply points into a zone, measure the supply to the zone, and determine which future interventions should take place to reduce water losses and demand within each zone.

• Installation of bulk water meters in various parts of the municipal area to measure water volumes supplied continuously, as well as to monitor minimum night flow rates, an indicator of potential water losses.

• The investigation and development of extensive water network schematics indicate the workings of the network on a high level. Water meter positions are also indicated, as well as recorded flow rates to specific areas, thus providing a high-level water balance of the various towns, a crucial step in managing the water network losses.

• Pressure management has been identified as the single larger contributor to the reduction of real losses and to this extent, two new pressure reducing valve stations were installed and multiple existing pressure reducing valves throughout the municipal area were serviced to maximise the water-saving potential.

• A total of 26 local labourers were employed during the project and three local contracting companies were appointed to assist with the construction activities.

Various reports were compiled which provide the municipality with information to implement future phases of the project as funding becomes available. 

The total project cost of Phase 1 amounted to R5 835 000. Water Conservation and Demand Management is a long-term activity that needs to be implemented proactively and continuously within water supply networks to ensure the optimum operation and control of the water network. 

The Knysna municipality thanks the residents and consumers for their cooperation and assistance during the various investigations.

The successful completion of Phase 1 of the project has provided valuable information and established a plan for future Water Conservation and Demand Management interventions.

"The Knysna Municipality looks forward to the implementation of future phases to further optimise water demand reduce losses and thus continue to provide a sustainable and reliable water supply to the water consumers within the municipality," said Adonis.

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