Delta Built Environment Consultants (Delta BEC) was appointed to evaluate and upgrade the complete sewer system at Blinkwater Meule in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on behalf of Blinkwater Meule. The main activity involved addressing the inefficiencies of the existing infrastructure, which served various facility areas, including staff hostels, a laundry and ablution block, and senior staff dwellings.

The sewer system initially consisted of three separate areas:

• The first area comprised the hostels housing approximately 120 personnel at any given time;
• The second area consisted of the laundry facility and ablution block for the staff; and
• The third area comprised four three-bedroom dwellings for the senior staff.

The grey and black water produced by these facilities was treated separately via septic tank systems and reused for garden irrigation. However, this approach resulted in high maintenance demands and persistent odour issues.

Delta BEC proposed a centralised treatment solution in the form of a constructed wetland to properly treat all sewer output and render it suitable for irrigation purposes.

Delta BEC’s scope of work included:

• Phase 1: Evaluation of the existing sewer system to address challenges with flow volumes and odour; and

Phase 2: Detailed design of a new complete sewer system, including septic tanks, pump stations, a 21m³/day wetland treatment system, and associated irrigation infrastructure.