R38m plant a ‘white elephant’
A SLUDGE dewatering plant, constructed at the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Plant two years ago at a cost of R38 million, has become a white elephant – and not even the keys can be found.
In a report on an oversight visit by the Sol Plaatje City Council’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) to the treatment plant, it was pointed out that the sludge dewatering plant was a “white elephant” as the plant was not being used. The report states that the plant is “seen as a wasteful expense”.
“The whereabouts of the keys of the plant are unknown.”
A visit to the plant yesterday indicated that the metal door was still locked with a padlock and according to workers on the site, the only person who can operate the plant is in Durban.
Six metal containers, for the storage of the dewatered sludge, appear to be still brand new and unused.
The oversight visit, which was conducted on April 10, also found that there was a low level of sewage coming through to the plant. “This is leading to a crisis because the raw sewage is flowing into the community,” the report states.
Residents across Kimberley continue on a daily basis to report overflowing manholes and raw sewage flowing into their yards and their streets.
The report pointed out that the sewage pumps might be blocked between the Homevale treatment plant and the Gogga Pump Station.
At the new 15 megalitre plant it was found that the screen washer wasn’t working and the scudder had shut down. The clarifier was also not working while no chlorination was taking place because the plant was not functional. Stugging could also not take place because the thickeners which feed the digestures were not functional while the watering plant was also not working because the digestures were not functional.
At the old plant (the 25 megalitre plant) the second auto screening was not functional. The blowers were not working properly so it couldn’t degrid, while four of the six SSTs (sewage sludge treatment) were not working.
The transfer pump, which pumps water to Langleg, was also reported to be faulty.
The oversight visit also found that there was no maintenance plan in place. “This poses a problem because outsourcing is done whenever there is a mechanical, technical or electrical failure and breakdown on the plant.
“A full-time electrician or maintenance officer could be employed to be on the plant on a full-time basis. The call-out fee of service providers are very high.”
The safety wear and personal protection equipment was found to be inadequate with regards to the extreme working conditions. There was a request for acid-proof suits.
It was also pointed out during the site visit that the salary scales and job descriptions of some workers have not been evaluated. “The administrator is serving as a cleaner,” the report states. “The senior process controller is serving as a site manager and supervisor but does not have signing rights.”
Municipal spokesperson, Sello Matsie, yesterday denied that the dewatering plant was a white elephant.
“The plant was built as part of the refurbishment of the sewerage works.”
Matsie added that the position of plant manager has been advertised but has not yet been filled. “This position obviously requires specialised skills.”
He explained that the dewatering plant was aimed at producing dry sludge.
“In the past the sludge was moved to dry beds to dry out but this caused problems when the sludge caught alight. The aim of the plant is to create sludge which can ultimately be used as fertiliser but it must be of a specified standard, so it is important that our personnel have the necessary expertise to do this work.”
He said the municipality was reluctant to operate the plant without the necessary skills and expertise. “We do not want a repeat of what happened previously at the plant.”
Earlier this year an inquest into the deaths of five workers at the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Plant in 2012 found that the Sol Plaatje Municipality was negligent and failed to implement safety precautions at the plant.
The inquiry established that the workers had drowned in rising sludge after succumbing to a deadly gas, hydrogen sulphide, and that they did not have any protective clothing during the fatal incident on November 6, 2012.
At the time, Kimberley Magistrate Benjamin September pointed out that the toxicology reports had found high levels of gas poisoning in the bile and urine of the deceased. “This means that the deceased were exposed to hydrogen sulphide poisoning while they were working at the plant. The gases were already metabolised long before they died.
“Five years after the tragedy, workers have reported that up until today nothing has changed. I can believe that there are still no padlocks and chains to secure the pump house. If safety was a priority, we would have seen a total improvement,” September said.