Namwater reservoir 60% complete

…New 12 000m³ concrete structure expected to beat completion deadline

By Hilary Mare

Work on the new Namwater 12 000 m³ reservoir and an associated pipeline, taking place on Namibia’s northern-most border with Angola, is now over 60 percent complete, with the overall completion expected take place well in advance of the contractual date of 12 April 2018.
The design and construction of the reservoir, awarded by the Namwater in October 2016, is being conducted by a joint venture between B&K Civils and Windhoek-based Rock Leigh Investments.
The concrete reservoir, situated near the Ndama Water Treatment Plant, is being built to expand the water storage capacity in the Kavango region.
The current storage capacity at Rundu is insufficient to sustain the target area for the recommended 48-hour period. The new facility has been designed to cater for the increased future water storage demands for the arid region.
According to B&K Civils’ project engineer, Antoni Botes, an interesting aspect of the project is that the reservoir foundation was constructed using the so-called Rapid Impact Compaction (RIC) method.
“This methodology entails the use of a specially designed compaction unit, fitted to the front of an excavator. It compacts the raft foundation at a grid spacing of 4.5 metres. The kinetic energy of this compaction technique is sufficient to densify the soil up to a depth of at least five metres, and will provide the necessary bearing capacity to ensure the long-term durability and stability of the reservoir,” Botes explained.
The remote location of the town, over 700km north of Windhoek and just south of the Cubango River, presents a logistical challenge for the consistent supply of the necessary high-quality building materials used in the construction process.
“While this could be challenging for some contractors, our teams are well-versed in operating in remote regions,” Botes said.
“Streamlined logistics processes and careful planning ensures that all materials reach the project site on time. Adding to this are our stringent quality control procedures and the diligence applied by our quality control team, which will ensure the final product is of high quality and will meet the client’s specifications.”
Significantly, since the Botes & Kennedy Group, which includes B&K Civils, began operations in 1980, the group has built more than 60 concrete water retaining structures in Namibia and South Africa.
“It is perhaps significant that our very first project was a water retaining structure – a 2 500 m³ reservoir with a 1 700 m³ pressure tower integrated into the reservoir,” Botes said.
In the period since then, the company has undertaken numerous projects around Namibia, including a 20 000 m³ and 16 000 m³ reservoir near Swakopmund.
“In all our work, we apply the highest standards of engineering quality and environmental protection, and this carries through to all phases of building and construction activities,” Botes added.

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