Reflection on the de-watering period of the Gamtoos canal system
The Gamtoos Irrigation Board’s big annual clean up process of the main canal went smoothly thanks to good planning and new equipment. Nine syphons were cleaned this year.
Leon Grundling, Water Control Manager, says the teamwork and communication between the different parties were much better this year.
“Our daily meetings and early planning contributed to the success. I am very proud of the team,” Grundling says.
“Better power supply and new equipment made operations easier and faster.”
Attention was given to the lush vegetation on the banks of the canal which hampered the cleaning process. It was pruned and a herbicide was put on it to prevent further growth.
Abey Maluleka, Manager of Works, says the extra two quality controllers and two health and safety officers increased the effectiveness of the syphons.
“Their reports were insightful and it was good to have an extra eye on the discipline at the sites,” Abey says.
Andrè van Heerden, Mechanical Manager, says the extra vehicles that were hired to transport the workshop personnel, made operations smoother in the workshop during this busy time.
All the sluices’ rubbers were replaced, K1 and 2 and Wolwekloof dam’s pipes were replaced with stainless steel. Mondplaas dam also got a new stainless steel tank. Four syphon grids were replaced with galvanised steel. Eleven lids with 48 bolts each, were replaced with stainless steel bolts.
Maluleka says they designed a special trolley this year to remove the mud faster out of the syphons. “We usually had to use buckets to carry the mud out and it was a very slow process. Now we can push about 5 wheelbarrows full at a time to the crane truck.”
Andrew Murray, the Main Water Control Officer says the biggest job this year was the syphon at White City which was last cleaned in 2006. The tunnel is 3.2km long.
Murray, an avid diver and who has a mining background, says he is not scared to climb into small spaces and can slip into the canal pipes without thinking twice. He has even climbed into a pipe as small as 50cm in diameter.
“The big danger is actually the dangerous bacteria that can cause gangrene within hours when it comes into contact with a scratch or open wound on your body,” he says.
Grundling says it is because of these dangerous bacteria that they take special care not to leave any tools or equipment at the site, but lock them away safely.
Next year the syphons at Scheepers dam, Gonjakloof, Patensie and Robert Scott will have their turn.
Die Gamtoosbesproeiingsraad se jaarlikse groot skoonmaakproses van die hoofkanaal het danksy goeie beplanning en nuwe toerusting baie goed verloop. Nege duikpype is die jaar skoongemaak.
Leon Grundling, bestuurder van waterbeheer, sê die spanwerk en kommunikasie tussen die verskillende partye was die jaar ook baie beter as vorige jare.
“Ons daaglikse vergaderings en beplanning lank voor die tyd het beslis vrugte afgewerp. Ek is baie trots op die span,”sê Grundling.
“Beter kragtoevoer en nuwe toerusting het alles vergemaklik en dinge vinniger gemaak.”
Meer aandag is die jaar gegee aan die welige plante op die walle van die kanaal wat die skoonmaakproses belemmer. Dit is gesnoei en gesmeer met ‘n spesiale middel om verdere groei te stop.
Abey Maluleka, bestuurder van werke, sê die 2 ekstra kwaliteitsbeheer- en 2 veiligheidsbeamptes was baie effektief met die werk in die duikpype. “Hul verslae was baie insiggewend. En dit was goed om ‘n ekstra oog op dissipline in die werkplek te hê,”sê Abey.
Andrè van den Heever, meganiese voorman, sê die ekstra voertuie wat gehuur is om die werkers te vervoer, het dinge baie vlot laat verloop en die werkswinkel meer effektief gemaak in die besige tyd.
Al die sluise se rubbers is vervang, K1 en 2 en Wolwekloofdam se pype is vervang met vlekvrye staal. Mondplaasdam het ook ‘n nuwe vlekvrye staal (abbakas) tenkkas gekry. Vier duikpyproosters is vervang met gegalvaniseerde staal. Elf deksels met 48 boute elk, se boute is vervang met vlekvrye staal boute.
Maluleka sê hulle het die jaar ‘n spesiale trollie ontwerp om vinniger vuilgoed uit die pype te kry. “Vroeër moes ons met emmertjies en ‘n tou die vuilgoed uit dra wat baie lank gevat het. Nou kan ons vyf kruiwaens vol op een slag in die trollies stoot tot by die kraantrok en dit dan laai op die trok.”
Andrew Murray, Hoof waterbeheerbeampte, sê die grootste werk die jaar was die duikpyp by White City wat in 2006 laas skoongemaak is. Die tonnel is 3.2km lank.
Murray wat ‘n kranige duiker is en ‘n mynagtergrond het, sê hy is glad nie bang vir klein ruimtes nie en het al in so nou as ‘n 50cm pyp ingeklim.
“Die groot gevaar is eintlik die bakteriee in die modder, veral 2 wat binne ure gangreen kan veroorsaak as jy ‘n skraap of oop seerplek op jou lyf het,”sê hy.
Grundling sê dit is juis oor die gevaarlike bakterieë in die modder dat geen gereedskap of toerusting by die werkplekke gelos word nie, maar veilig toegesluit word.
Volgende jaar is dit duikpype by Scheepersdam, Gonjakloof, Patensie en Robert Scott se beurt.
