Proposed pipeline and boreholes for the provision of water to the PG Bison facility near eMkhondo, Mpumalanga

The proposed project involves the provision of water to the PG Bison facility near eMkhondo, Mpumalanga. Water will be abstracted from seven new boreholes and conveyed to the facility via two new rising mains where it will be treated and used for domestic and process purposes. The water is primarily required as the existing water supply to the facility will be insufficient when the new Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) plant comes on-line. The MDF plant represents a major economic investment for the area and is one of the projects identified in the national presidential economic recovery strategy that was implemented after the Covid-19 pandemic. Securing a sustainable source of water for the plant is therefore an economic priority. PG Bison would also like to secure their own water supply to reduce pressure on existing sources and to minimise the impacts of potential disruptions of external supply. The water will also be used to supplement existing domestic and process supply at the facility.

Details of the proposed activity are as follows:
The equipping and abstracting of water (approx. 710kl/day) from 4 boreholes approximately 10km north of the facility.
The construction of a 15km rising main (estimated 200mm diameter) from these boreholes to PG Bison. The pipeline will cross some watercourses.
The equipping and abstracting of water (approx. 680kl/day) from 3 boreholes approx. 3km north-north-east of the facility.
The construction of a 4.5km rising main (estimated 200mm diameter) from these boreholes to PG Bison.
Water treatment facilities consisting of 1.5ml/day package plant for domestic water and a reverse osmosis plant for process water.
Water storage facilities for raw water (approx.600m3), treated water (approx. 2222m3), process water and for firefighting.
Associated infrastructure such as a pump room and internal pipelines.

The proposed activity requires authorisation in terms of the National Environmental Management Act and also in terms of the National Water Act. A public participation process is thus being carried out as part of the authorisation application procedures.

The rising mains run as follows:
The 4.5km rising main taking water from boreholes MP08-00017, MP08-00018 and BHM03 to PG Bison will cross under the N2 and the railway line approximately 2.7km north of PG Bison. The pipeline will then run parallel to the railway line (outside the railway reserve) until opposite PG Bison, where it will cross under the railway line again to go to the new water treatment plant and storage tanks.
The 15km rising main taking water from boreholes MP08-00022, MP08-00024, MP08-00025 and MP08-00027 will run east of the R33 and N2 towards the other three boreholes located closer to PG Bison. From these boreholes, it follows the same route as the 4.5km rising main and the pipes will be laid in the same trench.

The water treatment plants and storage tanks will be located at the PG Bison facility.