Northern Wastewater Treatment Works, restoring resilience.
In April 2022, catastrophic floods swept through Durban, South Africa, submerging the Northern Wastewater Treatment Works - a lifeline for more than 50,000 residents. The critical facility was severely damaged, jeopardising sanitation services and threatening the Umgeni River ecosystem. In response, SMEC led a transformative project to restore and improve the plant’s capacity.
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Location
Durban, South Africa
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Member companies
SJ, SMEC
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Impact
Boosting economic expansion
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50k
Resident reach
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70mil
Litres of wastewater treated daily
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200km²
Catchment area
A vital facility
The Northern Wasterwater Treatment Works (NWWTW) strategic location near the Umgeni River serves a dense urban and informal settlement catchment spanning over 200 km². The floods left the plant incapacitated, with vital systems offline and public health at risk. SMEC’s Integrated Solutions team led rapid stakeholder engagement – including with eThekwini’s mayor – outlining an ambitious recovery plan centred on phased repair, sustainable upgrades, and the deployment of South Africa’s first wastewater Digital Twin.
SMEC adopted a multidisciplinary approach, coordinating experts from water, infrastructure, AMEP, and digital systems. The project unfolded in two stages: repairs to the 20 Ml/d and 50 Ml/d sections of the plant. Critical systems – including digesters, sludge handling, and nutrient removal – were upgraded to meet effluent standards while reducing energy consumption.
To secure long-term resilience, SMEC mapped and assessed 28 pump stations and surrounding catchment infrastructure using a custom app, The Catchment and Pump Station Assessment App – a powerful ArcGIS-based tool. This digitised platform enabled real-time condition monitoring and optimisation of the entire wastewater network.
A key breakthrough was the creation of the Digital Twin of the wastewater facility. Developed by SMEC’s Integrated Solutions team, the model mirrors the physical assets of the NWWTW – enabling predictive maintenance, sensor integration, and live data tracking to minimise downtime and improve compliance. This innovation redefines how treatment plants are managed and monitored in real time.
The outcome
The restored NWWTW is a futureproof system that enhances sanitation, protects biodiversity and empowers over 50,000 people in Durban’s northern suburbs to thrive in the face of climate change. The success of this initiative is now shaping scalable models for wastewater treatment across South Africa and beyond.
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