Civil Engineering November 2022 | Vol 30 No 10

36 November 2022 Civil Engineering T he Europe Informal Settlement Services Upgrade Project was initi- ated by Africa Unite, a local non- government organisation that has been working with the community for more than 20 years. Following engagement, the community raised concerns including diarrhoea and waterborne diseases, as well as pest infestation. This is in addi- tion to the large impact that unmanaged stormwater and greywater was having on communal and recreational areas, espe- cially during the wet winter season. JG Afrika assisted in developing innovative solutions to infrastructure challenges in the 29-year-old informal settlement pocket bordering Gugulethu in the Western Cape. THE CHALLENGE Europe is located on a disused landfill site and about 3 m above the Klipfontein road level. The community has tried to solve its water and sanitation, as well as communal space challenges with limited skills and resources. There is a lack of clean water supply in the community, with only one tap for every 40 households. The area is also prone to flooding, as there are no formal sewer systems in the area and greywater is dis- charged directly onto walkways. Greywater drains toward Klipfontein road, which borders the southern edge of the settle- ment and serves as a main access route to the area, where it enters the stormwater system. Unmanaged stormwater runoff and greywater discharge, which is often contaminated with solid waste, results in muddy walkways and ponding that can fester, posing a health and safety risk to community members. Poor drainage infra- structure also leads to erosion of the gravel paths used by pedestrians and vehicles. THE SOLUTION The proposed solution is an infrastruc- tural public space system that comprises two new paved plazas that both gather water and act as public spaces that con- nect to a pedestrian walkway that func- tions as a stormwater channel. The stormwater system has been designed to divert runoff from minor rainfall events from the top raised plaza area into a main permeable drainage channel. It consists of interlocking permeable concrete pavers that create a hardened surface for foot and vehicle traffic, while also directing drainage toward Klipfontein road. Runoff quantity is further managed by tree planters placed at intervals along the drainage route. They create bio-retention areas that facilitate the treatment of stormwater and infiltration into the ground, while also greening the site. At waterpoints, new taps were installed to improve service and access to clean water for drinking and washing purposes. The location of the new plaza spaces builds upon existing civic energy within the informal settlement and begins to create a new town square that can accommodate gatherings, events and play. The new water points and drainage channel provide an opportunity to introduce public space into the settlement in a way that solves some of the issue faced by the community. One of the greatest achievements was the level of acceptance and ownership from the community who were included from the project outset and who have continued to operate and maintain the system after completion. The project could be duplicated or adapted for other informal settlements that are facing similar challenges.  SANRAL SA I CE 2022 Nat i onal Awards Category: Commun i t y- based Europe (Gugulethu) Informal Settlement Services Upgrade and Community Space Provision FINALIST Community-based category KEY PLAYERS Client: Rotary Clubs: Noon Gun, Newlands &Weert (Netherlands) Consultant: JG Afrika Contractor: Kuhle Quality Projects The stormwater channel consists of interlocking permeable concrete pavers Existing tap points were replaced with three taps facing the walkway