Zama Water Treatment Project: Optimisation using Project Management Techniques

This paper examines how project management techniques can be utilised as strategic tools to enhance infrastructure projects more efficiently and effectively. It refers mainly to the Zama water treatment project in South Africa. This research illustrates the efficacy of PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique), CPM (Critical Path Method), and project crashing in resolving the region's water quality and infrastructure problems. The primary objective is to optimise the Zama water treatment project's planning, monitoring, and control to ensure project success. Information was collected from Hydro Novo Ltd in collaboration with the Municipal Chairperson of Utility Services. The data provided in the tables facilitated the development of the project management model following the fundamental principles of these approaches. The model was solved with the assistance of QM for Windows. The solution revealed that the project duration could be reduced from 78,6 weeks (completion time) to 57 weeks, costing R6,212,500 additional. By crashing the project, the municipality ensures a quicker resolution to the water quality issues, significantly improving the social, economic, and quality of life conditions in the Zama community and supporting the stability and growth of local businesses. The sensitivity analysis suggests that reducing the project duration to 65 or 60 weeks can be viable. It would save a lot of time at an acceptable cost and minimise risks while providing substantial benefits to the community. Furthermore, the study demonstrates how project management tools can enhance the success of infrastructure projects in resource-limited areas, ultimately contributing to sustainable water management in South Africa.