Heidelberg experienced a drastic shortage of water for businesses as well as households that started on the weekend of March 4.
According to statements that were supplied by Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM), Rand Water stated that the water reservoirs are below 5% full.
The reservoir’s operating pressure is around 600kpa and it is currently pumping at 300kpa. The issue is that as soon as the water gets pumped into the reservoirs it gets used in the community as well. Therefore, it is not pumping fast enough to fill the reservoirs.
“We get water from the trucks for cooking, toilets and so on,” said a concerned resident.
“We are still spending money to purchase water for drinking as well. It is constantly an issue where we are on the losing end and have to pay out of our pockets for the basic needs.”
On March 10, Lesedi Water Department and Rand Water did extensive testing and were on a fault-finding expedition. It has been established that the fault is not on Lesedi’s side but with Rand Water.
The community of Heidelberg stood together and assisted each other with water. Farmers from the area carted water to various points for the community to get water. LLM has also supplied water trucks to various areas and several homes where there were boreholes also opened up their homes to assist in the water shortage.
Ward 9 Clr Gerry Holtzhausen sent the following information and facts concerning the water shortages affecting large parts of Heidelberg and Ratanda.
• About eight different municipalities in Gauteng, including Lesedi, are struggling with water supplies.
• The incoming water pressure to Heidelberg is supposed to be a minimum of 550kPa. The current pressure is anywhere between 200 and 300kPa. Pressure is therefore not good enough to reach the reservoirs above the Heidelberg Kloof.
• LMM is trying to pump water into reservoirs and generators are available for this, but diesel does cost money, which the municipality does not have.
• Rand Water is only able to purify around 60% of the amount of water that it usually does due to consistent load-shedding.
• Vandalism is rife and air-intake valves are a new target for criminals.
• It is not believed that Rand Water is throttling the flow of water to Lesedi, even though the municipality owes the water utility more than R12m.
Workers on-site from Rand Water confirmed they will work through the weekend to try and uncover and solve the problem.
The LLM will also have a crew on standby should Rand Water need any assistance.
By the time going to print the water issue still had not been resolved.
