Breyten residents are experiencing a shortage of water with the taps running dry.
The small town situated between Ermelo and Carolina, has experienced water shortages for the past four weeks.
According to residents, the taps in Breyten dry up during the day and whenever the water does come back, the water has brown, rusty particles in it that sink to the bottom after the water has been standing for a while.
“We have no clue what is going on with the water and Msukaligwa Municipality is not forthcoming with information regarding the water issue and possible solutions,” one resident said who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The resident added that the longest they have gone without water in KwaZanele, the township in Breyten, is two days.
“Whenever that happens, we have no choice but to go to the Breyten Fire Station because they always have water.”
Residents are also lamenting the fact that once the water does come back, it is not clean and contains rust and dust.
“We cannot afford to buy bottled water and we have no choice but to wait for the particles to sink to the bottom of the container and we boil the water to make it at the very least suitable for drinking,” the resident said.
When the Highvelder asked about water trucks and if the municipality has provided such, residents said the water truck has only been to Breyten once.
“How is a water truck going to help when almost all of Breyten residents are experiencing water shortages,” the resident added.
Another burning issue in the small town is the sewage flowing near the wastewater plant.
According to Mr Nhlakanipho Shabalala, a water and sanitation specialist and University of Limpopo alumni who has travelled the world doing extensive research on numerous subjects, including water and also Breyten resident who has worked at the Breyten Water Plant, the sewage flowing near the water plant is dangerous and the municipality needs to attend to that matter as soon as possible.
The newspaper enquired at the Msukaligwa Municipality about the water crisis in Breyten and if they are aware that residents go for hours, even days, without water.
Municipal spokesman, Mr Mandla Zwane, acknowledged that the municipality is aware of the shortage of water in Breyten.
“The shortage of water was initially caused by the contractor constructing the main road in KwaZanele which constantly damages the municipal pipelines and that in turn drains the reservoir,” Mr Zwane said.
Mr Zwane added that the municipality is doing its best to change the status of the water shortage in Breyten. Regarding the brown water, Mr Zwane said this happens when the reservoir is empty.
“The first batch of water coming in lifts the scum that has settled at the bottom and normally when this happens, the network is flushed using fire hydrants in order to drain the dirty water.”
The municipality also admitted that they are aware of the sewer flowing near the wastewater plant and have commenced with steps to repair the blocked main-hole.
With the festive season fast approaching and the Highveld region experiencing a heat wave, water is a necessity and a way of life.
The municipality appealed to residents all over Msukaligwa to use water sparingly to avoid running out of water.
