Water and electricity shortages continue to have a stranglehold on progress along the Dolphin Coast.
Last Thursday Sembcorp Siza Water managing director Shyam Misra confirmed fears that there may be no water in the Hazelmere Dam by the end of February.
At a public meeting hosted by Sembcorp Siza Water and Ilembe district municipality in Ballito, Misra urged residents to increase efforts to conserve water.
“In the December peak period (a few day’s before Christmas into the first week of January) Ballito’s water usage almost doubles, from about 12 to 13 million litres of water per day to between 18 and 19 million litres daily. If we do not achieve the goal set by Umgeni Water then everyone will suffer,” he said.
Water levels at Hazelmere have now dropped below 45%. Therefore from Wednesday this week, Siza is preparing to enforce Stage Three water restrictions.
This users must cut usage by 30% (previously 20% for residential consumers). Swimming pools may now only be filled once a month (previously twice a month), pressure management may also be introduced to curb consumption and so lower water pressure may be experienced.
Previously, the Stage Three restriction was to include the central turning off of of water between 9am and 5pm and 9pm till 5am. However Siza says it will not take such harsh steps “unless Umgeni alerts us of our consumption exceeding the levels they set us. Therefore it is imperative that consumers comply with the restrictions,” said Sembcorp Siza Water PRO Khosi Mathenjwa.
Ilembe district municipality mayor Welcome Mdabe claimed the municipality had anticipated the water shortages, but had not expected the drought to take effect until 2015. He said their strategy was to fast track the desalination process and build a minimum of five new raw water storage facilities.
“We are in the process of petitioning government for the funding for these projects. This is not a challenge only facing Ballito, this effects the entire province,” said Mdabe.
The meeting was well attended by more than 50 Ballito residents, many of whom were very vocal during question time.
Ballito resident Duncan Austin was outraged by a letter sent out to Siza Water customers the day before stating that as of November “customers are urged to reduce water consumption by at least 30%, failing which a minimum fine of R3 000 will be levied to your account and your connection will be restricted”.
“We have been doing everything we can to save water for months. The kids have even been bathing in buckets. We are at our lowest possible consumption already because we have paid heed to Siza Water’s recommendations. There is no 30% left to cut. Are they penalizing those of us who have been responsible? ” asked Austin.
Sembcorp Siza Water managing director Shyam Misra responded: “Some consumers have reduced their consumption, however many still continue to increase consumption and hence the need the impose further and more strict restrictions.”
Misra has told the Courier they will use the readings over the past three or six months to determine average consumption levels. Also holiday accommodation will be compared with last December in order to get a fair reading.
Power
KwaDukuza electrical engineer Nick Hall said the area was facing two main challenges, load growth and load shedding.
“We have had phenomenal growth and council have spent millions to upgrade infrastructure.”
He claimed the Dolphin Coast could have avoided the recent load shedding if all 3500 geyser relays had been installed timeously.
“We could have turned off the geysers instead but only 200 were installed because people refused to have them,” he said.
This caused an outcry from the audience with numerous people reporting alleged bad workmanship from the contractor. Simbithi estate manager Steve van Greunen said all their residents had consented to have the relays installed but no one had arrived to do the work.
Ballito plumber Barry Chapman said he had found that many of the relays had been incorrectly installed with live wires exposed.
“I would not want one in my house because the installation is so badly done that they are a fire hazard.”
Salt Rock resident Tineka Spiers reported to the Courier that when her installation was originally done it had been stuck to the wall with prestick and not attached to the geyser at all.
“They returned to fix the problem when we complained but I wonder how many people have just not realised that their relay may not be working.”
Hall announced that in future KDM will adopt the Eskom load shedding schedule, which he promised would be loaded onto the municipal website.
