While construction work on the Hazelmere Dam wall continues, Umgeni Water’s strategy to make our water last until the Lower Tugela Bulk Water Supply Scheme (LTBWS) comes online appears to be on target.
Umgeni Water’s Shami Harichunder said the dam level has stabilised at 30 percent through the transfer of water from the Tongaat River through the 7.5 kilometre emergency pipeline, completed in May.
“Since its commissioning in May this year, this emergency scheme has transferred 600 million litres of water from the Tongaat River into the Hazelmere Dam.”
He said that volume was in line with Umgeni Water’s projections and that the 30 percent water restrictions applied by Ilembe district municipality, Ethekwini Metro and Sembcorp Siza Water remained in place.
Harichunder warned that only four millimeters of rain was received close to Hazelmere Dam last week, not sufficient to make a difference.
He said good progress continued to be made with the construction of the R1.4 billion LTBWS, scheduled to be start pumping water our way in May 2016.
The scheme will pump water from the Tugela River at Mandeni and supply the Ilembe district, including Ballito. He said there was an abundance of water in that part of the Tugela River.
Pressure on supply from Hazelmere Dam will be lessened when Ballito receives water from the LTBWS, making more water available to supply Ethekwini Metro, Verulam and Waterloo.
