DUNDEE KZN: Water war has residents up in arms
Various meetings are continuing between the various municipalities to work out what has become a conundrum affecting all in Endumeni.
Continued water-shedding after the good summer rains have left residents and business owners furious. While water cuts were introduced when poor rains reduced the Buffalo River to a trickle (on which Endumeni’s water supply depends), many are demanding to know why the cuts have not been lifted following above-average rainfall.
Facebook has been inundated with complaints from residents, many of whom saying they were in their ‘fifth year of having no water up to 12 hours a day’.
FC Bester of the Endumeni Residents Association said they were taking the issue up with the various municipalities and water entities involved, and are considering a class action in a bid to force the government to upgrade the Biggarsberg Water Treatment Plant, which is responsible for the water cuts. uThukela Water in Newcastle, who are responsible for the bulk supply of water in Endumeni and Nquthu, said they applied for government grant funding for emergency capital upgrades to the plaint in 2016 from the National Department of Water Affairs.
It is understood that the money was paid directly to the district municipality, rather than to uThukela Water, although it is the latter that has jurisdiction over the plant.
The twist is that COGTA insisted that the grant be paid to uThukela Water, but now it is understood that Umzinyathi District Municipality will soon award a tender to carry out the upgrade.
It is further understood that various meetings are continuing between the various municipalities to work out what has become a conundrum affecting all in Endumeni. In 2018, Endumeni’s consumption was eight mega-litres of water a day, but in 2019, the daily water usage topped 12 mega-litres of water per day.
Umzinyathi then opted for water restrictions to allow for time to review plans to successfully upgrade the Tayside abstraction works, where raw water is sourced for purification and reticulation. Umzinyathi is currently in the process of upgrading Water Works Filters, which will also assist in ensuring sufficient supply and removal of restrictions for the Endumeni community, Â
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