Lack of funding impacts heavily on Endumeni’s water supply
In terms of the bulk water master plan, there are plans to supply this area from this proposed new water plant.
Battling droughts, arrears accounts and a lack of capital grant funding, uThukela Water has still managed to keep its head above water.
This was said at the entity’s AGM, which was this year held via Skype. uThukela Water provides bulk water to the Umzinyathi and Amajuba District Municipalities and to the Newcastle Local Municipality. In Umzinyathi, reticulation, water and sanitation are done by the District Municipality.
Dan Naidoo, uThukela Water Chairman, noted that the Umzinyathi area is not blessed with good sustainable natural water resources, and relies on the Blood and Buffalo Rivers for its main raw water requirements.
In terms of the bulk water master plan, there are plans to supply this area from this proposed new water plant.
“The second major water project currently receiving attention is the siting of the new dams in the region.
These two projects alone will ensure the security of the region’s water resources and the effective regional distribution of bulk water to all areas within the jurisdiction of the Board. They will also replace the need for the management of the smaller and more costly water treatment plants that currently exist and struggle on uncertain water resources.”
Increasing capacity of the Biggarsberg Water Treatment Plant
Mr Naidoo noted that ‘major capital projects are required to increase the bulk water flows to the Biggarsberg Water Treatment plant.’
“The Umzinyathi District Municipality has received grant funding to upgrade the Tayside (on the Buffalo River) high lift pumps, to increase the capacity of the flocculation settlement dams, and to upgrade the sand filters at the plant. The municipality has chosen to procure and appoint the contractors through their own supply chain procedures and will hand the project supervisory role over to the entity, to jointly implement, hopefully in the current year.”
See this week’s Courier for full details on the water crisis facing the area
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