The state of the sewerage network in the whole of Rand West City had been a cause for concern for quite some time, as it was in a state of disrepair and decay.
This is now something of the past.
On Thursday, 6 August, Lindiwe Sisulu, the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation commended the successful upgrading of the dysfunctional Randfontein Wastewater Treatment Works as an example that should be replicated in all municipalities to address wastewater infrastructure challenges.
Minister Sisulu was speaking during the handover of the refurbished treatment works to the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM).
The treatment works was technically non-operational and the effluent being discharged was not compliant with the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) specifications. The treatment works had also been experiencing mechanical breakdowns due to ageing equipment.
Minister Sisulu said with the establishment of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, the department was able to get sufficient funds to repair and refurbish crumbling wastewater infrastructure in every municipality, as the aging wastewater infrastructure affected the provision of clean water.
Minister Sisulu appealed to RWCLM to appoint a dedicated person to ensure that there was oversight at the treatment plant.
Sibusiso Mthembu, DWS’ Gauteng Provincial Head, said inlet works and grit removers at the treatment works were insufficient to handle the flow that the treatment plant encounters during periods of heavy rains, therefore, “… it encountered frequent flooding during rainy seasons, as well as solids being transported to the primary settling tanks (PST). Both the inlet channels and flumes were blocked with hardened fat that non-compliant industries released,” said Mthembu.
He said the treatment works served a population of approximately 90 000 which is estimated to grow at a rate of 1,5 per cent for the next couple of years. It was estimated that the population would have grown to 104 526 by the year 2027.
