POLOKWANE – THE Polokwane Municipality will continue with its programme of improving access to water through implementation of capital projects in 14 Regional Water Schemes. An amount of R191 million has been budgeted through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for the provisioning of water infrastructure in rural areas.
The announcement was made by the Polokwane mayor, Thembi Nkadimeng during her state of the city address on Thursday.
She said plans were put in place to address challenges related to water provision.
Part of those plans included:
• Lepelle Northern Water has submitted an application to the department of water and sanitation for the increase of water allocation to the city from Ebenezer and Olifantspoort schemes.
• The department of water and sanitation will make available R180 million to assist the municipality in both its water infrastructure and sanitation backlog.
• R1,5 million is budgeted to provide water meters in some households in Seshego zone 5, as well as the replacement of old meters in the Mankweng area.
• The upgrading of Molepo and Chuene-Maja Water Treatment Plants at a combined cost of R65 million will provide an additional six mega litres per day to the community.
A feasibility study to eradicate water challenges in Moletjie area has been concluded.
Nkadimeng said according to the study, an amount of R210 million was required to eradicate water challenges in Moletjie east, north and south, while R157 million was required in Moletjie east alone. “Theft, vandalism, as well as illegal connections in the water network have complicated water supply challenges in the Moletjie area,” she said, adding that the delays in completing water projects in some areas were caused by the halting of work by the community with various reasons including poor performance by some contractors.
“Council continues to encourage businesses, all the residents and visitors to the city to use water sparingly and report any illegal water use and pipe leakages to the municipality so that we can continue to share this scarce natural resource,” she said.
In another project, Anglo Platinum has submitted an application the department of water and sanitation for the increase of grey water use licence to 20ML/day.
“The department is still busy with the assessment of the request and as such the planned R80 million for the refurbishment of Polokwane Waste Water Treatment Works will be in full swing after the approval. It is anticipated that the plant will receive up to 41Ml/d when development reaches the urban edge. This initiative will give the treatment plant additional five years to operate within the capacity.”
She said another project regarding waste water treatment was the refurbishment of Seshego Waste Water Treatment Plant to the value of R30 million funded by the department of water and sanitation during the 2014/15 financial year so that it could comply with green drop requirements, as well as the reduction of unpleasant smells in the surrounding area.
The project is currently underway.
Regarding access to sanitation, Nkadimeng said R40 million was budgeted through MIG for the 2015/16 financial year to construct over 4 000 Ventilation Improved Pit (VIP) toilets in rural areas.
