Lepelle Northern Water reveals water plan

In an attempt to minimise further water shortages and disruptions of water supply to residents of the city and Lebowakgomo, the bulk water supplier Lepelle Northern Water (LNW), on Tuesday revealed its plans outlining measures to prevent recurrences of events which recently left residents without water for days.
LNW Chief Executive, Phineas Legodi, said in an exclusive interview with Polokwane Observer that short-, medium and long-term interventions were necessary and that he is confident that, with the two municipalities, the communities and consumers’ cooperation, the interventions may bring relief.
Short-term measures
Regarding the Olifantspoort water plant, a criminal case was opened against two persons involved in the disruption of operations four times since the beginning of the year. “The two community leaders were arrested and the cases were postponed. They are out on free bail,” Legodi said and added that the unrest was not related to service delivery issues, but to an attempt to draw attention to community leadership differences between residents of the areas surrounding the plant.
LNW is currently in the process of application for a court interdict to prevent any further interferences in the operations at its plants and finalisation is expected in due course.
“We have also improved the security measures in and around the plant but details thereof cannot be disclosed as it may compromise security,” Legodi said.
Legodi also confirmed that the refurbishment of the Specon main line that connects the city with Olifantspoort is due for completion by 15 August.
“The old line was built more than 30 years ago and the pipe bursts that were experienced recently, made it necessary to fast track the project,” Legodi said.
“More relief will soon come when the package plant at Olifantspoort is completed towards the end of August. The plant will provide 10 mega litres of water to Fetakgomo Municipality, allowing more water to be available to Polokwane,” Legodi added.
LNW has applied to have four of its plants, which include Olifantspoort and Ebenezer, declared as national key points and the outcome is awaited. “The effect of the declaration will result in even tighter security and funding from national level as well as management of security measures and interventions when challenges are experienced,” Legodi explained.
Medium to long-term measures
According to Legodi, LNW has embarked on a planning exercise and feasibility study to explore options to upgrade the bulk delivery capacity of both the Olifantspoort and Ebenezer schemes to meet the demand of its clients until 2036.
“We are now dependent on the Department of Water and Sanitation to allocate funds required for the years to come as the project may take between three and five years to complete.
“The project will include extension of the treatment capacity as well as the pipe lines,” Legodi said and also mentioned that the possibility to involve public private partnerships is entertained.