Residents no longer have to worry about not having water during a power outage because Rand Water has officially launched its first customised mobile generator. The generator will prevent the water supply from being interrupted if a loss of electricity compromises Rand Water’s ability to pump water.
The launch took place at the Roodepoort Pumping Station in Robertville, where the Chief Operation Officer (COO) Sipho Mosai gave a demonstration of how the generators will operate. He also mentioned that the generators use diesel fuel.
The project to establish an emergency power generation unit began in 2004, when Rand Water experienced a total loss of electrical power at two major pumping stations due to a failure at two power supply authorities. This led to a widespread lack of water for up to two weeks in some areas. It was the first such event in Rand Water’s 100 years of operation and had a major financial effect on the company. An initial amount of R200million was resourced under emergency procurement rules‚ and the balance of R100million under its normal Capex arrangements.
The total average daily demand on the Rand Water network is projected to increase from the current demand of 4,3 megalitres per day to 5,9 megalitres per day.
Rand Water draws raw water primarily from the Vaal River System, which has two pumping and purification stations that push the water into the network. The water is pumped further by four booster stations situated on the southern side of the Witwatersrand ridge.
Rand Water’s largest customers are the City of Johannesburg, the City of Ekurhuleni and the City of Tshwane metropolitan municipalities. Together, these customers account for 75 per cent of the water consumed.
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