Upgrading of Glencore mine water treatment plan
The upgrading of Glencore Mine Water Treatment Plant may lead to a possible water supply interruption in Phola AND Ogies
The municipality is a Water Services Authority and Water Services Provider responsible for water services within the municipal Jurisdiction.
This is the main includes ensuring that there is adequate bulk water supply to all areas and that there is enough water retention in the system to sustain supply should there be an unforeseen event.
Ogies/Phola areas were supplied by potable water from main Witbank water treatment plant which with growth proved to problematic and alternative water supply schemes had to be initiated.
The municipality entered into an agreement with mining company to supply potable water to Phola/Ogies are with effect from November 2018 which stabilized provision of water.
The current water supply volume to the municipality is set at 8Ml/day as per concluded service level agreement however there exist a deficit due to growth and development of the area.
The mine was engaged to investigate the possibility of increasing the municipal off-take to meet both the current and possible future water demand.
On 11 January 2021, the municipality received a communique from the Glecore Mine indicating their planning to reduce water production from the reclamation plant to effect the necessary upgrades.
The mine is in process of upgrading the plant to achieve the designed throughput and provide for redundancy to the plant to achieve the mine’s production targets.
These planned works will result in water production being reduced to about 5Ml/day for the duration of the shutdown planned from 14 January 2021 to 23 January 2021 (ten days).
After the shutdown it is expected that the mine will be able to provide the municipality with about 12Ml/day on a daily basis.
It should be noted that some areas especially high lying and distant areas will be affected by the shutdown/reduced water supply and experience either low water pressure or no water.
The municipality will make use of water tankers to all affected areas during the period.
The municipality apologizes for the inconvenience caused and communities are urged to use water sparingly and safely as the country and world at large is faced with an even fiercer COVID 19 pandemic phase 2.
