The main water pump station located next to the water treatment plant flooded at around 05:30 this morning.
The Point D water supply pump station, which is the heartbeat of potable water supply in the greater Emalahleni area, was isolated, and an investigation ensued to determine the cause of flooding.
“The power supply was interrupted due to a fault on the main switch supplying power to the water plant and Witbank Retail Centre. With the rolling load shedding by Eskom as was pronounced, the electrical system has had a shock which may have caused the equipment and cables to fail. The underground water table is also high, which may have contributed to water seepage into the pump station,” the municipal spokesperson Mr Lebo Mofokeng explained.
The triggering and early warning signals failed due to no power supply, and the problem was only noticed when the water level in the pump station was high.
The pump station is being drained of flooding water, and the equipment is tested for operation.
Spare equipment is available and the damaged ones will be changed out.
It is anticipated that normal water supply will be restored by 16:00.
The communities and consumers are urged and advised to report any areas where water supply is still a problem and will be attended to accordingly.
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