Question NW406 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
04 April 2024 - NW406
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
What immediate steps has he undertaken to ensure consistent and reliable access to clean water for critical facilities such as the Jane Furse Hospital in Limpopo and several hospitals in Kimberley in view of the ongoing water crisis affecting communities and hospitals, where tankers are supplying water to such facilities?
Reply:
The Sol Plaatje LM has for a considerable time been experiencing huge water supply and quality challenges from the Riverton supply on the Vaal River to their Newton Storage facility located towards the South of Kimberley. The bulk water supply system not only has capacity constraints in meeting the increasing water demands, but Sol Plaatje is having to contend with frequent supply disruptions caused by continued leaks/breakages and poor water quality. The leaks are experienced on the main pipeline from Riverton to Kimberley.
To address this, the Sol Plaatje Municipality submitted an application to the National Treasury for Bulk Funding Infrastructure (BFI) in 2021, with the aim of implementing much-needed upgrades to its ageing water supply infrastructure (bulk and reticulation). The application was approved. The objective of the project is to restore, monitor and control water quality, water supply and non-revenue water to Sol Plaatje Municipality.
It should be noted that the key contributing factor to the water challenges being experienced in the Kimberly area is the raw water quality of the Vaal River, due to algal bloom. This has had a direct negative impact on purified water production. The municipality is currently supplementing water supply to hospitals and malls through water tankers, which fill-up the on-site water tanks of these institutions. Key activities currently being undertaken to alleviate the water supply issues, include cleaning of clarifiers; replacement of filter media; commissioning of additional two clarifiers at the old plant; repairs and valves replacement at both old and new plant; raw water abstraction augmentation; by provision of additional raw water submersible pump.
In Limpopo, the Department is funding a project implemented by Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) through RBIG. The project entails construction of a bulk pipeline and reservoirs to supply water to areas within Greater Tubatse Local Municipality and Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality which incorporate Jane Furse town. Jane Furse hospital is part of the areas which are going to benefit from the project.
The Jane Furse hospital will receive water from the pipeline taking water from Malikana water treatment works to Jane Furse town feeding into the 25 Ml reservoir, which was completed, however the pipeline and pumpstation was vandalised before commissioned. The SDM is currently refurbishing and commissioning the pipeline and the pumpstation. The project is anticipated to be completed by December 2024.
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