For the first time in more than five years, the drought-stricken Ndlambe Local Municipality did not experience water shortages during peak season last year due to drought relief interventions totaling some R31 million. 

Last year, the municipality held discussions with the departments of Water Affairs and Local Government for funding to alleviate the water shortages in the area due to a severe drought.  Provincial water utility Amatola Water was appointed as the implementing agent.

“Amatola Water together with the municipality implemented 11 projects using six interventions to relieve the drought situation in the area.

“These included public awareness, targeting high waters users, new and refurbishment of old infrastructure, the resuscitation of the sand dunes well in East Beach, water conservation and demand management, the upgrade of the bulk water pipeline from Port Alfred to Bathurst as well as maintenance,” says Amatola Water operations director Xola Bomela.

Bomela says the Ndlambe area has had a history of water shortages during the peak seasons during the festive season and around Easter. However, a public campaign has been launched to educate residents about the water crisis and to use water wisely. Schools have been targeted for the education and refurbishment of infrastructure drive as they are high water users.

“Central to these interventions is the temporary desalination plant which purifies sea water for human consumption. The 400 000 litres a day plant has helped increase municipal water capacity in the west. The resuscitation of the sand dunes well has helped improve water supply in the East,” explains Bomela.

Bomela says the Amatola Water has also installed bulk water metres in the water system to monitor water use. This also involved replacing old steel pipes in town which accounted for the leaks.

He says that maintenance of infrastructure is also a key intervention “because the infrastructure will disintegrate into its old state if it is not properly maintained.”

Ndlambe Municipality infrastructure director Xolani Masiza says a number of options are being considered to find a permanent solution to the water challenges in the area.

“One of these is to have a permanent desalination plant, draw water from the Fish River, Sandile River or from the Orange River through the Glen Melville Dam in Grahamstown.

“In the next three months we will know which option to go for. At this stage we are looking for the most viable and sustainable option for the entire municipal area,” says Masiza.

For more information contact:

Connie Buso

Amatola Water

Tel. 043 707 3734

Cell. 082 2262 281

Email. cbuso@amatolawater.co.za

For Amatola Water media relations:

Lunga Mtshizana

Media EQ

Tel. 043 726 8833

Cell. 083 618 7557

Email. lunga@getnews.co.za