There are plans for a huge infrastructure upgrade with the installation of a new water pipeline in Heidelberg and surrounding suburbs.
On January 31 during a council sitting in the Heidelberg Townhall, Star Moholobela, senior manager of the water, sanitation and solid waste department of the municipality reported that Heidelberg Central, Rensburg and Shalimar Ridge are preparing for a water pipe facelift.
The meeting had representatives from the DA, Mirna Mulder and Gerry Holtzhauzen, contractors from Big Engineering and Supply and Emily Magazi, MMC for infrastructure, in attendance.
The current pipes are made from asbestos.
The cost for the project is in the range of R8.7-million. The infrastructure causes a lot of problems due to burst waterpipes and at times the areas are without water for days on end. It has necessitated that the local government availed the necessary funds to replace the asbestos pipes with more durable PVC pipes.
PVC pipes were installed in Jordaan Park in 2018. According to Moholobela, the project will be mainly in Ward Eight (Rensburg and Shalimar Ridge) and Ward Nine (Heidelberg Central and Poortjie) in Heidelberg.
The purpose of the project is to improve the water supply in Heidelberg.
Old infrastructure needs to be replaced and upgraded to reduce the frequent call-outs.
Moholobela said: “It is also an opportunity to create work for the local community.
“At least 30% of the workforce has to be local.”
There is more than 2 600m piping that will need to be replaced. The following streets will be affected by the upgrade: Voortrekker Street (Heidelberg Central), Zuid and Loveday streets (Rensburg), Kismet Street (Shalimar Ridge) and Groenfontein Road (Poortjie).
The aim is to complete the project within the next five months. No starting date has been confirmed.
The water and sanitising department is responsible for about 20 000 households, maintaining about 450km of water lines, 20 reservoirs as well as new connections.
“The municipality gets the water from Rand Water Board and every time there are water losses it causes financial losses to municipalities and taxpayers,” said Moholobela.
“We want to minimise the losses and ensure the taxpayer and Lesedi benefit from the new water pipes.
“Water is vital for us all. We have so many people relying on water on a daily basis. And with the healthcare facilities in the area, we do not want a situation where there is a water shortage at any time. In the long run, we are here to serve the community, and water is a vital part of the process.”
