The Mogale City Local Municipality has issued a media statement about the almost two-week-long water shortage in Krugersdorp.
Nkosana Zali, municipal spokesperson says they have had a meeting with Rand Water and councillors yesterday (22 September) in which the water disruptions affecting Kenmare, Rant-en-Dal, Muldersdrift and Noordheuwel were discussed.
“The municipality has a water supply contract with Rand Water per the Water Services Act. In all instances the provisions of the Act have been complied with in management of the contract between the parties. The parties were commended for continual engagement over matters related to water provision to communities,” he says in the statement.
At the meeting it was stated that a power failure occurred in Eikenhoff on 15 September, which led to the reservoirs draining. This consequently would affect supply to the West Rand including Mogale City – the real effects thereof would be experienced only on the next day.
“Power was restored, but amidst high demand for water as a result of high temperature conditions, another power failure was experienced on 18 September, which affected recovery work.”
These power failures affected water supply to Ekurhuleni, western Johannesburg, West Rand, and parts of the North West. These areas include Florida, Roodepoort, Mogale City, Westonaria, Merafong City and Rustenburg.
On 19 September Rand Water experienced a plant failure at the Palmiet plant, which pumps 250 mega litres per day. This plant failure is a result of cable theft in Alrode. Eskom is working on the problem.
“This series of events in one week is unprecedented in Rand Water’s history,” says Zali.
“Engineers are hard at work to restore supply to all areas. It is unfortunate that timelines cannot be fixed for actual return of supply to our affected areas. The urgency of the matter, however is not lost on all those who are engaged in resolving the problem.”
When the problem is resolved on Rand Water’s side, the outlying areas such as western Johannesburg, the West Rand, Rustenburg and other parts of the North West will be the last to recover.
“Therefore it will take a while to bring the situation back to normal.”
He says the municipality and Rand Water apologise for any inconvenience caused.
The meeting resolved:
• Rand Water remains the central point of communication with the media with regard progress being made to restore water to affected areas
• Rand Water will continue to appraise the municipality regularly and as frequently as possible regarding progress being made
• The municipal infrastructure department (i.e. water and sanitation unit in particular) will be the point of contact for all communication from Rand Water
• The municipality will use all communication channels it can muster to share information received from Rand Water with the residents
• The municipality will provide water to affected areas through tankers stationed at strategic points for the duration of the crisis and the list thereof will be posted on Mogale City’s website: www.mogalecity.gov.za
• In order for reservoirs to have meaningful water capacity, the community is urged to limit water consumption to immediate household needs and avoid irrigation of gardens, filling swimming pools and washing cars.
