The dome-shaped water reservoir in Kenmare has been empty for the past 12 years, but if it were still operational, it could supply water to up to 4 000 houses if issues arose.
Ward councillor Jaco Holtzhausen told the Krugersdorp News that it is not in use due to the reservoir cracking. He added structural damage has since developed making it impossible to use.
Holtzhausen added that this reservoir is supposed to act as a buffer, where water should be pumped into it and when the water demand surpasses the supply, the reservoir should be used. It is supposed to supply water to Kenmare, Silverfields and parts of Monument, but when the pumps are down due to load-shedding, numerous areas are left without water. According to Holtzhausen, this reservoir is supposed to reserve water for about three days if the pumps are down.
“This reservoir holds roughly 30 000 megalitres and affects up to 4 000 households. We asked the municipality to fix the problem, but repairs to the reservoir are not in their budget. This is a perfect example of what 30 years of mismanagement and neglect can lead to,” Holtzhausen said.
The News approached Mogale City Local Municipality about these repairs and why it has not been prioritised or even in their budget. At the time of going to print, the News did not receive their comment. Their feedback will, however, be published once received.
