PHALABORWA – Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) says the damaged 8AB pump, which has been blamed for the ongoing water shortages in Phalaborwa, is expected to be repaired by Thursday, June 4.

LNW spokesperson Joe Makhafula confirmed the timeline for the repair.

Two weeks without consistent water

Communities in Phalaborwa town, Lulekani, and Namakgale have been without a consistent water supply for more than two weeks due to the faulty pump.

At present, residents are relying solely on the 6AB pump, which produces only 24 megalitres of water per day, about 32% of the system’s full capacity of 76 megalitres per day.

Rotational supply implemented

LNW said that, to manage the limited supply and ensure equitable distribution, a 24-hour rotational water supply programme has been implemented.

However, efforts to supply and replenish the Namakgale reservoir have been severely hampered by widespread illegal water connections along the 800mm bulk pipeline, as well as existing system capacity limitations.

Stakeholder meeting held

Makhafula said that on Tuesday, May 26, LNW convened a stakeholders’ meeting with:

• The Office of the Premier
• The Department of Water and Sanitation
• The Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs
• Mopani District Municipality
• Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality

The meeting aimed to agree on urgent interventions to stabilise the water supply system.

Key interventions identified

These include:

• Procurement of standby equipment to improve operational reliability
• Progressing the appointment process for the 560mm bulk pipeline project
• Implementing long-term upgrades to the Phalaborwa water treatment works and its associated bulk infrastructure

Meanwhile, some residents believe that illegal water connections are responsible for the uneven distribution of water, with certain sections of the community still receiving supply while others remain dry.

They claim that frequent water leaks are often linked to these illegal connections.

In one incident, a frustrated resident recorded a video showing clean water leaking from a pipe behind a local school, questioning how such wastage could occur while large parts of Phalaborwa remain without water.

The Herald forwarded the footage to municipal spokesperson Jonas Mahesu, who said the technical team would attend to the issue. However, at the time of going to print, the leaking pipe had not yet been repaired.