Main pipeline damaged – Lydenburg running dry
No water means no flushing toilets, creating a serious health hazard, especially at schools and preschools.
LYDENBURG – Most of the town has been without water for more than three days. The crisis could continue until Sunday afternoon.
Many households, businesses, preschools and orphanages in Mashishing have no running water and residents are now being forced to either buy water or fetch it in containers from areas that are not affected.
No water means no flushing toilets, creating a serious health hazard, especially at schools and preschools.
The newspaper paid a visit to the waterworks to try and find out exactly what is causing the crisis.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News met up with TCM’s operations manager, Mr Afrika Ngomane.
He informed the newspaper that contractors damaged the main pipeline while they were trying to commission a new line. “Glencore Lydenburg Smelter has assisted tremendously in the repair process. While waiting for the water to flow from the dam, waterworks are being pro-active in the sense that they are multi-tasking. Water flow should be restored completely by the end of this weekend, should load-shedding not be implemented. The water is currently running, but with very low water pressure. Only certain households will have running water, but some will only have by Sunday.”
One resident, Ms Leonora Erasmus said that the least that could have been done was to inform residents of the pending crisis. “Couldn’t they have at least give residents a heads up as to what the heck is going on instead of keeping mum and letting everyone speculate on what is happening. At least admit that there is a problem and let residents prepare for water shortages, but keeping silent is unacceptable and absolutely inconsiderate on their part.”
Oasis water suppliers in town told the newspaper that they are the only water supplier that had any stock between 17 and 20 February. The company sold 6 303 litres in the last four days.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) in Mbombela, since the water-pipeline replacement is one of its projects funded through Municipal Infrastructure Grants (MIG). The communications department of the DWA confirmed that they are not aware of the problem but said that they will come back with a possible answer as to when water flow will be restored.
