White River residents lose water, then power
After almost a week without water in some parts of town, residents have begun experiencing electricity issues too.
Most of White River has been without water since Friday last week, with Mbombela’s Water and Sanitation Department trying to identify the problem.
On Tuesday, a tree fell on to a cable line at the corner of Tambotie and Mopanie streets, causing major electrical disruptions across the town.
White River DA councillor, Rowan Torr, said the City’s energy department went out to repair the damage but did not have access to chainsaws to cut the tree branches.
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“The White River Fire Department’s chainsaws went in for repairs last year and because the municipality has not paid for those repairs, they have not been returned,” said Torr.
White River Ratepayers Association head, Piet Skead, said sewers had started overflowing in town now due to the ongoing water issues.
“The community is very upset. There are too many issues going on for too long now,” he said.
In an official notice issued by Wendy Tshawe, general manager of water and sanitation of CMLM, she says that there is a power failure at the Phumlani pump station and that the central business district of White River will be without water soon.
An electrical contractor has been send to fix the cables. According to the same notice, the Longmere water source was reduced by the Irrigation Board, meaning that the output of the Kingview plant has also been drastically reduced.
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The Irrigation Board has been asked to increase supply. Maintenance workers has been deployed to deal with pipe bursts along the route.
White River resident, Sandy Vianello, posted on Lowvelder’s Facebook page: “We really have a problem with CMLM. It’s not just water and electricity. Potholes are becoming a big problem, grass cutting has got out of hand and car registrations or driver’s licenses take days of queuing to get done. Someone must take charge and get things done”.
Yvette Abercrombie also posted: “This is day five without water in our area of town, Rooibos Street in Kingsview. We have collected quite a lot of rain water for flushing toilets etc. We have a water tank with a pressure pump but with no prior warning we where unable to fill it beforehand.
“The little bit in tank we now only use for showering. I did some washing late on Friday night and there was no problem with our water. Suddenly Saturday morning no water, zero, not a drop. We have been given ever conceivable excuse of pumps, valves, Longmere Dam level – except the truth. We are gatvol”.
Mbombela municipal spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, said he was working on the White River matter and would respond to questions sent.
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