Water supply interruption being experienced in the City of Mbombela due to load-shedding
A water shortage has been caused by the more than three power outages a day. Some water plants have back-up generators and others still depend on Eskom for power.
The ongoing load-shedding is a serious threat to the stability of water supply throughout City of Mbombela (CoM).
According to the the CoM spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, the city has been experiencing water cuts as a result of electricity outages of up to three times a day at its Water Treatment Works since Eskom started implementing stage 4 load-shedding at the beginning of the week.
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The City’s water works have been affected as follows:
• White River Water Works is operated with a standby generator producing on average six million litres per day, with a shortfall of five million litres from the Mbombela line that augments the supply.
• The Mbombela line also affects Msholozi, Phumlani, Hillsview and Rocky Drift during load-shedding.
• In Hazyview, the plant produces six million litres of water and is operated by a standby generator, but runs on Eskom power at the pump station. This plant should not be affected by load-shedding. The only challenge to the process can be attributed to diesel supply
• Nyongane supplies 21 million litres per day. The pump stations are not linked to any standby generators. In an event of load-shedding the CoM can only produce about 13.1 million litres
• KaNyamazene supplies 68 million litres and is not equipped with a standby generator. The plant is too big for a generator.
• Umjindi, Rimer’s Creek and Suidkaap produce 11 million litres and are not equipped with a standby generator. With stage 4 load-shedding they experience a shortfall of four million litres, which is already compounded by the ongoing drought
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Ngala added that water supply services will continue to suffer. It becomes difficult to fill up reservoirs during load-shedding and low pressure is experienced high-lying areas.
“We appeal to all consumers to continue to use water sparingly and to please understand that the prevailing circumstances are beyond the city’s control as load-shedding is a national challenge,” he said.
