La Mercy desal on track

KZN’s river systems are on the verge of reaching their maximum yield potential and Umgeni Water may have no choice but to build a massive desalination plant in La Mercy.

The draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) report has been released for public comment for a 40-day period ending on May 9.

The proposed plant will reportedly produce 150 million litres (Ml) of drinking water a day from a daily intake of 333 million litres of sea water.

The balance of the water (183 million litres) will be pumped back into the ocean as brine (water with a higher than normal salt concentration).

This is three times the 55 Ml/day that will be supplied by phase one of the Lower Tugela Bulk Water Supply Scheme (LTBWSS) once it comes into operation in April this year.

The proposed site for the plant is three kilometres north of the La Mercy Lagoon and 200 metres inland from the sea, west of the M4 and is expected to supply the La Mercy and Waterloo reservoirs.

Umgeni Water has already bought the land from willing sellers, however that does not mean the North Coast desalination plant will definitely be built.

Umgeni Water reportedly have rights and land for two desalination plants (South and North Coast) and are being proactive in getting EIAs and public participation processes in place so that both can be built if and when it becomes necessary.

The Tongaat Civic Association‘s Jeeva Pillay said the La Mercy desalination plant was still in the public participation phase and, since the LTBWSS would come online soon, the immediate need for such a plant on the South Coast was greater.

Dolphin Coast Conservancy chair, Di Jones said climate change, population growth and possible overuse of the Tugela River necessitated the North Coast desalination plant.

“I personally do not think the Tugela will in future be able to supply the water needs of the fast developing North Coast and if the river becomes polluted by fracking in the Midlands or coal mining in Colenso, we will be in trouble,” said Jones.

She said rainfall patterns have changed, making it impossible to capture and contain the masses of water when good rain falls.

“Instead of days and days of consistent rain that gradually fill dams and rivers, we have been getting floods that wash out to sea.”

A copy of the draft EIA report for the La Mercy plant is available at the Tongaat Beach Library and on the following website: www.csir.co.za/eia/TpmgaatDesalination/.

A public meeting will be held on April 13 at 6pm at the Tongaat Town Hall.

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