Umvoti River in dire straits

The merciless drought has yet again caused the Umvoti River to dry up, leaving areas in and around Stanger without water.

Close to 10 000 consumers, including households and businesses in the Stanger CBD and the surrounding areas of Highridge, Warrenton, Stanger Manor, Townview, Rocky Park, Shakaville, Lindelani, Lot 16, Memory Lloyds, Doesburg, Mbozambo, Stanger Heights, New Guelderland and Glenhills were without water from Monday 10am to Tuesday 2am and the Ilembe district municipality told consumers to arrange for alternate water supply until the plant’s production can be increased.

Under normal circumstances the plant produces 18 million litres per day (Ml/d) but currently only produces 11/Ml/d. Ilembe is one of the municipalities in the province worst crippled by the drought.

“The district municipality apologises profusely to all residents and ratepayers. Your patience and understanding is highly appreciated,” the municipality said.

Umgeni Water area manager, Pravesh Boodhoo said a team would tackle the problem on Wednesday morning. This would not be the first time water authorities have dug trenches in the Umvoti Riverbed to harvest water.

The Ilembe district municipality has been building banks and digging trenches since 2015 to channel every available drop of water to the extraction plant.

Illegal sand mining has been blamed for aggravating the problem.

In December 2015, the Ilembe district municipality took action against illegal sand miners, busting open eight sand mining dams along a 20 kilometre stretch of the Umvoti River between Glendale and the Melville. After opening the dams, the plant produced 14 megalitres per day, ending a threeweek dry spell for the town.

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