uThukela District Municipality have warned that if current load-shedding continues, they may not only be forced to re-introduce water restrictions against residential homes, but this time target businesses as well.

“The simple truth is we are being hammered from all sides with load-shedding,” explained deputy water services manager Glen Singh.

An example of the problem they face:

One minute the town water treatment works is cut by Emnambithi/Ladysmith electricians, then when that comes back online, the Spioenkop water pumps are cut by Eskom.

Add to this that each reservoir uses a pump to fill up with water. So while the treatment plant and Spioenkop has power, the reservoir pumps may not. There are five reservoirs in and around Ladysmith.

What this means:

uThukela are unable to supply enough water to the town and to Ezakheni. The problems in Ezakheni are more pronounced, as the pump station there is cut more often by Eskom, resulting in parts of A-section (Kwabusle) being without water for 5 days.

On a long-term level, each time water pumps are restarted or stopped, pipes burst. The long-term knock-on effect is that the entire water supply system is on the verge of collapse.

What does that mean to us:

Water restrictions will return, but they will not only be applied to residential homes, but water intensive businesses as well (like car washes, etc).

Water restrictions will be strictly enforced.

uThukela have a plan?

uThukela are currently in urgent talks with the local municipality and Eskom to try and stop them cutting the various reservoirs, treatment plants and pump stations. If this fails…

Worst case scenario?

Area-wide water cuts similar to the current load-shedding, or a total collapse of the water supply system (as happened in Ezakheni A-section, where uThukela simply cannot supply them with water).

What about tankers?

They are already in use, supplying areas that have no water at all.  If they are taken away from the areas they supply, those areas suffer. Tankers are not a solution.