Tshwane and partners continue clean water efforts in Hammanskraal
The project has been hailed as a much-needed intervention, providing hope to the community that has suffered from substandard water for years.
Tshwane metro, Magalies Water and other stakeholders will unroll the second phase of the project of providing clean water to Hammanskraal residents, who have faced decades of unsafe water supply.
Phase 2 is scheduled for completion by February.
The project aims to address years of water quality issues that have plagued Hammanskraal, largely due to pollution from the dysfunctional Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works.
The completion of phase 1 has seen wards 49, 73, 74, 75, Mandela Village, Marokolong, Ramotse, Kekana Gardens/Steve Bikoville and parts of Babelegi Industrial receive clean water supplied by Babelegi Reservoir.
As phase 2 unfolds, other Hammanskraal residents will be one step closer to accessing clean, safe drinking water across the region.
Phase 2 will add another 12.5 megalitres of water per day to the community’s supply.
Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya recently announced that the long-standing challenge of non-supply of clean water, a complaint with SANS 241:2015 had been resolved for some areas.
This follows years of the quality of water not meeting standards to ensure safe human consumption.
Moya said the water from the Klipdrift Water Treatment Plant had been tested and was confirmed to meet the required health standards for consumption.
She said this confirmation marked an achievement following the completion of the first phase of the metro’s comprehensive water supply project.
According to Department of Water and Sanitation spokesperson Cornelius Manama, the first module of the plant, which produces 12.5 megalitres to the Tshwane metro was completed and had passed all tests.
Water flowing through the taps in these areas meets the SANS 241:2015 drinking water quality standards.
Manama said with the second module nearing completion in February, another 12.5 million litres of clean drinking water would soon be pumped into the Babelegi Reservoir and distributed to more areas of Hammanskraal.
“This is part of the ongoing four-phase project, with subsequent modules to be completed in May and June this year, eventually supplying a total of 50 million litres of water per day,” said Manama.
While the community eagerly awaits the second phase, clean water continues to be provided to other parts of Hammanskraal through water tank services.
These water tankers are supplied by safe and tested sources from Rand Water and Magalies Water pipelines, ensuring no one goes without clean drinking water during this transition period.
The project has been hailed as a much-needed intervention, providing hope to the community suffering from substandard water for years.
As the February deadline approaches, Hammanskraal residents are urged to continue using water responsibly and report any incidents of vandalism or illegal connections to ensure long-term sustainability.
“The success of this project plays a crucial role in South Africa’s efforts to meet both the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation and the National Development Plan’s objectives.”
Manama further announced that three phases are outstanding, which would each add 12.5 million litres.
He said this would see a total of 50 million litres of water per day supplied to residents of Hammanskraal.
“The water that is supplied through water tankers is supplied by Rand Water and Magalies Water pipelines is regularly tested to ensure safe human consumption.
“This heralds a new beginning for the community of Hammanskraal.”
For several years there was poor water quality from the Temba Water Treatment Works, as a result of pollution in the Apies River caused by the dysfunctional Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Works.
“Magalies Water and metro will carry out testing of the water quality on an ongoing basis.”
The Department of Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng government, Tshwane metro and Magalies Water will continue to work together to address the water situation in Hammanskraal.
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