POLOKWANE – Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) says their team of engineers and contractors has completed the replacement of old sections and commissioning of new pipelines that were at risk in the Mankweng area.

The repairs resulted in a shutdown that affected water supply to Polokwane and surrounding areas.

LNW spokesperson Joe Makhafola says the team completed the work at the Megoring and Thakgalang river crossings within the Ebenezer Scheme at 06:00 this morning.

“The plan was to complete it within 36-hours as scheduled, but the team successfully completed it within 24-hours, averting an extended water shutdown for 48-hours. All the steel pipe welding and backfilling of material have been certified to proceed with line filling. Water has slowly been released to allow safe and careful line filling, the higher laying area will start receiving water later this evening,” his statement read.

LNW’s chief executive officer Dr Cornelius Ruiters says he is proud of the team who completed the work ahead of schedule.

“This is the kind of LNW that we have come to appreciate, completing projects on time and within budget. Expected benefits are that Polokwane Municipality will receive clean, sustainable, and reliable water from LNW. Our journey to sustainable and reliable water supply from the Olifantspoort and Ebenezer Schemes is progressively seeing the light of day,” he says.

Makhafola adds that the next shutdown is planned for December 4 and 5 and will involve the replacement of old pipes on the last 7km of the Olifantspoort Specon pipeline.

“Our team is completing the last quality assurance checks in preparation for the commissioning of the pipeline. The replacement of the Specon pipeline will minimise the downtime of the scheme, thus resulting in sustainable and reliable water for the residents of the Capricorn District and Polokwane Municipality,” he says.