Getting clean water in Bronkhorstspruit is a battle

Clean water has become a scarce commodity for Bronkhorstspruit residents. To have safe drinking water, residents must buy filtered water, collect water from boreholes or wait for a municipal water tanker, a service many claim is infrequent or absent in several town extensions.

The community reported on Monday that dark brown water flowed from their taps, an issue that has become common over the past year, particularly after heavy rains.

According to community leader and former councillor Cecilia Knox, the years of neglect at the local water treatment facilities caused the ongoing crisis.

Ideally, raw water is extracted from the Bronkhorstspruit River at the Draai, where it should be filtered and treated before reaching household taps. But Knox explained that mud and sludge enter the system when it rains because of failing infrastructure.

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Only one of three pumps at the raw water plant works, but it leaks excessively. The water treatment plant is in severe disrepair, with only a few pumps working.

“The wrong chemicals are allegedly used, and the silica sand, essential for filtration, is not replaced as required,” Knox stated.

The City of Tshwane (CoT) informed residents on February 20 that the plant was temporarily shut down because of deteriorating raw water quality caused by recent heavy rains. Operations were to resume when the quality improved.

Region 7 head Jabu Mabona confirmed on Tuesday that the plant was working at low capacity and the water quality was gradually improving. Mabona said certain areas, especially higher-lying regions, were more severely affected, and technicians were still investigating why areas like Riamarpark continued to get muddy water.

“I believe the refurbishment of this plant will resolve the problem once and for all,” he said.

The region’s borehole programme is at least bringing hope and some relief to several affected communities. Sasol has donated four boreholes, which has been installed at the Zithobeni Clinic, the Rethabiseng Clinic, the clinic next to the Ekangala community hall and the Ekangala Dark City Clinic.

Rand Water is also donating four boreholes which will be installed by April at a school in Rethabiseng, the Sokhulumi clinic, Sizanani Village and in the Langkloof area in Ward 105.

Clr Cobus Coetzee was recently allocated to Region 7. One of his first actions was to consult with all role players including activists, the CoT and Department of Water Affairs as part of his investigating into Bronkhorstspruit’s water crisis. Coetzee visited the water treatment works on Tuesday.

“There are many challenges, but it can be improved or solved to produce double the capacity of potable water to all communities.”

Coetzee said the investigation is at the beginning and promised to submit a reply when it is completed.

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