Mining may be to blame for water woes
Residents have been without water for weeks.
SAND mining may be to blame for the ongoing water (or lack thereof) crisis in Ramsgate.
To say residents are furious would be the understatement of the year.
Ugu District Municipality spokesman, Sipho Khuzwayo, explained that the main feeder line to Ramsgate’s south reservoir had been ‘uplifted’.
Mr Khuzwayo said Ugu suspects that someone is conducting a sand mining operation in the Lbilanhlolo River on a nearby farm.
“The municipality suspects this happened on the afternoon of Thursday, April 24 and by Friday morning the reservoir had dropped to a drastically low level. Given the damage and the siting of the line in the river bed, it took staff the entire Friday and Saturday to complete the repairs,” said Mr Khuzwayo.
“Due to the instability of the Ramsgate water system, it took staff an unavoidably long period of time to restore water supply. The demand for water, and numerous other disruptions, led to some institutional challenges which must be remedied.”
The discoloured water some customers have complained about is as a result of the low levels of the reservoir and accumulated residue.
Ugu municipal manager, DD Naidoo, has instructed that all reservoirs be flushed and cleaned, which will take place after this long weekend.
Mr Khuzwayo encouraged the community to report any water related problems to the 24-hour call centre at 039 6885830/36.
