DEAR Editor,-
Residents of Indira and Seaview Roads, Jesus Location, Lions Grove Marburg (Ward 23) are totally fed up with the lack of service delivery by Ugu.
We have an ongoing problem with inconsistent or no supply of water at all for continuous periods every week. It’s like every second or third day that we have no water.
Frequent and persistent calls to the Ugu call centre to report issues elicit little or no positive answers to this ongoing problem.
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You speak to three consultants and each one has a different response to the problem.
It’s either the mainline is damaged, the pumps are broken or the reservoir is too low and has to be at 30 percent capacity before water supply can be restored.
And, if there is Eskom load-shedding, then this becomes the next obvious answer.
We are very disappointed and consider these answers to be total trash, considering the vast millions spent by Ugu to put measures in place to counter or alleviate such problems, which have now become historical in nature.
How is it possible that when the aforementioned ‘problems’ arise, it is only the residents of Indira and Seaview Roads and Jesus Location who suffer mostly for days on end without water, yet neighbouring residents in Extension 14 do not seem to be affected?
Furthermore, the Ward 23 councillor (whom we have yet to meet as he has not once, since being elected, called on our communities in the above roads to introduce himself), does not seem to be competent enough to assist us with our water woes.
We have no option but to contact Councillor Ajith Rajaram (Ward 17) for assistance.
He has proven many a time to be more responsive and competent by at least arranging for us a temporary water supply with the Ugu water trucks.
Maybe us residents need to start protesting, blocking roads and burning tyres. This seems to be the only way to get Ugu’s attention.
ANGRY RESIDENTS
Ugu responds:-
Please note the Lions grove, Jesus location are supplied by Esperanza reservoir which is fed by Marburg Reservoir by a water pump station.
Currently the challenge that we are facing is that the demand exceeds supply. This results in Marburg reservoir to fill up slowly and pumping to Esperanza being erratic.
Short-term measure: We are closing Marburg gravity supply during the night to allow pumping to Esperanza the following morning. Our mechanical section are busy with plans to upsize Marburg boosters to increase flow to Marburg.
Long-term: Upgrade of bulk water infrastructure to Marburg reservoir to increase supply. We would like to apologise to our communities that reside in these affected areas. We are trying everything possible to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to all residents.
FRANCE ZAMA
Municipal spokesman: Ugu District Municipality
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