Emalahleni Local Municipality is blaming Eskom’s load shedding for dry taps.
On any given day at any given moment complaints of no water from residents are streaming in.
“In the recent past days the utility Eskom, has broadly public announced that its embarking on load shedding throughout the country due to challenges its faced on the power generation side. Some of the reasons stated are the depletion of both coal stock and diesel reserves. Electricity load shedding is then undertaken in stages dependent upon the pressure exerted on the supply grid over a determined period of time,” municipal spokesperson Mr Kingdom Mabuza coloured in the background of the load shedding.
As the municipality obtains electrical power from Eskom it is affected.
The infrastructure configuration of the municipality is such that the critical facilities such as water treatment plants, command water distribution reservoirs and sewer treatment plants are integrated and not supplied with electricity separately.
Load shedding makes it difficult to ensure that they always have power supply during load shedding as a results water supply is interrupted.
“The most affected are distant and high lying areas as they require electrical supply for pumping of water supply. Water supply restoration and stabilization in cases takes long as the system was dry and empty. Further that infrastructure is vulnerable for vandalism as it is not energized, the air ingress in the pumping system resulting in water hummer and possible pipe breakages. The municipality has inadequate water storage volumes in most reservoirs due to water scarcity,” Mabuza said.
“Pipe breakages can be prevented if the necessary air vents and pressure relieve valves are in place,” a businessman who wishes to remain anonymous, said.
The man took WITBANK NEWS on route along the main water pipe from Point A reservoir situated in Ext 10.
Keeping in mind that the areas, Blancheville, Riverview and Seekoeiwater that are fed by the reservoir is situated much lower than the reservoir, one would expect adequate water pressure management devices in place.
Because of the difference in height water pressure build up and has to release somewhere.
That in a nutshell is why so many pipe breaks are reported.
In a council meeting on January 31 it was admitted that the water networks are not fitted with adequate water pressure management devices.
If there are valves, hydrants, air valves and pressure reducing valves, the chances are high that they are broken.
“Until this problem is addressed we will have broken pipes days on end,” the businessman said.
Mabuza said the municipality is in constant contact with officials and from Eskom as and when load shedding needs to be executed in order to prioritize areas to be switched off with critical installation borne in mind.
“However in some cases it is very difficult to isolate these plants and facilities hence water supply interruptions. The municipality with assistance from mining companies has installed stand by generators in key critical points for water treatment and pumping but unfortunately not all installations are covered.”
“The water problem in the municipality will not be fixed as easily as opening and closing a tap. It needs expert advice and planning and of course money that the council does not have to fix this growing problem,” local resident Mr John Cornish said.
