Water supply shortages in eMalahleni
This resulted in the potable water production reduction to approximately about 60% of the normal plant output
The municipality is experiencing numerous water supply shortages in many areas in the main those that are high lying and distant.
The main cause of water supply shortages is the deteriorated raw water quality as the result of the recent floods seen ravaging the Country.
The municipality has seen high raw water inflows into the Witbank dam which warranted flood management systems to be activated.
The Witbank water treatment works could not handle the quality of raw water which affected the operating efficiencies of the plant such that the frequency of backwashing was at high rate.
This resulted in the potable water production reduction to approximately about 60% of the normal plant output.
The package plant is ioerating at about 33% too due to the deteriorated quality thus also reducing the system input volume.
A major pipe break has been observed on the supply line to the Kwa Guqa New Extensions and is currently attended to.
The municipal laboratory services team together with external service providers are keeping a close eye on the raw water quality by doing quality monitoring and effecting necessary adjustments on the plant operations to improve productivity.
Infrastructural configuration allowing adjustments are done in order to capacitance the command reservoirs and feed water to affected areas.
As the raw water quality improves, appropriate chemical dosing done the plant operating efficiency will increase with corresponding productivity.
The system dried out and the recharge will take time hence the system stability will be delayed.
The communities are urged to utilize water sparingly and water will be provided by tankers.
