Rainwater tanks for the needy
A total of 26 000 rainwater tanks have been installed in drought-stricken areas of rural KZN
A RAINWATER harvesting project launched in KZN in 2011 has come to fruition, with the installation of 26 000 water tanks, set to service 27 500 households throughout the province.
Launched jointly by the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and KZN Department of Human Settlements (DHS), the R150-million project will help alleviate water shortages experienced by poor rural communities.
The NHBRC entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the DHS for the installation of the tanks.
The region in which tanks were installed is affected by erratic water and electricity supply, high levels of unemployment and low levels of education.
‘We are pleased to announce the much-awaited water tank project is complete,’ said NHBRC CEO Mongezi Mnyani.
‘The tanks have been installed in a time of serious need, especially in these communities who were experiencing shortages even before the water crisis hit. ‘Although the rainwater harvesting tanks will bring a certain degree of relief to residents, we continue to urge communities to use water sparingly.’
‘I am very happy to have a water tank installed in my own yard,’ said uMkhanyakude resident Bonisiwe Priscilla Ntuli.
‘Now I don’t have to walk kilometres to fetch water as I can go just around the house to get clean water. We struggled for a very long time and we are glad that change has finally come.’
