Home News No end in sight to water shutdown

No end in sight to water shutdown

895

Sol Plaatje Municipality says its is “working round-the-clock” to determine the reason for the low water levels at Newton Reservoir.

The Sol Plaatje executive mayor and the mayoral committee engaging with the acting municipal manager and the acting director for infrastructure services on the water crisis. Picture: Facebook

THE SOL Plaatje Municipality is unable to give an indication as to when the city’s water will be restored as the problem with the low water levels at the Newton Reservoir has still not been determined.

Apparently water is being pumped from Riverton, but “no one knows where it is going to”.

A municipal team was dispatched on Monday to inspect the water pipeline to the city, but it has still not been established what is causing the water loss.

According to the municipality, an aeroplane has been sent to observe the water line from Riverton to Kimberley to check for any problems. In addition, the fire department has been taking photos of the pipeline with the use of a drone, which can fly closer to the ground.

Sol Plaatje executive mayor Patrick Mabilo on Tuesday apologised to residents “for any inconvenience caused” and he undertook to update all stakeholders regularly.

He requested the community to be patient while they work round-the-clock to ensure that the problem is attended to.

Sol Plaatje executive mayor Patrick Mabilo engaging with the mayoral committee, the acting municipal manager and the acting director for infrastructure services on the water crisis. Picture: Facebook

The acting director of infrastructure services at Sol Plaatje Municipality, Phetole Sithole, has also vowed to “work round-the-clock” to determine why the reservoirs are not filling up.

“All shift workers are busy inspecting the valves, while an aeroplane is flying around to patrol the water line from Riverton to Kimberley to see whether there might be a burst pipe that we might have missed,” he said.

Sithole distanced himself from a Facebook post, reportedly from the municipality, which assured residents that water had been switched back on. “It is impossible to switch on the water when the reservoirs are empty.”

The municipality meanwhile said that mayoral committee members “are engaging on issues to come up with solutions to ensure that the water supply is restored”.

It said that the local authority’s contingency plans are as follows:

* Eight water tankers are currently supplying hospitals with water. Another six water tankers are being sourced to assist with the water supply to schools and old age homes.

* The fire department, which only has one water tanker, is busy supplying water to Yonder and clinics.

* Hancor Dairy is assisting in supplying water with their tankers, while Hancor Dairy and the municipality are also co-ordinating the supply of water to the community of Kimberley.

Picture: Danie van der Lith

Frustrated city residents have been slamming the municipality since Saturday already due to its failure to provide regular updates on the water situation, after taps started running dry on Friday night already.

City residents queue to purchase bottled water. Picture: Danie van der Lith

Previous articleSA Rugby desperate to get some fans in stadia for Lions tour
Next articleLocal businesses ‘an oasis’ for parched city residents