“Residents are receiving water but just not enough. As a result, there are interruptions every now and then when Sedibeng Water builds capacity at the reservoir.”
SEDIBENG Water says it cannot assure residents of Pampierstad and surrounding villages that water interruptions are a thing of the past, due to the fluctuating water levels at the local reservoir.
This follows an outcry from residents of Sakhile, Sekhing, Seoding, Upper and Lower Majeakgoro regarding recent water cuts, where many residents were forced to fetch dirty water from canals for domestic use.
Sedibeng indicated that assurances can only be given once the reservoir levels are above 50% and the outlet valve can be opened.
The outlet valve could not be opened regularly due to an inadequate supply of water from the Vaal Dam via the canal, after Sedibeng Water’s infrastructure was affected by the recent heavy rains and floods.
Phokwane Local Municipality said that its contingency plan included tankering water and providing community JoJo tanks.
Municipal spokesperson Kgalalelo Letshabo said, however, that they realised that the tanks were not enough for a big settlement like Pampierstad as they needed to be refilled twice in a day.
The marketing and communications officer of Sedibeng Water, Tebogo Metswi, pointed out that the ageing and outdated infrastructure is a major problem.
He added that Sedibeng Water and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality are looking at other possible ways to provide residents with water.
“Residents are receiving water but just not enough. As a result, there are interruptions every now and then when Sedibeng Water builds capacity at the reservoir.”
He said they had no back-up plan as the infrastructure, which is owned by Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality in the North West Province, is already old.
“We are only the water service provider due to our technical know-how, while Dr Ruth Mompati is the water service authority,” he explained.
He highlighted the need for the Department of Water Affairs and Dr Ruth Mompati District Municipality to come to some sort of a resolution regarding the supply and demand of water in the Pampierstad area.
“The Pampierstad population is growing every day and the water is not enough for the growing population. The residents are only allocated 20% of the raw water while 80% of the bulk water goes to the farmers.
“The municipality needs to negotiate a fifty-fifty percent scale allocation because it becomes a challenge for us too to provide adequately.”
