A number of residents of Phomolong Extension in Galeshewe have been taking advantage of a burst pipe at the settlement to extract as much use as possible from the wasted clean water.
A NUMBER of residents of Phomolong Extension in Galeshewe have been taking advantage of a burst pipe at the settlement to extract as much use as possible from the wasted clean water.
This is while Sol Plaatje Municipality has implemented daily and nightly water interruptions this week due to the low water levels at Newton Reservoir in Kimberley.
According to the Phomolong Extension residents, the water from the burst pipe has been going to waste and flooding the streets and shacks of the settlement since Sunday and nothing is being done about it.
Residents living near to the burst pipe said they have been taking advantage by doing their laundry and blankets
Many residents are also collecting and storing as much of the water as possible because it has always been a challenge to walk the long distance to fetch water from the communal taps on the other side of the settlement.
They said they can even cook with the water as it seems clean to them.
Meanwhile, residents living on the other side of the settlement where the taps are located, have complained that the taps started running dry on the weekend.
Sol Plaatje Municipality, which has been implementing nightly water interruptions from 9pm until 4am, on Tuesday introduced additional daily water cuts, from 11am until 3pm.
The local authority explained that this was due to the low water levels at the Newton Reservoir.
“The water levels at Newton Reservoir are still low and some areas in Kimberley are experiencing low to no water. As a result, the municipality will be embarking on an afternoon interruption. Water will from Tuesday be interrupted from 11am in the morning and will resume at 3pm in the afternoon. The nightly shutdowns will be from 9pm until 4am the next morning,” municipal spokesperson Thoko Riet said on Tuesday.
“Efforts to counter the drop in reservoir levels are impacted by the peak demand due to the current heatwave, lower than normal production at Riverton Water Purification Works and the reopening of schools. The filters at the Riverton Water Treatment Plant also require refurbishment, which has resulted in the Newton water level not filling up as expected. The water treatment works are currently also not operating at optimum level.”
Riet added that schools, clinics and hospitals would be provided with water.
“During the water interruptions, schools, clinics and hospitals that do not have water shortage facilities will be provided with water through water tankers.
“The municipality is working tirelessly to restore uninterrupted and reliable water to the residents in Sol Plaatje.”
Regarding the burst water pipe in Phomolong Extension, Riet said they are not aware of any complaints related to the area, but she added that a municipal team has now been dispatched to the area.
She noted that it is “unacceptable” for water to be allowed to go to waste for so long, especially during this period of water shortages.
She also urged members of the community to insist on a reference whenever they lodge a complaint with the municipality, in order for the complaint to be traced more easily.
Pictures and videos: Boipelo Mere
