The municipality says it is working on a five-year comprehensive turnaround strategy to improve water supply and quality in Grahamstown.
The municipality says it is working on a five-year comprehensive turnaround strategy to improve water supply and quality in Grahamstown.
Makana Municipal Manager Ntombi Baart told a media briefing yesterday that the way forward includes the formation of a multidisciplinary technical task team which will be composed of representatives from Rhodes University, The Development Bank of Southern Africa and Amatola Water, which conducts water quality tests for the municipality.
The municipality intends to review its status as a Water Services Authority and is exploring the possibility of outsourcing the service.
“On the other hand, focus is now on segregating the functions related to waste water, plant and treated water as well as water distribution, and appoint qualified and experienced staff,” explained Baart.
“This will among other things be made possible by filling the following vacancies in the water services section by the end of April 2010.”
She said that two senior technicians, three artisan plumbers, two senior foremen for both water and sewer reticulation and six operators for both the water treatment works Municipality promises improved water supply and waste water will be appointed.
She added that the municipality has also hired a retired employee to help them identify the water connection points and valves so that they will be able to develop an automated locality plan for the water reticulation system.
The municipality wants to isolate the water pipes leading to highlying areas such as the industrial area, the Correctional Services Centre and Cradock Heights in such a manner that they are supplied solely by water from Waainek reservoir until the drought is over.
She added that the rest of the town will be supplied from the James Kleynhans water reticulation plant through the Botha’s Hill reservoir.
Makana technical and infrastructural services director Dabula Njilo said the municipality developed a water services management plan last year which needs R70-million in finance it but that the municipality will spend about R14-million on the maintenance of its water operations in the next financial year.
Baart added that the municipality has hired a private investigator to investigate acts of sabotage or negligence on the part of municipal employees and that the findings will be published after the investigation has been concluded at the end of this month.
