After ten years of boiling water with pots and kettles, Ward 5 residents can finally look forward to getting hot water supply from a geyser system as Low Pressure Solar Water heating system installations started in Extension 9 recently.
After ten years of boiling water with pots and kettles, Ward 5 residents can finally look forward to getting hot water supply from a geyser system as Low Pressure Solar Water heating system installations started in Extension 9 recently.
When Grocott's Mail visited the area this week, residents were overwhelmed and excited that they could finally receive hot water without having to boil it themselves.
One of the residents, Vuyelwa Plaatjie, who owns a house in Nkomo Street, told italGrocott's Mail/ital, “it was difficult living without a geyser as we needed to boil water with a pot or a kettle and we can’t bath properly. She also said that it was dangerous because their children sometimes got burnt. She was grateful, but she added that it is unfair that they had to wait for many years to receive a geyser while other places like Port Elizabeth have had geysers for years.
Monwabisi Tame, Ward 5 Councillor, said that the Lumizone Company will install 300 geysers in three months. “They will install 100 geysers per month and I don’t know when the project will end,” he said. He added that these geysers will have a five-year guarantee and will be serviced every ten years.
“I feel good about this project, this is something positive, people have never experienced this sort of luxury, people have never experienced hot water coming from a geyser and it is great that they don’t have to pay for [them],” said Tame.
Simphiwe Xashimbe, an Extension 9 resident, said that he is very happy because life without a geyser was very hard. “It will be very good to wake up knowing that there’s hot water,” said Xashimbe.
The residents can expect hot water from the geyser two days after the installation.
The low pressure solar heating system is an efficient way of heating water as it depends on the sun’s rays. However, Tame warned that the project will not be without any hiccups and challenges due to bad weather conditions. He also said that homes with roof tiling will be a particular challenge when it comes to installing the roof-orientated solar system. For this reason, the residents from Transit Camp will be the last to receive geysers.
Officials who are affiliated with the project assured italGrocott's Mail/ital that they will provide detailed information about the scope of budget, job opportunities and how long will the project last.
