A statement released by the office of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa on Friday 4 October said the department was working in conjuction with Makana and other stakeholders and other stakeholders to restore permanent water supply as a matter of urgency.
A statement released by the office of the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa on Friday 4 October said the department was working in conjuction with Makana and other stakeholders and other stakeholders to restore permanent water supply as a matter of urgency.
According to Molewa the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has committed resources including funding and expertise to address the problems.
"Long and short term interventions are being led by DWA, among these is the dispatching of the Rapid Response Unit which is already on the ground," reads the statement. "The deployment of water tankers to Rhodes University and the affected areas is also taking place [and]the DWA has… assigned Amatola Water Board to support the Makana Local Municipality."
“It is regrettable that the communities around Grahamstown and the Rhodes University community have had to endure the inconveniences that result from this type of water shortage, however I want to give my assurance that the situation is now under control," added the minister.
With regards to the long-term interventions, the Makana Local Municipality commenced with work that is aimed at increasing the existing capacity. The intention is to increase the capacity of the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works to meet the estimated 2040 demand. However, this will be done in phases as follows:
• Phase 1(a) entails the Construction an additional pumping main and 6.6Ml concrete storage reservoir. Construction work is underway to be completed by November 2013.
• Phase 1(b) entails the Augmentation of the James Kleynhans Pump station. Detailed designs are complete and are due for tender soon.
• Phase 2 (Future or long-term) entails the augmentation of the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works. A feasibility study has commenced and funding has been committed by DWA, under the DWA Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) and is due for completion at the end of September 2013. The estimated costs for Phase 2 is R66 million.
In addition, DWA is giving support to the Makana Local Municipality through its Accelerated Community Infrastructure Programme (ACIP) on water conservation and water demand management.
The Rapid Response Unit has assessed, costed and repaired the major leakages.
