Makana Municipality says only one pump is operating at Howieson's Poort pump station (which supplies the Waainek water treatment works and storage reservoirs).
Makana Municipality says only one pump is operating at Howieson's Poort pump station (which supplies the Waainek water treatment works and storage reservoirs).
This pump delivers only 86-88 litres a second. The town's demand is 103 litres a second. Makana reported on 14 January that the second pump, which delivers 101 litres a second, was broken.
Technicians arrived on Monday 18 January to assess the damage. They've now taken out the motor and sent it to Johannesburg for repairs.
Meanwhile, Makana is shutting down the water at night between 9pm and 5am to try and refill the storage reservoirs. They say they will continue to do this until the situation normalises.
As always, it's the high-lying areas on the west side of town that are most severely affected. "[Another] measure in place is to switch motor No.2 with pump No.1, but we are still busy with technicalities in this regard," Makana reported at midday Wednesday 20 January via technicians at the site.
"We are trying our utmost best to balance the system so that we supply all the areas. There [has been]a slight improvement on the levels since this morning.
"We apologise profusely for this inconvenience, as we are trying all means necessary to restore water to our community."
Makana says it will take two weeks for the storage reservoirs to fill up to their full capacity again.
"There will be low pressure or even none in some areas, especially high-lying areas. Residents are requested to use water sparingly."
