* WATER CRISIS UPDATE AT 4.45pm TUESDAY 28 JUNE – More delays: longer outage to secure supply
From Makana Municipality:
The problems experienced with filling up the reservoirs in the western side has forced the Municipality to close water supply until 5am Wednesday 29 June. This will allow the reservoirs to get up to acceptable levels and although this is a huge inconvenience we have resolved that this decision will be the best to ensure there is water supply constantly from tomorrow.
* WATER CRISIS UPDATE AT 4.45pm TUESDAY 28 JUNE – More delays: longer outage to secure supply
From Makana Municipality:
The problems experienced with filling up the reservoirs in the western side has forced the Municipality to close water supply until 5am Wednesday 29 June. This will allow the reservoirs to get up to acceptable levels and although this is a huge inconvenience we have resolved that this decision will be the best to ensure there is water supply constantly from tomorrow.
* WATER CRISIS UPDATE TUESDAY 28 JUNE AT 11.30am
Status of water availability in Grahamstown West
In the early hours of this morning, Tuesday 28 June, the Waainek area west of Grahamstown experienced an electricity outage. This affected the Howieson’s Poort pump station which feeds the reservoirs in the western side.
Because the pumps stopped running for several hours, the western reservoirs, as well as inside and outside lay dams, drained.
The pump stations started operating at 7am. However, it will take up to 8 hours to raise the reservoirs levels. Water will be released from the reservoirs at 5pm.
Residents are urged to use water sparingly.
Water supply to the Grahamstown East
By 10pm yesterday, one pump at the James Kleynhans water treatment works resumed pumping and delivering water at 60% of the normal capacity. The other motors that were sent to East London to dry out are in their way back to the plant. It is expected that the second motor will be fitted by 10pm tonight and that the plant will run at its normal capacity.
Makana Municipality wants to express its gratitude to its staff and partners, Amatola Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation who have worked tirelessly to solve this crisis.
UPDATE ON WATER CRISIS: MONDAY 27 JUNE AT 6PM
The water outages to Grahamstown East over the past two days are due to a serious event at the James Kleynhans Water Treatment Works north-east of Grahamstown. Grahamstown West still has water and thus the Festival will not be affected, Makana Municpality said in a statement.
The pump station services the eastern areas of Grahamstown including Transit Camp, Mayfield, Extension 1-10, Joza Street, Vukani Upper, Xolani, Tantyi and Mary Waters, Fingo Village, Lower Makana’s Kop, Newtown, KwaNdancama, Ghost Town and Hooggenoeg.
The problem emerged on Sunday 26 June when a staff member arrived at work to find the pump station flooded. All three main water pumps, as well as five other pumps that form part of the treatment processes were submerged.
Senior officials from Makana Municipality rushed to the scene and emergency measures were immediately set in motion to ensure residents would receive water, ascertain the damage, and effect repairs or replacement of equipment to get the pump station working again.
The three main motors were removed and taken to East London where they were being dried out in a special baking facility. When they are returned, each motor will undergo several electrical and mechanical tests before and during installation before they are restored to full functionality.
Acting municipal manager Riana Meiring saidthe necessary disciplinary action had been taken with respect to the relevant officials.
RECOVERY PLAN
Plan A
The pumping capacity of the James Kleynhans facility is normally 150 litres a second. By replacing the motor of one of the pumps and reinstalling it officials said they hoped to have it working by 10pm tonight, Monday 27 June.
However, the pumping capacity of the single pump is 75 litres a second and so while this will allow the supply to build up again in the three reservoirs it feeds – Tantyi, Botha’s Hill and Mayfield – restrictions will remain in place for a while to maintain sufficient levels.
Water tankers have been brought into town to deliver water to residents of the affected areas.
Plan B
Plan B is to get one more pump set in operation to meet full supply.
If the electrics in the facility and the motors being baked are sound, the motors could be delivered and installed by midnight 28 June 2016.
“If all goes according to plan, the facility should be back to normal (150l/sec) by Wednesday night,” Infrastructure Director Dali Mlenzana told a high-level meeting this morning to report back on measures taken to address the crisis.
"We are treating this as a disaster," Meiring said at the scene on Sunday.
This meant no measure would be spared in acquiring resources to deal with it, and also that emergency procurement procedures for essential parts and equipment were in place during this period.
Makana Municipality has called on residents in Grahamstown West to conserve water. Water restrictions are already in place due to the drought and severe penalties will be incurred if these are flouted during the current emergency.
* Update and edits Tuesday 28 June at 11.45am; Tuesday 28 June at 6.43pm
