Makana DA Councillor Brian Fargher says that the provincial legislature of the Eastern Cape will debate the water crisis in the Makana Municipal area.
Makana DA Councillor Brian Fargher says that the provincial legislature of the Eastern Cape will debate the water crisis in the Makana Municipal area.
He says that Dacre Haddon, shadow MEC for Local Government secured the debate for 12 September 2013 after Rachel Madinda-Isaacs, the Speaker of Makana Municipality, rejected the DA request for a Council discussion on the crisis that has attracted national attention.
In a statement released to the media, Haddon said that "Grahamstown's water problems can be alleviated in five quick-fix steps":
1. A large reservoir to be built on the hill above Grahamstown (above the N2 next to the Waainek Water Treatment Works) to allow for gravity feed to all parts of Grahamstown. Currently the Settler’s Monument, Prison, Army Base, Rhodes Post-grad village and upwards of ten Rhodes residences are above the existing reservoir’s base, which means they don’t get water until the level of the reservoir rises above their height.
2. Reconnect the existing water supply from Jameson Dam and Milner Dam (known collectively as Slaaikraal) to the Waainek Water Treatment Works. This would permit a third source of water (in addition to the Glen Melville/Fish River supply and the Howieson’s Poort supply). This pipeline must be repaired as a matter of urgency (400m of pipe reported stolen recently) and enable the water to be treated in emergencies. This would have a combined capacity of 649.6 Megalitres.
3. Provide a shortened power line to the Howieson’s Poort pumps via the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve Eskom line (approximately 1km away), instead of the 15km of power line the current supply uses. The latter is susceptible to outages regularly, particularly in strong winds and is also an aging line subject to regular breakdown.
4. Upgrade the pumps and motors at Howieson’s Poort pumping station. The two on hand are now over 60 years old.
5. Introduce rainwater harvesting bylaws for all new construction.
