Durban - Because of a landslide in Inanda, north of Durban, two of the four aqueducts that convey water from Nagle Dam to the Durban Heights Water Treatment Plant have been rendered non-operational.
The damages have left some areas in KwaZulu-Natal without water since the floods two weeks ago.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu said: “As an interim measure, Umgeni Water has advised that it needs to ensure that three pump shafts are operational (to pump 150ml/d – currently pumping 100ml/d) and safely increase raw water volumes at aqueducts three and four by 10ml/d until they reach 380ml/d combined (currently supplying 350ml/d). An additional 50ml/d will be available from the emergency shaft pumps today (on Sunday).”
Mchunu said repairs to aqueducts one and two would be undertaken. Repairs to one pump shaft, delayed because of power interruptions, were anticipated to be completed by on Tuesday.
“Umgeni Water has advised of a number of sites in KZN (in the south, central and north) where repairs will be effected. The estimated costs for those repairs were projected to be around R857 500 000.”
He said in iLembe, the costs were estimated at R63 million; in uMgungundlovu just over R12m; in eThekwini over R1 billion; and in Ugu R60m.
Wastewater treatment plants and sanitation infrastructure had also been damaged, resulting in sewage flowing into the Umlazi, Tongaat and Isipingo rivers, to name a few.
The director-general of the department, Dr Sean Phillips, would soon meet the various municipal managers, focusing on sanitation and repairs to be effected.
Premier Sihle Zikalala said challenges with water supply in the south of eThekwini were attributed to damage to the Umlazi Canal Pipeline.
In the north, the damaged oThongathi Water Treatment plant affected the supply of water in the entire northern areas. Zikalala said the entire system required a full upgrade and this would take approximately six months.
“As an interim measure, we have procured a package plant that will enable us to purify raw water from the source,” Zikalala said.
Daily News