Durban - eThekwini Municipality has announced that residents in some parts of oThongathi will have water flowing from their taps again from as early as next week.
The area was severely affected by the floods earlier this year, with its water treatment works destroyed, leaving it without a water supply.
Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said return of tap water supply was confirmed by Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu and eThekwini’s mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, during a community meeting at the Tongaat Indoor Sports Centre on Friday.
Mayisela said the restoration of the water supply came after the completion of a tie-in of the Mamba Ridge pipeline from the Hazelmere Waterworks to the Mamba Ridge Reservoir.
The new connection was done through the assistance of Umgeni Water, working jointly with the city.
He said the new connection would assist in directing 2 million litres of water a day from Hazelmere Dam to some parts of oThongathi.
Minister Mchunu announced the completion of the tie-in at the community meeting.
"This is in line with an undertaking we had made to resolve water challenges in Tongaat. The only thing we need to do now is tests to establish whether there are any leaks in the pipes. We also need to check the quality of the water, as these are new pipes,” said Mchunu.
Mchunu called for the community's patience during the testing of the water supply.
He also advised the community to first boil water when using it for drinking in the first few days after it started flowing.
“This is just a precautionary measure, until we are certain that it is good for drinking,” Mchunu said.
Kaunda added that the repairs of the plant were expected to be completed by the end of October.
The mayor assured residents who would not benefit from the tie-in, such as the community of Hambanathi, that they would be prioritised to receive water when the new water works were commissioned.
The city said the Mamba Ridge Reservoir was filled on September 15 and thereafter water would be pumped to the Jan Roz Reservoir.
The system is expected to take a few days to stabilise before water is opened to supply the Jan Roz zone, which includes the following suburbs:
- Maidstone
- Fairbreeze
- Sandfields
- Pringle Area
- Nordberg Road
- Magwaveni
The city said, depending on whether there was sufficient water supply from the Jan Roz Reservoir, water could then be pumped to the Burbreeze Reservoir Zone and the following suburbs would then also receive water:
- Sandfields residential area
- Maidstone area
- Culls Farm
- Burlane
“Residents will receive water on a rotational basis for at least four hours a day, and tankers will continue to be deployed,” the city said.
THE MERCURY