Municipality prioritises water supply issues
The eThekwini Municipality say they are prioritising the water supply challenge affecting several areas in the city, including the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, in uMlazi, south of Durban.
The city has experienced an increase in water demand since the start of the summer season. This resulted in low pressure and no water supply in critical points across supply systems, said eThekwini Municipality communications spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana on Monday, February 10.
“As part of concerted efforts to speedily remedy the situation, we can confirm that water started flowing at the hospital momentarily earlier on Monday. However, interventions to stabilise their system are not complete yet. A municipal operations team is on-site and will continue to monitor the supply to the hospital and surrounding areas while investigating other factors,” said Ms Sisilana.
She added that it is important to note that the demand for water remains higher than the available water supply across the city. However, this is more prevalent in the southern and northern regions, due to rapid urbanisation in the southern and northern regions and the reduction of water supply because of the water curtailment measures that were implemented by uMngeni-uThukela Water in October last year.
“The reality is that demand currently exceeds supply by approximately 100 megalitres a day, resulting in further strain on the system despite the water curtailment measures being in place,” said Ms Sisilana. “To manage the demand, the city will continue to ration areas with high demand. This is being done to build sufficient water levels, especially in the evenings. Water is re-opened in the morning.”
Other interventions include identifying and repairing leaks and checking all control valves and repairing and replacing them where needed. Ms Sisilana said residents and businesses are urged to use water sparingly as this will help recover the system.
“If water is not used responsibly, reservoirs get depleted quicky. This makes it difficult for reservoirs to maintain adequate water levels, even if water rationing is implemented overnight,” she said. “Those with static tanks are discouraged from connecting to the municipal reticulation network. The effect of too many static tanks is that available water supply is not shared equitable as water fills up statistic tanks, leaving some households with intermittent or no supply while the reservoir builds up storage.”
To augment the water supply, comprehensive plans have been set in motion in collaboration with the national Department of Water and Sanitation and uMngeni-uThukela Water to construct and commission the uMkhomazi Dam, a pivotal project to augment water supply to the city, Ms Sisilana said.
She added that the municipality is actively implementing various medium-term interventions. These include infrastructure upgrades, pipeline replacements, a comprehensive leak detection and repair programme, installation of pressure management valves, dysfunctional meter replacements, the incorporation of technology to enhance meter accuracy, and improvements in billing and debtor management.
“We understand the inconvenience caused by recurrent disruptions in water supply and want to assure residents that the restoration of water supply remains our top priority. We appeal to all residents to contribute to the solution by conserving water,” said Ms Sisilana.
For more information regarding water supply, the public can download eThekwini Municipality’s Mobile App to log faults or send a WhatsApp to 073 1483 477. Alternatively, call the toll-free number on 080 311 1111 or email Eservices@durban.gov.za
