Frustration boils over for thirsty residents following water cuts

RESIDENTS in Ritchie are growing increasingly impatient after being left without water since interruptions were introduced on April 26.

An electrical fault occurred at the abstraction pump that draws raw water from the Orange-Riet River last week, while the canal is also undergoing repairs and maintenance.

Tyres were set alight in protest as the promised delivery of water via JoJo tanks and water tankers was too sparse to meet the community’s needs.

Community members said that only two small tankers had been made available to distribute water.

"Rietvale and Phelindaba were left high and dry, with no drinking water. Who knows how long this situation will continue," residents stated.

Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said the water supply was expected to be restored by Thursday.

He explained that mechanical engineers were battling to retrieve the abstraction pump due to flooding of the river.

"The current is still heavy. Once retrieved, the electrical connections will be repaired, and we will revert to drawing from the Orange-Riet River," said Mothibi.

He added that, as an interim measure, raw water would be drawn from the canal in collaboration with the Orange-Riet Water Users Association.

"The canal has been under maintenance and repair and will be completed today. This will be followed by building storage capacity at our reservoirs.

"The supply to the purification plant will be restored, with water being pumped from the canal on Wednesday, resulting in an immediate household tap water supply."

Mothibi said water tankers would continue to deliver water throughout Wednesday until the supply was fully restored.

"We have five roaming water tankers, and we have also placed JoJo tanks at strategic sites. We are reinforcing with two more trucks on Tuesday."

He noted that the municipality had responded timeously to all complaints and urgent calls and had provided the contact details of co-ordinators responsible for the water tankers.