Kimberley residents urged to prepare ahead of Sunday water shutdown
Kimberley residents have been warned to brace for a 12-hour city-wide water shutdown on Sunday.
Image: File picture
THE SOL Plaatje Municipality has urged Kimberley residents to store enough water ahead of a planned 12-hour water shutdown on Sunday, August 3, as critical upgrades to the city’s water infrastructure are set to take place.
According to municipal spokesperson Thabo Mothibi, the water supply will be interrupted from 6am to 6pm across the entire city while work is carried out at the Riverton Water Treatment Works. The pumps at Riverton will be switched off, while those at the Newton Reservoirs will also be turned off to prevent depletion during the shutdown.
Mothibi explained that the interruption is necessary to complete the integration of a new 10 MVA electrical transformer at the Riverton facility. The upgrade will see the new transformer replace older units, with a changeover of the electrical load as part of the process.
In addition to the transformer work, a new 900mm valve will be installed upstream of Midstation, complementing a similar valve recently fitted downstream.
The electrical upgrade forms part of a multimillion-rand investment by the national government into improving the city’s water supply infrastructure.
Residents have been urged to plan ahead and store enough water to last through the 12-hour outage.
The municipality has thanked the community for its patience and co-operation during the scheduled work.