Riverton clean-up under way as Sol Plaatje pushes to boost Kimberley water supply

SOL PLAATJE Municipality said on Tuesday evening that it has intensified efforts at the old Riverton water treatment plant as part of a push to improve both the volume and quality of water supplied to the Newton Reservoir.

Municipal spokesperson Thabo Mothibi said a large-scale clean-up operation involving all four clarifiers at the plant was currently under way, with the units expected to be brought back into production soon. The municipality said the work forms part of its strategy to harness and stabilise water supply from Riverton to the reservoir in Kimberley.

According to the municipality, improving water quality remains a priority alongside increasing production, prompting what it described as an intensive and carefully managed clean-up process.

A multi-disciplinary team drawn from the municipality’s Roads and Sanitation departments, together with plant staff, has been deployed to support the operation.

The intervention follows the recent return of nightly water supply interruptions in Kimberley, which were reintroduced after reservoir levels dropped sharply following an Eskom-related power disruption at Riverton.

The municipality has indicated that further updates will be shared as the clarifiers are returned to service and production levels improve.

The water update comes as the Northern Cape Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) has issued a heatwave warning for the province, with extreme temperatures expected to persist until Friday, increasing the risk of dehydration and heat-related illness amid ongoing water supply disruptions. 

Residents have been urged to remain well hydrated, limit exposure during peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and young children.