More water woes for Warrenton
WARRENTON residents are expected to be without water for another six weeks, after it was discovered that 20 metres of the main pipeline that supplies water to the town was washed away during the recent floods.
An advisory from Magareng Municipality this week indicated that there were three water trucks operating in Warrenton after one truck broke down.
“We are trying to source extra trucks so that there will be six trucks altogether.”
The entire town has been without water since February 21 after the sluice gates were opened.
EFF members marched to Magareng Municipality on Wednesday, demanding that the water supply be restored.
“We are sick and tired, we can’t take it anymore, we want water. The mayor and municipal manager must tell us where the water is, they must not be cowards,” they chanted outside the building.
They complained that no one came out to address their concerns after they were left waiting for three hours.
An urgent interdict was obtained against protesting community members on March 2 to prevent any disruptions or gatherings at the municipality, after rubbish was strewn at the entrance on February 28.
According to the interdict, no human excrement or rubbish may be thrown at the entrance, while community members are prohibited from blocking the entrance or interfering in the running of the municipality.
The protesting residents were frustrated with the water crisis and the lack of service delivery.
Despondent residents said this week that trucks were distributing water, while others stated that they had not seen the trucks at all.
“We predict that it will take longer than six weeks to fix the problem because of all the red tape and the shortage of finances.”
Residents are sharing their borehole supplies or are collecting rain water to wash their clothes.
“We are supplying the town with water and yet the municipality isn’t assisting us with electricity tokens to use our boreholes.”
One resident indicated that the water that was being distributed was dirty.
“It makes us sick if we drink it. The elderly cannot be expected to carry heavy containers of water.”
Magareng DA councillor Willem Potgieter said he took the municipal manager on Tuesday to the site where the main pipeline had been damaged.
“It is lying against the low water bridge and became visible when the water levels subsided. The pipe is also clogged with debris and branches.”
Potgieter added that residents with boreholes and bakkies were assisting in distributing water throughout the town.
“We have requested assistance and funding both provincially and nationally as well as from the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation.”
The acting municipal manager, Tumelo Thage, said restorative plans had to be altered after it was discovered that 20 metres of the main pipeline had been washed away.
He indicated that the original plan was to use a smaller pipe to connect the existing pipe and the lining.
“The pipe will be re-aligned along the old N18 low-lying bridge, which will be utilised as a temporary bypass. We estimate that it will take six weeks to complete.”
Thage added that an estimated R15 million was needed for re-routing the pipeline.
“The pipe was installed in 1980 and has lasted for over 40 years. These were the second worst floods ever experienced along the Vaal River.”
Thage stated that the municipality was considering drilling boreholes to provide water to the community as a speedy solution.
“In the interim, we are distributing water through four trucks. The trucks are sourced at a rate depending on their size or capacity. We pay for delivery per load done.”
He said the water was sourced from the water treatment plant and complied with SANS241 quality measures.
“The municipality does not have a fire department and in the event of such, fire support is requested from the SANDF, district municipality and surrounding municipalities.”
He indicated that the EFF had embarked on an illegal protest on Wednesday.
“The interdict is not necessarily about community protesting. It covers a wide range of issues such as stopping operations of the municipality, vandalism, etc.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Amogelang Moholoeng, stated that the old pipeline was due to be replaced and the pipe has already been procured.
“The costs are still being calculated although the estimated repairs are in the region of R10 million. Following a meeting that was held between the local municipality, the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Water and Sanitation, it was established that Magareng Municipality is responsible for the repairs.”
