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FOR WRITTEN
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO 2270
Mr B M Bhanga (Cope) to ask the Minister for Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs:
Whether he has been informed that Rhodes University in Grahamstown is
shutting down as a result of operating without water for days; if not,
what is the position in this regard; if so, what (a) steps has his
department taken to remedy the situation and (b) are the further relevant
details? NW2702E
Reply:
Yes, the Minister has been informed about the water challenge in
Grahamstown. A delegation from the Provincial Department of Local
Government and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Water Affairs
led by the MEC, Mr M Qhoboshiyane, met with the Makana Local Municipality
and a delegation from Rhodes University to discuss ways to deal with the
water challenges in the area.
The brief response relates to the current water situation in Makana Local
Municipality
According to Mr Ndimba (Manager for Makana LM) responsible for the
Waainek Water Works confirmed that as of today (6 November 2013), Rhodes
University water tanks are full and there is no shortage to warrant any
interruptions to their services.
1. Historical Context of problem
Rhodes University gets its bulk water supply from the Waainek Water
Supply Scheme. The Howiesonspoort Pump station is the largest pumping
station in the Waainek Water Supply Scheme in Grahamstown and consists
of two (2) Sulzer HP-48-20 multistage pump sets, each with 5 stages
installed (operating on a duty and standby basis. The pump station and
pump sets were constructed and commissioned in 1968. In 1985 both pump
sets were overhauled and modernized. In the recent past both pump sets
failed simultaneously and have since been fixed. The above problem is
also complicated due to: nature and type of pump-with repair
contractors having to be outsourced from Johannesburg; limited budgets
(against competing demands) and operational inefficiencies (Manpower &
Machinery).
2. Current challenges
a) There was intermittent power failure on Friday, 01 November 2013
& Sunday, 03 November 2013, which led to minor disruption in
water supply. At the time of the above power failure, there was
sufficient water in the reservoirs and supplies resumed
promptly.
b) The HowiesPoort Pump Station tripped due to the temporary power
failures and was thereafter re-activated
c) Un-authorized valve closures by unknown persons within the
supply network at the Rhodes University water network, which
then led to temporary interruption of supplies.
3. Corrective Action taken
a) Short-term â The municipality is carting / bowing water to
affected areas (including Rhodes University to ensure
continuity of services).
b) Short-term - A dedicated water supply pipeline and associated
elevated storage tanks are being constructed (now in design
stage) to connect Rhodes University directly to the Waainek
Water Treatment Works: Due for completion end of February,
2014.
c) Medium Term â A 3.5Ml Reinforced Concrete Intermediate water
reservoir
d) Long-term â Augmentation of the James Kleyhanns Bulk Water
Project (now in design stage)
e) Supervision â Improvement in supervision of operations and
maintenance
f) External Support â Amatola Water now supporting in Water
Services Provision (WSP) services.
g) Rapid Response Teams â Rapid Response Teams attending to Water
bursts and identified outages.
h) Funding Applications â Municipality already submitted
applications to Rural Bulk Water Supply for further funding to
finance augmentation of additional Water Supply.
i) Staffing â A new Deputy Director of Civil Engineering has been
employed and has reported for duty.
j) Capacity Building and Technical Support â Municipal
Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) is currently providing
technical support through a Professional Project Manager and
will deploy a further nine (9) warm bodies â staff for
training in various plants across the municipality, within
this financial year.
k) Water Conservation and Demand Management â The Department of
Water Affairs has provided funding under the Accelerated
Infrastructure Programme (ACIP) for the water conservation
project.