NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1428
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 14 MAY 2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13)
1428. Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) (a) What does the War on Leaks programme launched by her Deputy
Minister in Mogale City during Water Week 2010 comprise, (b) what
funding has been made available for this programme, (c) how many
people are expected to be employed as part of this programme and
(d) under what conditions of service;
(2) (a) which municipalities are being targeted for involvement in
the programme, (b) what is the percentage of treated water lost as
a result of leaks in (i) each of the identified municipalities and
(ii) the ten municipalities in the country known to have the
highest loss of water due to leaks and (c) what financial
allocation has been made to each identified municipality;
(3) who will (a) administer the programme, (b) ensure that the
funding is utilised for the intended purposes and (c) monitor and
report on the expected decrease in water lost to leaks?
NW1679E
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REPLY:
(1)(a) The War on Leaks Programme launched in Mogale City repaired
leaking taps, pipes and retrofitted wasteful devises. As this
township has a potential of saving 0.27 to 2 million kilolitres of
water over a period of 5 years in the selected 10 households and
Boipelo primary school were selected through the municipal billing
system as high water consumers users in Kagiso township. Since the
launch of the programme, the. Boipelo primary school has reduced
its consumption from an average of 1900 kilolitres to 1255
kilolitres.
(1)(b) An initial funding of R2 million has been allocated.
(1)(c) A total of 12 unemployed local youth were trained and are
currently working on the selected 10 households and Boipelo
Primary School. The number of people temporarily employed could
increase as the scope of work expands.
(1)(d) The local youth employed is on a temporary basis however,
should the programme expand, Mogale City will have to develop and
manage a recruitment strategy.
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(2)(a) Currently Mogale City municipality is the only one
participating in Gauteng with the intention to expand the
programme throughout the province as part of implementing the
Water Conservation and Demand Management Programme.
(2)(b)(i) In 2008/09 Mogale City lost 34% of treated water through the
system as a result of leaks.
(2)(b)(ii) The percentage of the 10 municipalities in the country with the
highest water losses due to leaks is currently not available.
However, a study by the Water Research Commission entitled âAn
Assessmentâ of Non-Revenue Water in South Africa, report number TT
300/07 on this matter provided an estimated national water loss of
approximately 31%.
(2)(c) During the launch of the War on Leaks programme, R2 million was
made available for Mogale City municipality only.
(3)(a) Mogale City municipality and my Department will manage the
project.
(3)(b) The municipality and my Department will ensure that the funding
will be utilized for the intended purposes.
(3)(c) The municipality will monitor and report on the expected
decrease in water lost to leaks.
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