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EdST Enquiries: A Abrahams
Telephone: 053Â 836 7600
Reference: 2/1/5/1
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: QUESTION 562 FOR WRITTEN REPLY
A draft reply to the above question asked by Mr M J R de Villiers (DA-WC)
is attached for your consideration.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 562
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 19 OCTOBER 2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 31)
562. Mr M J R de Villiers (DA-WC) to ask the Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether the correct processes will be followed before Alexkor
transfer the village of Alexander Bay (details furnished) in
terms of the waste water treatment plant and reticulation system
to the Richtersveld Municipality; if not, why not; if so, what
(a) measures are in place and (b) are the further relevant
details;
(2) whether any study has been conducted to ascertain that there is
sufficient capacity for the (a) current population and (b)
possible future population growth of the said municipality; if
not, why not; if so, what are the findings in each case;
(3) whether all legal requirements have been met in terms of the (a)
plant and (b) reticulation network; if not, why not; if so, what
are the relevant details;
(4) whether the location of the plant is within reasonable distance
of the residential area of Alexander Bay; if not, why not; if
so, what (a) is the position and (b) are the further relevant
details? CW706E
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REPLY:
1) The Department of Water Affairs is aware that the processes as
prescribed in
Section 78 of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of
2000) have been followed in order to provide for the future
provision of water services by the Richtersveld Local
Municipality in Alexander Bay. Furthermore, it has come to the
attention of the Department that, an agreement has been reached
between the mine and the Richtersveld Local Municipality, which
stipulates that the transfer of the village of Alexander Bay in
terms of the wastewater treatment plant and reticulation system
to the Richtersveld Local Municipality will only be done upon
the mine having completed either refurbishment, upgrading or
construction of the wastewater treatment plant and replacement
of the reticulation network. The replacement of the reticulation
network as well as construction of a new wastewater treatment
plant is currently underway and it is anticipated to be
completed by the end of 2012.
2) The mine, in consultation with the Richtersveld Local
Municipality, has commissioned studies to determine the
reticulation network and wastewater treatment capacity
requirements based on both current population figures and future
population growth estimates over a 20 year planning horizon. The
design capacity of both the reticulation network and wastewater
treatment plant makes provision for the future growth in
population.
(3) The legal requirements for the construction of the wastewater
treatment plants have been met and the Department of
Environmental Affairs issued a waste license in terms of the
Waste Act, 2008 (Act No. 59 of 2008) for the new wastewater
treatment plant whilst an environmental authorisation in terms
of the National Environment Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of
1998) was issued for the decommissioning and rehabilitation of
the old wastewater treatment plant. Furthermore, the mine does
not need to apply for a water use licence in terms of the
National Water Act, 1998
(Act No. 36 of 1998) since the volume of waste water to be
disposed falls within the ambit of a general authorisation. As
far as the reticulation network is concerned, it has been
confirmed that, no environmental authorisation is required since
the activity entails the replacement of an existing reticulation
network, which falls within the thresholds as stipulated in the
Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations in terms of the
National Environment Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998).
(4) The existing wastewater treatment plant currently in use in
Alexander Bay is located within a distance of approximately 100
metres from the nearest residential area. During the planning
phase of the new wastewater treatment plant, the impact of the
wastewater treatment plant on residents, especially as it
relates to bad odours was raised as a concern and as such an
alternative site, located at a reasonable distance of 500 metres
from the nearest residential area, was selected to mitigate for
these impacts. The wastewater treatment plant currently in use
will be decommissioned upon completion of the new wastewater
treatment plant.
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