NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1191
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 11 SEPTEMBER 2009
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 16)
1191. Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
(1) Whether her department has been informed of partially treated
water that is being discharged from the uMthatha sewage
treatment plant into the uMthatha River; if so, what are the
relevant details;
(2) whether a section 19(3) directive has been issued against the
operator of the uMthatha sewage treatment plant in accordance
with the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998; if not, why not; if
so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether her department is taking any steps to rehabilitate the
uMthatha sewage treatment plant; if not, why not; if so, what
are the relevant details?
NW1528E
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REPLY:
(1) Yes, My Department is aware of the partially treated effluent
discharged from the Umthatha Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW)
into the Umthatha River. This discharge exceeds both chemical
and microbiological limits of the General Standard, set for
discharge to a water resource. The discharge is monitored on a
monthly basis.
.
(2) Yes, a pre-directive in terms of Section 19(3) of the National
Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998) (the Act( was issued to OR
Tambo District Municipality (as the responsible Water Services
Authority for the area responsible for provision of water and
sanitation services) on 23 October 2008 for non-compliance with
the Act due to the state of the Umthatha WWTW, collector sewers
and pump stations. The pre-directive instructed OR Tambo to
submit a Plan of Action to rectify the issues of non-compliance.
3) Yes, My Department has made available an amount of R25 million
from its Accelerated Community Infrastructure Programme to
restore the Umthatha WWTW. The contractor moved on-site in
September 2009.
In addition to the above support, the Department through
cooperative governance, was able to secure R10 million from
Provincial Department of Local Government and Traditional
Affairs to refurbish the sewage pump stations. Currently, the
refurbishment is nearing completion. Further more, My
Department and the Eastern Cape Provincial Government have
committed to assist OR Tambo District Municipality in developing
a far wider action plan that addresses rehabilitation, delivery,
resource conservation, planning, technical & institutional
capacity, and sustained management of water services.
ooOoo