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EdTM Enquiries: P Makhanya
Telephone: 043Â 604 5406
Reference: 6/2/2/6
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: QUESTION 2269 FOR WRITTEN REPLY
A draft reply to the above mentioned question asked by Mr B M Bhanga (Cope)
is attached for your consideration.
DIRECTOR-GENERAL (Acting)
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 2269
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23 AUGUST 2013
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 28)
2269. Mr B M Bhanga (Cope) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs:
Whether she 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
her department taken to remedy the situation and (b) are the further
relevant details?
NW2701E
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REPLY:
Yes, I was informed of the water crisis in Rhodes University:
Grahamstown and its intention to shut down due to operating without
water for days.
a) Steps taken by the Department of Water Affairs (Department) to
remedy the situation can be summarised as follows:
(a)(i) The Department assigned Amatola Water Board, which is
currently appointed as its Rapid Response Unit (RRU), to support
Makana Local Municipality (LM). The relevant experts have been
dispatched 14 August to Grahamstown to stabilise the cityâs
water supply systems. On 18 August 2013, the team conducted a
sight inspection to ensure the pumps are operational.
(a)(ii) The Department has set up an Inter-Governmental High level
meeting between the Makana LM, the Department of Provincial
Local Government & Traditional Affairs (DPLG&TA), the South
African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the Rhodes
University on 15 August 2013 and agreed on an Action Plan for
urgent, short-, medium- & long-term solutions.
(a)(iii) The Department supports the Makana LM through its
Accelerated Community Infrastructure Program (ACIP) on Water
Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM) as high water
losses and lack of metering are seriously compromising
sustainable water supply, particularly when water systems are
stretched to the limit.
(a)(iv) Facilitated information sharing amongst key stakeholders
on a day-to-day operations.
b) Further details are as follows;
(b)(i) Grahamstown has two water schemes connected by a ring
whereby the majority of the city can be served by either of the
schemes. Both schemes require substantial pumping over the
watershed on each side of the city. The two schemes are:
⢠Waainek Water Treatment Works (WTW), which receives water
from Howisenspoort and Settlers Dams and serves the Western
half of Grahamstown, including the Industrial sites and the
Rhodes University; and
⢠James Kleynhans WTW, receiving water from Glen Melville Dam
in the Great Fish River catchment, which serves the Eastern
half of Grahamstown and most of the townships.
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(b)(ii) The Howisenspoort Pump Station (PS) has had breakages with
its pumps, coupled with electrical connectivity problems from
time to time. These are attributed to the ageing infrastructure.
Further delays in restoring water supplies are largely because
service providers are based in Gauteng.
(b)(iii) The Makana LM has ensured that water from the second
scheme, i.e. James Kleynhans Scheme, was shared over the
majority of the city by opening the ring mains during day and
closing them at night. However, high water demand exceeded
supply from only one plant, and reservoir levels on both schemes
declined, affecting the higher lying communities on both sides
of city.
(b)(iv) The Rhodes University Residences were amongst the high-
lying areas of Grahamstownâs worst affected by the water
disruptions. In this regard, road tankers were employed to
ensure that these areas were supplied with emergency water. In
addition, a dedicated road tanker was assigned to Rhodes
University once the magnitude of the situation was realised,
thereby delivering water to the header tanks of each affected
residence.
(b)(v) The RRU and the Makana LM technical teams are closely
monitoring the situation. The water treatment works are fully
operational, therefore the pumping and filling of reservoirs is
under way. However, the water services remain extremely
vulnerable as Howisenspoort pump station has an ageing
electrical power supply line that is prone to failing in bad
weather, with no stand-by motor, until repairs are completed.
(b)(vi) The Makana LM is procuring the services of the Amatola
Water Board (AW) to assist with day-to-day provision of water
services and is currently finalising a Service Level Agreement
with the water board. This is strongly supported by the
Department as the Makana LM is struggling to perform both Water
Services Authority (WSA) & Water Service Provider (WSP)
functions. It is envisaged the process will be finalised be end
of August 2013.
(b)(vii) Furthermore, the Makana LM and the Cacadu District
Municipality (DM) are procuring new pumps to replace the
existing ones. On the other hand, the RRU is assessing and
costing the current electrical and major leakages for immediate
upgrade and repairs.
(b)(viii) Poor communication with consumers and the lack of a
customer care hotline has aggravated the situation. The Makana
LM has undertaken to use all communication means to inform and
request consumers to use water sparingly and impose restrictions
immediately if there is any risk of failure in any water
delivery system.
(b)(ix) The Makana LM has commenced with work that is aimed at
increasing existing capacity. The intention is to ultimately
increase the capacity of the James Kleynhans WTW to meet the
estimated 2040 demand. However, a phased approach has been
adopted as follows:
⢠Phase 1(a) entails the Construction of an additional pumping
main and 6.6Ml concrete storage reservoir. Construction work
is underway and is to be completed by 30 November 2013 funded
by MIG and DBSA.
⢠Phase 1(b) entails the Augmentation of the James Kleynhans
Pump station. Detailed designs are complete and are due for
tender soon funded by MIG and DBSA.
⢠Phase 2 (Future or long-term) entails the augmentation of the
James Kleynhans WTW. A feasibility study has commenced and is
funded under the Departmentâs Regional Bulk Infrastructure
Grant (RBIG) and is due for completion at the end of
September 2013. The estimated costs for Phase 2 is R66
million and planned to be completed 2016.
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