The current Northern Aqueduct reached capacity on various sections of the trunk mains because of growing demand. As a result, there is not sufficient network capacity to deliver it to areas that need it most.
Construction of R250 million worth of urgently needed bulk water infrastructure in the northern part of the eThekwini region is nearing completion and should resolve this issue.
The two multi-million rand contracts that make up a portion of the Northern Aqueduct Augmentation are expected to be complete in the fourth quarter this year. This is according to Ednick Msweli, head of eThekwini Water and Sanitation.
This includes a 6 km section of the pipeline that begins at Duffs Road and ends at the Phoenix 2 reservoir and a 22 km segment of the pipeline that stretches from the Phoenix 2 Reservoir in Phoenix, continues to Waterloo and then to Umhlanga with a feed to the planned new Blackburn reservoir. Construction is not taking place in a linear fashion, segments in areas of critical need will be put in place first.
The pipeline should be completed by the end of the year. Says Msweli: “This will alleviate the water shortages and rationing currently being experienced in the Phoenix and Waterloo areas. These areas currently receive water from Hazelmere Dam which is low. We will be able to reroute water to compensate for this.”