The City of eThekwini’s Executive Committee on Tuesday , approved a report outlining the City’s emergency drought relief plan to get water to affected areas and reduce the amount of water lost due to leaks and burst pipes.
The report outlines resources needed to assist in supplying water to drought affected areas as well as improve the response time to complaints of water leaks and burst pipes. These resources includes two water sachet machines, 80 static tanks and stands, 20 additional water tanker drivers to service drought affected areas between 4pm and 12pm, 12 bakkies and items of small plant and equipment which includes a mobile compressor, water pumps, wacker rammer, sludge pump and a pneumatic breaker. The equipment will be utilised as part of strategies outlined following an eThekwini Water and Sanitation Drought Joint Operations Committee meeting held late last year.
The distribution of resources The 47 static water tanks are urgently required to be strategically placed within the northern region. A further 33 static tanks are proposed to be rolled out as the drought spreads and the number of affected areas increases. The purchasing of two water sachet machines will manufacture and seal four litres of water. These sachets will be delivered to households for drinking and cooking purposes. The machines will package between 15 and 20 four litre bags per minute.
This will ensure that consumers receive the bare minimum amount of potable water for domestic purposes. It is envisaged that the sachets will be delivered in bulk to strategic locations within the northern region where consumers can pick them up on their way home.
Dealing with leaks quickly
The small plant equipment will assist plumbing teams to carry out work on the roads particularly to minimise leaks. It will also assist with a number of water and sanitation projects currently underway and in the pipeline. This will assist the water and sanitation unit to improve its response time in repairing leaks and bursts. The report outlined the urgency of acquiring the above mentioned equipment as the current drought situation worsens and minimal rainfall is expected over the next four to six months.
Water restrictions
Water restrictions have already been imposed on all users of the Hazelmere water treatment system since late last year. Restrictions have intensified as the dam level continues to drop. The report stated that in light of the persistent drought conditions and the prevailing levels of the
Hazelmere Dam level, it was mandatory to increase restrictions to 50 percent of the total usage of customers. eThekwini Deputy Mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala said she was both excited and happy about the plan as questions have been raised about what the City was doing to counter the effects of the drought.
