The uMshwathi bulk water supply project was under the spotlight recently when the Standing Committee on Appropriations (SCOA) visited the site as part of a current drive to inspect infrastructure projects driven towards service delivery.

The SCOA members from parliament were joined by uMgungundlovu District Mayor Thobekile Maphumulo together with uMshwathi EXCO on their site visits in Dalton and Wartburg to view the project.

The R1 billion water supply project, which is situated in KwaZulu – Natal, currently serves 90 000 households, and is envisaged to supply water to 500 000 households upon project completion.

The four phased project was presented to the Department of Water and Sanitation by implementing agent Umgeni Water and has cost over 900 million thus far with the department investing over R200 million towards the project to date.

According to the municipality the first two phases of the project will be completed later this year while phase three is expected to be finished by December 2018 provided there are no disruptions.

Securing water supply for the future  

“Work on the first two phases included the construction of 41.5km of bulk steel pipeline with two pump stations and reservoirs in Wartburg and Dalton,” the municipality said.

Some of the areas that will benefit from the project include Claridge, Wartburg, Dalton, Swayimane, and Southern Ndwedwe up to Ozwathini in Ilembe Municipality.

“We go where the money is. We want to see value for taxpayer’s money”, said SCOA Chairperson Yvonne Phosa.  Other stakeholders present included the Department of Water and Sanitation, National Treasury and CoGTA.

“The uMgungundlovu District Municipality will be responsible for the secondary phase which includes reticulation and ensuring community members have uninterrupted water supply for years,” the municipality concluded.