The Department of Water and Sanitation in the Northern Cape in partnership with Magareng Local Municipality (LM) is implementing a more than R83 million water project in the Warrenton area.

The project commenced in April 2020 and was scheduled to be completed in June 2021. Due to community protests for various service delivery issues, including water shortages, the project has been delayed.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is urging the community of Magareng Local Municipality to allow the process of the construction and upgrading of the Magareng Water Treatment Plant to be completed as this will address the issue of water shortages and provide the much needed bulk water supply to the community.

The project includes upgrading the capacity of the 9 Megalitres per day (9ML/day) water treatment plant to a 12ML/day capacity. Currently under construction is a new water reservoir and the installation of new flocculation channels and sedimentation tanks.

The upgrade will improve water treatment and production processes to acceptable water quality standards in line with the South African National Standards (SANS241).

The project will further reduce water losses from 33% to less than 10% making available sufficient and sustainable water supply to the people of Magareng Local Municipality.