Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa has officially launched the Middeldrift Water Treatment Works (WTW) to ensure security of potable water to the uThungulu area.

Construction on the project is complete and the watersupply infrastructure that ensures security of supply to theMiddeldrift WTW is in place. Phase 1 of the project was funded by the Department of Water Affairs’ Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) as well as the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’  Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to the tune of over R63 million.

The WTW already supplies parts of the uMlalazi and Nkandla local municipalities and has reduced water backlogs in these municipalities by 40% and 21%, respectively. The project sources its supply of water from the uThukela River through the Tugela-Mhlathuze Transfer scheme.

The capacity of the WTW currently stands at 10 mega litres per day (Ml/d). It will eventually be raised to a capacity of 20 Ml/d, bringing approximately 131 000 people within its service area access safe potable water. According to Molewa, this will enhance economic development, as well as the objectives of water for growth and development, employment and redistribution.

Phase 2 of the project will be the construction of a 60 kilometre pipeline from uThukela WTW to the Middeldrift WTW. This pipeline will replace the one currently being used at a cost of R140 million over the next three-years.

Addressing backlogs

Molewa said she believes the UThungulu district municipality is serious about attending to the issues of water in all aspects. “As we should all be aware, we have developed an Interim Water Supply Strategy. This Strategy was critical in the formulation of the new Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant (MWIG). This effort is meant to ensure that everyone has access to water as soon and as quickly as possible.”

An amount of R284 million has been set aside for the uThungulu District through this MWIG.

Molewaestimates that approximatelyR3.81 billion is required to completely eradicate water backlogs. “This is a challenge indeed, but working together we know we can and do it we must. There is no better gratification than the realisation that the work we do does have an impact and a positive one for that matter on the lives of our people,” said Molewa.