The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is currently implementing refurbishments and upgrades at five water treatment works and aims to ultimately upgrade all eight facilities providing drinking water to Nelson Mandela Bay to the tune of more than R 1 billion.

This follows after the demand for potable water from the population of 1.1 million residents consistently increased at approximately 6% over the last couple of years.

Infrastructure, Engineering, Electricity and Energy Standing Committee Chairperson, Andile Mfunda said the consistent growth in demand is a good reason for the refurbishment and upgrading of all municipal water treatment works in order to continue with the supply of good quality drinkable water to all consumers in the near and long term future.

“The upgrades will accommodate the exceptional growth in the housing delivery programme of the municipality and provide adequate supply for the industrial and economic growth of the Coega Industrial Development Zone, further enhancing investor security and sustainable job creation.

“We are estimating the cost of the refurbishments and upgrades at our eight water treatment works to be approximately R1.3 billion and it will be implemented in a phased approach over the next five years due to funding allocations on our capital budget.

“The water treatment works in question are the Loerie Water Treatment Works, Churchill, Elandsjagt, Nooitgedagt, Linton, Groendal, Springs and the Rocklands Water Treatment Works.

“This augurs well for our continued provision of clean and safe drinking water and the augmentation of water supply.

“The excellent work over a number of years follows after the Mayoral Committee approved and accepted the Water Master Plan – which forms part of the Water Services Development Plan and ultimately the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan – in August 2007,” Mfunda said.- Nelson Mandela Bay.gov.za