Chris Hani Local Municipality

CHRIS HANI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

R250m Tsomo River Water Abstraction and Water Treatment Works nears completion

Villagers of Intsika Yethu Local Municipality from wards 3, 6, 8 and parts of wards 1 and 13; including Engcobo Local Municipality in wards 1 and 2 as well as eight (8) wards under Mnquma Local Municipality, will soon benefit from a multi-million rand Tsomo river water Abstraction and Water Treatment Works that is nearing completion. The project which commenced in 2016 is aimed at resolving water challenges in the Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities. Over 40 000 thousand households in the identified areas are expected to benefit, with 8650 households currently served by the plant.

The R215m water abstraction and treatment project has created job opportunities since its implementation with locally based Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) utilized for the construction of the buildings, roadworks, paving, gabions, and reinforcing steel fixing. Material for the project was also sourced from locallybased suppliers – residing within the Chris Hani District Municipality area of jurisdiction. Over one thousand six hundred and ninety (1690) job opportunities for local people were created during the construction of the plant with recruitment of youth and women in the majority.

This is a regional and cross border bulk water supply project sourcing water from an abstraction weir on the Tsomo River, in Tsomo town. The plan is to provide bulk water to areas in two local municipalities within the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) and one Local Municipality falling under Amathole District Municipality (ADM). The total capacity of the abstraction works and water treatment works is 25 mega litres per day. Chris Hani District Municipality will be applying for an increase to 42 megalitres a day to accommodate the Amathole District Municipality project which will be connected to the plant.

The Water Treatment Works will supply bulk purified water to 47632 households from areas of Intsika Yethu such as Tsomo town, Ngcobo and Mnquma. Beneficiaries from these identified areas will be served through numerous different projects. Some of these projects have already been constructed and are ready to be supplied purified water, whilst others are still under construction or in the planning stages.

The project is being implemented by the Chris Hani District Municipality, with funding from the Department of Water and Sanitation through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) as part of a cooperative initiative with ADM. The implementation and provision of water services is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding between key role players: Chris Hani DM, Amathole DM and the Department of Water and Sanitation. The project is implemented in phases due to its magnitude and all the above phases have been successfully completed with only the last three remaining.

These are as follows: Phase 1

Involved construction of Bulk Water Supply from existing Section 9 Jojweni Reservoir with capacity for extension to Amathole villages.

Phase 2

Involved construction of Bulk pumping main, gravity pipeline and 2 mega liters reservoir connecting Tsomo Town to the Tsojana Southern Bulk.

Phase 3A

Involved River Abstraction Works and raw water pumps installation. Phase 3B Involves construction of a Water Treatment Works and Highlift pump station and a 700mm diameter HDPe pipeline & associated works.

Phase 3C

Involves Bulk Pipeline from Tsojana Southern Bulk to Jojweni (including reservoir and pump station). 1mega litre Command reservoir and a generator.

Phase 3D

Involved construction of Bulk Pipeline Jojweni to Xolobe (including reservoir and pump station).

Phase 4

Bulk Distribution and bulk connection to Southern Bulk, Xolobe and Banzi areas. Tsomo Town South Mzomhle Bulk line & Reservoir.

Phase 5

Installation of Infrastructure required to supply bulk water to the Ngqamakhwe and Cluster 8 Projects, Ncora bulk release works.

“The overall progress on the construction of the project is commendable with the project The project is being implemented by the Chris Hani District Municipality, with funding from the Department of Water and Sanitation through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG).

team having commenced with commissioning of functional components of the Abstraction Works & Water Treatment Work. The team on site is progressing well and is on track with major works of the project with only minimal work outstanding on the roads, storm-water, buildings and general finishing. Future phases of the project will extend the bulk supply to Xolobe, Mzomhle, Banzi and the Cluster 8 project in Engcobo. The project is expected to be finished by end of the year and has significantly assisted stimulate economic growth in the area.