WATER MATTERS

FIRST DROPS FROM NOOITGEDACHT PHASE 3

The rst drops from the Nooitgedacht Water Scheme were delivered in March this year, signalling the nal step in phase 3 of the project that will augment the water supply to the Nelson Mandela metro and surrounds.

The original scheme was commissioned in 1993 with a capacity of 70 megalitres daily. The Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works receives its raw water from the Gariep Dam, situated upcountry and is therefore not affected by local droughts.

The metro has, over the past few years, carried out the planning, design, tender preparation, contract administration and contract supervision for the augmentation of the Nooitgedacht supply scheme. At the request of former mayors and later, the business sector, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) intervened and appointed the Amatola Water Board as an implementing agent for phase 3 of this project. The project completion date was initially set for June 2021 and later moved to September 2021, but faced delays owing to budget constraints and contractual matters, which have since been resolved.

On 29 March 2022, the contractor conducted a water supply shutdown to carry out the nal connection for phase 3. The connection work was a success, and currently, Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works delivers about 190 megalitres of water per day, of which 70 megalitres are transferred via the Stanford Road Booster Pump Station to the western areas.

Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu, says: “We are elated that we’ve released the rst drops on time as promised to the citizens; this has been a long time coming, and we are indeed grateful. The metro has experienced drought for the past seven years, and with the constant threat of Day Zero, the nalisation of this project comes as a reassurance that water will be provided to our people. The realisation of these rst drops is through the concerted e orts of all – government (at all spheres), the private sector and the citizens – the social compact that the president has been emphasising. Thank you to all those who dedicated their time and did not tire in their e orts, we are indeed grateful. We do still, however, encourage residents of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and all South Africans to use water sparingly.” ▪

WITZENBERG MUNICIPALITY IS A WATER CHAMPION

In a quest for excellence on issues of water quality and wastewater systems, the Department of Water and Sanitation revived the Green Drop awards and certi cation programmes. This aims to encourage Water Services Authorities, such as municipalities, to ensure the overall improvement of municipal wastewater management.

During the awards ceremony, spearheaded by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, the host municipality, Witzenberg, emerged as the biggest winner on the day. Witzenberg Local Municipality scooped the following awards: Top Three Best Performing Wastewater Systems, Top Three Best Performing Municipality, and a Green Drop certi cation for three out of four of its wastewater treatment plants being fully functional.

Other winners included the Inkomazi Local Municipality and Stellenbosch, which won the best progress category that acknowledged the improvement in the wastewater systems performance since 2013.

Green Drop certifications went to the following recipients: City of Cape Town, City of Ekurhuleni, Drakenstein Local Municipality, iLembe District Municipality, Mossel Bay Local Municipality, Lesedi Local Municipality, Saldanha Bay Municipality, uMgungundlovu Municipality, and Witzenberg Local Municipality.

Interacting with the media while releasing the Green Drop report, Mchunu emphasised that these awards will take place annually, adding that the awards will inspire municipalities to work hard.

The Director-General at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Dr Sean Phillips, indicated that Cabinet regards the Green Drop certi cation programme and awards as a major responsibility.

‘’We will provide all the necessary support to municipalities to ensure they improve their wastewater treatment operations,’’ he said.

In his closing remarks, Mchunu rea rmed that the Department of Water and Sanitation is committed to ensuring that all the citizens of the country are granted access to water and clean water at that, adding that the environment must not be harmed during any operations involving the provision of water.