DURBAN - VERULAM residents are frustrated over water shortages following the failure of the Umgeni water pump in Inanda Dam, which feeds the Durban Heights water treatment works.
This has caused shortages in eThekwini Water and Sanitation’s reservoirs in central, northern and southern regions.
Ektha Maharaj, founder of the Verulam Community Group, said several households were affected.
“Some parts have water and others don’t. People can’t cook or do their daily things that need water. We have contacted the councillors in those areas. They tried to circulate tankers but it is still not enough.”
Vish Roopnarain, chairperson of the Verulam Civic Organisation, said they had been struggling with water shortages for months.
“There’s one tank in an area which caters for approximately 1000 people. This has caused havoc and worry in the area. We would appreciate it if the municipality could at least provide Jojo tanks so that everyone can have water. We can’t even use the toilets.”
Area councillor Johnson Chetty confirmed that water outages had been erratic since last Friday.
“We didn’t have water for 35 hours between Friday and Saturday. Today (Wednesday), Mountview hasn’t had water since 3pm. We have been without water for almost two hours or more since.”
He said they were worried that the city and Umgeni Water were not communicating with the communities. “We are aware that this is far from over or could get worse. Yet, we have not received any feedback from the municipality or Umgeni Water.
“The people in Trenance 3 are the most-affected because they are at the end of the supply line. We cannot give them accurate information because none is forthcoming.”
Umgeni Water spokesperson Shami Harichunder said there was a reduction of 50 megalitres per day in the supply to eThekwini Water and Sanitation.
“This pump is approximately 180m below surface. This is one of the pumps that is used to augment the raw water inflow to the Durban Heights water treatment works after aqueduct 4 developed a leak and was taken out of use due to the risk the leak posed to communities residing near the aqueduct in Clermont township.”
He explained that working with the city at the weekend, a strategy was implemented where drinking water was distributed on a rotational basis to communities. “It has since emerged that it is not a sustainable response to the prevailing situation. Umgeni Water is exploring other strategies in conjunction with eThekwini Water and Sanitation.
“One of the options being investigated is the speedy return to functionality of aqueduct 4 after repairs have been completed. Refurbishment of reservoir 3 at the Durban Heights water treatment works, in order to ensure additional storage, is to also to be speeded up. Refurbishment is under way and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2022.”
The city’s spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela, said they were doubling efforts “to ensure that all residents will have access to clean water”.
Daily News