The people of Ugu District Municipality has been told by KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala that the local water supply will be improved.
During an Imbizo in Port Shepstone on Tuesday, the premier made the vow.
The Premier’s Imbizo follows a working session chaired by the District Executive Mayor Phumlile Mthiyane and Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu last week.
The major goal of the discussion was to develop answers for the district’s problems with water supply.
Zikalala recognized the problems that are the biggest contributors to the District’s lack of water supply during the imbizo.
The municipality has ignored the aging infrastructure in both rural and urban areas, which is one of the issues brought up.
“The district’s infrastructure is under strain as a result of the needs of a growing population.
Vandalism of infrastructure and unauthorized connections to water infrastructure were also noted as problems, particularly at the Bhobhoyi Treatment Scheme, according to a statement from the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Zikalala gave the Minister a turnaround plan to deal with the region’s water problems during their meeting.
The Premier and the Minister concurred that the municipality should reprioritize funds and direct them toward one essential goal, namely the provision of water.
Several short-, medium-, and long-term water initiatives were described by the premier. The following are the main Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) projects that Umgeni Water will carry out: Prioritizing and expediting the Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (LUBWSS) project is necessary.
It contains the Ngwadini dam, an off-channel storage dam, and the Water Treatment Works (WTW).
Umgeni Water is in the design stage of this project. It will supply bulk water to Ugu’s upper and intermediate coastal districts.
In order to effect the further upgrade of the St. Helen’s Rock abstraction system and the uMzimkhulu-Bhobhoyi WTW to satisfy the future water demands, the aforementioned project is necessary as a source of raw water.
Using the Pennington Sezela Link, the South Coast Pipeline Extension Phase 2b Kelso to Malangeni/Umdoni augmentation.
By providing potable water directly to communities inside the Umdoni Municipality, the South Coast Phase 2b pipes will relieve pressure on the Umzinto and the Mtwalume WTWs and supply systems.
The main source of supply will be replaced by the South Coast Pipeline Extension Phase 3 from Umdoni to Mtwalume/Hibberdene LUBWSS, eliminating the need for run-off river abstraction and its related limitations.
This project is intended to enhance the potable water supply produced by the Mtwalume WTW and provide access to potable water in Bazley, Elysium, and Ifafa.
It will provide water to both the Umdoni and Umzumbe LMs.
According to the department, drilling boreholes would help supplement water delivery in the Umzumbe and Umdoni areas because the municipality’s capacity is insufficient there.
In the interim, towns are also using water tankering services to increase their water supply.
The district’s residents were given assurances by the premier that the province government and the Department of Water and Sanitation are working to modify the district’s water supply.
“We are aware of the water concerns in this area, and I want to reassure you that we are not just here to talk; work is already being done to fix the problems with the water supply.
Water is essential to life, and a house cannot be considered dignified without it.
“I’m also urging businesspeople to work with us to address the water issues in the Ugu district.
Let’s all work together to find answers to the district’s water supply problems, Zikalala stated.
Zikalala also made a plea to the province’s ministries, businesses, and the general public to pay for the services provided by the municipality so that the district’s problems might be remedied with the help of adequate income collection.