Question NW38 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
29 May 2020 - NW38
Lotriet, Prof A to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation
(1)Whether, following the release of the statement regarding the interventions announced to address the water problems in QwaQwa (details furnished), all of the promised 5 000 state-owned tanks have been delivered to QwaQwa; if not, (a) why not and (b) on what date will the tanks be delivered; (2) which sources will be used to fill up the tanks in the light of the current incapacity to fill tanks to supply at least 25 litres of water per person per day to 240 000 persons who have no other source of water?
Reply:
(1) The water tanks are being delivered in batches to manage the risk of delivering all 5,000 tanks at once due to lack of sufficient storage facilities and instability within the municipality. Some of the water tanks have already been installed in the wards. The number of water tanks is increasing as they are fabricated and delivered to QwaQwa and subsequently installed in the locations identified in affected wards. The construction of water tank stands and installation is in progress in wards of Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality currently. Ordering and subsequent delivery of the additional 3,000 water tanks will follow after the initial 2000 tanks are delivered.
Two-thousand (2,000) water tanks were ordered out of the five-thousand (5,000). As at 23 March 2020, a total of 261 (made up of 30×10,000 litres and 231×5,000 litres capacities, respectively) out of the 2,000 water tanks had been delivered to QwaQwa.. The number will be increasing as the time is progressing.
(2) The current water sources utilized to fill up the water tankers are Sterkfontein Water Treatment Plant (from Sterkfontein Dam) through the Bluegumbosch Connection (Water Tanker Facility) and Makwane Water Treatment Plant (from Metsi Matsho Dam) through the Comet Connection (Water Tanker Facility). The other sources are groundwater sources (boreholes) located in various areas of QwaQwa. While using these sources, the Department, Municipality and Sedibeng Water are currently implementing long term interventions to ensure that water comes out from taps and not through tankering.
(3) Seventeen (17) boreholes in total have been equipped on an emergency basis to supply water to the residents of QwaQwa. Two appointed contractors are establishing sites to equip five boreholes each that will be connected to the existing infrastructure to facilitate water supply through the existing reticulation network. Boreholes that are equipped are in the following areas:
- Tsheseng: 2 boreholes equipped with electrical pumps, which are pumping into a water tank. Residents are accessing water through stand pipes that have been installed;
- Masaleng: 1 borehole equipped with an electrical pump and 1 equipped with a hand pump;
- Mantsubise: 1 borehole equipped with a hand pump due to the low yield of the borehole;
- Naledi: 1 borehole equipped with a hand pump;
- Paballong: 4 boreholes equipped with hand pumps;
- Tseki: 2 electrical pumps (currently in progress);
- Monontsha: 1 electrical pump;
- Dinkweng: 1 electrical pump;
- Setlabotjha: 1 electrical pump;
- Lejwaneng: 2 hand pumps;
- Thabang: 2 electrical pumps (1 has been completed);
- Phahameng: 1 electrical pump;
- Thaba Tsoana: 1 electrical pump.
The contractors have already commenced with project activities that will allow the connections to the infrastructure. The construction duration is anticipated to take about 4 months having commenced on the 24 February 2020. The areas to still be equipped include: Sejwalejwale, Lejwaneng and Hlatseng.