Question NW574 to the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation

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24 July 2020 - NW574

Profile picture: Mokgotho, Ms SM

Mokgotho, Ms SM to ask the Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation

Whether her department has a plan in place to fix an ageing sewer system that has become a health hazard to the community in Ward 6 in the Mamusa Local Municipality; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

The sewer pumping stations of Mamusa Local Municipality (MLM) are under pressure due to the high inorganic composition of the influent. Overflows occur whenever problems such as power or mechanical failures take place. The inability of bulk sewer infrastructure to convey wastewater causes numerous sewer spillages, resulting in pollution of the watercourse. Refurbishment and upgrading of sewer pumping stations in Ipelegeng and Schweizer-Reneke are thus critically important.

To curb the challenges indicated above, the following short-term interventions have been implemented in the Mamusa Local Municipality by the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality (DRSMDM):

  1. Maintenance to address mechanical and electrical backlogs at the Ipelegeng Sewerage Pumping Stations has been attended to.
  2. Improvement of the capacity of the Mamusa Local Municipality cleaning team with the procurement of a new High-pressure Water Jet Machine to unblock block sewer lines.

Furthermore, long-term interventions are underway to refurbish the sewer system in Mamusa include the upgrading of critical Bulk Water and Sewer Services. The proposed scheme is twofold and will address the persistent spillages occurring at sewer pumping stations and enhance the sustainability of the infrastructure. The refurbishments will entail the following: 

  1. Construction of new inlet chambers and retention dams 
  2. Refurbishments of existing mechanical components 
  3. Refurbishment of external components around pumping stations
  4. Refurbishments of inlet pipework and manholes 
  5. Installation of new mechanical components 
  6. Upgrading and refurbishment of electrical components. 

 

Funding applications and technical reports were submitted to the Department of Water and Sanitation during the first quarter of 2020. The detailed designs, construction drawings and specifications have been completed and the projects are ready for construction to commence once funding approval is confirmed.

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