Question NW439 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Reply:

According to the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, the water supply challenges currently experienced in Kimberley, emanate primarily from deterioration of raw water quality in the Vaal River. Due to upstream raw water contamination, the water had high turbidity levels, thus requiring of the municipality to invest additional effort and resources to strengthen production at the Riverton Water Treatment plant. This was to ensure acceptable quality levels of purified water into the system. This reduced the amount of water pumped to Kimberley by about 70%, and it became difficult to fill up reservoirs at Newton.

During the same period, the municipality experienced a massive pipe leak on the 965 pipeline, close to the R31. The leak was repaired on Tuesday 16 Feb 2021. While repairs were undertaken, pumping from Riverton to Newton plant was negatively impacted, resulting in levels dropping below the supply level.

While full production capacity has not been restored yet, it has improved greatly, with more water now reaching the reservoirs. The water tests have also demonstrated improved turbidity levels. The municipality has introduced scheduled water rationing, until full capacity of the reservoirs has been achieved.