Question NW753 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
10 May 2021 - NW753
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)Whether, with regard to the water provision to Hoedspruit from Blyde River which is facilitated by a pipeline carrying raw water from the river to the Air Force Base, where the water is purified before being distributed to the Air Force Base, Hoedspruit and surrounds, the direct pipeline from the Blyde River to the Air Force Base which was allegedly damaged two years ago by a farmer digging a trench has been repaired; if not, what plans are there for the repairs to be done; if so, (a) on what date were the repairs done and (b) is this the main pipeline for raw water; (2) whether her department is using a pipeline linked to the Blyde Agricultural Irrigation System which is connected on the farm, Parma in place of the damaged pipe; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the further relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1) (a) I have been informed by the Department that DPWI is not aware of damages caused by a farmer and repairs done to the pipeline. However, a complaint was logged by the Hoedspruit Airforce Base for the repairs at the Essex pump station. This complaint was attended to on 30 May 2019 by Poppe Maphori JV Microzone and the job card was signed off accordingly by the client representative (FSGT Koekemoor) on 31 May 2019 for the amount of R51 06.00.
(b) No, the repairs were not on the main pipeline which is maintained by the Blyde River Water Utility Company (Pty) Ltd, but were at the Essex raw water pump station which is an alternative pipeline used when the mainline is not working. The main pipeline is a gravity line that supplies water to the Hoedspruit Air Force Base without the use of a pump station, whereas the Essex pump station is an alternative line that pumps water to the Air Force Base when the main line is not working.
2) Yes, Hoedspruit Air Force Base sources water from the Blyde River on a daily basis. The main pipeline that draws water to Hoedspruit Air Force Base is linked to the farmers (Parma) irrigation system. Parma is the farm where the main water pipeline runs through the agricultural irrigation system to the base.
The Essex station is the responsibility of DPWI and it pumps water much faster than the gravity line (main pipeline). Essex pump station is used as an alternative when the base experiences challenges with main pipeline (Blyde).