Question NW3752 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
29 November 2023 - NW3752
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Whether his department intends to take immediate and robust measures to assist with sustainable and uninterrupted water supply to the residents of Polokwane, who have had challenges to access basic water services; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
MINISTER OF WATER AND SANITATION
The Polokwane Local Municipality (LM) receives daily water supply from the Ebenezer Water Treatment Works (WTW), Olifantspoort WTW and Dalmada WTW. The Ebenezer and Olifantspoort WTWs are operated by Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) while Dalmada WTW is operated by the municipality. The Polokwane LM is also operating about 53 boreholes around Polokwane City and Seshego to augment the water supply. For an estimated twelve months, the reservoirs supplying Polokwane have not been able to fill up to capacity, mostly averaging 30%.
The WTWs and associated infrastructure are not operating to full capacity due to challenges which include electricity supply challenges, frequent pipe bursts because of dilapidated asbestos pipelines that must be replaced and faulty pumpstations. The Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality is implementing a project to upgrade the power lines which started by July 2023 and was planned for completion in December 2023. While the project is ongoing, the GTLM cuts electricity supply to Ebenezer Plant from 6 am to 12 pm on week days. This down time results in water supply interruptions to the Polokwane City and Mankweng Area. This has resulted in water supply interruptions which have affected the town of Polokwane including Bendor, Serala view, Flora Park, Fauna Park. Sterk Park, Moregloed, Nirvana, Ivy Park Polokwane Extentions and Seshego (1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8).
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has provided financial support for development of ground water to augment water supply in Polokwane. The project cost is estimated to be R861 million through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG). The Polokwane LM will co-fund the project R177 million through its internal funding. The project is under construction with overall progress of 95% and anticipated to be completed by June 2024. The scope of the project includes groundwater development in various wellfields around Polokwane (69 boreholes); construction of Sand River North and Seshego WTWs and associated bulk infrastructure for water conveyance.
The DWS is also funding the Ebenezer and Olifantspoort Bulk Water Supply project implemented by Lepelle Northern Water (LNW). The project is funded through blended funding including RBIG, Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) and commercial funding to be facilitated by LNW with assistance of the Infrastructure Fund (IF). The project scope includes refurbishing of existing infrastructure in the Ebenezar and Olifantspoort schemes to restore capacity. The next phase of the project will be focused on upgrading the capacity of the WTWs to meet the future demand for water.
LNW appointed the contractors in November 2023. Construction is expected to start in the January 2024. The refurbishment will ensure maximum efficiency of the existing infrastructure and improve water supply to Polokwane by limiting downtime on the schemes due challenges indicated above. The refurbishment phase is expected to be completed by July 2026 with estimated project cost of R4.5 billion.
The project to upgrade infrastructure is intended to increase water provision to Polokwane form 144Ml/d to 180Ml/d and ultimately to 270Ml/d to meet future demand for water. The projects will commence once all planning processes are concluded, and all financial sources are secured to cover the overall project cost. The Department has already granted LNW water use licence of additional 90 Ml/d to cater for the upgrade of the Olifantspoort WTW as part of planning process for scheme upgrade. LNW is in the process of acquiring the servitudes which is required for approval of the IRS by end of the 2023/24 financial year.
The DWS is currently processing the IRS for the replacement of 2,2 km of the raw water pipeline which will restore the supply of raw water to 18 Ml/d at the Dalmada WTW. The project also involves the upgrade of the Dap Naude booster pump station to deliver 21 Ml/day; construction of a new 21Ml/day in-line booster pump station at Kopje Alleen; refurbishment and upgrade of the Dalmada Water Treatment Works to a capacity of 21 Ml/day. The cost of the project is estimated at R77 million.
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