Question NW3557 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
13 December 2023 - NW3557
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
What (a) specific steps of intervention have been taken by his department to ensure that the boreholes and/or borehole taps in the rural parts of the Eastern Cape have regular water supply and (b) monitoring mechanism is used to ensure that the companies that were appointed have delivered the services required in terms of the tender specifications?
Reply:
a) The Department of Water and Sanitation does not drill boreholes in local municipalities. However, the DWS provides funding for water supply projects to municipalities which may include boreholes that are meant to supplement surface water or are the main source of due to lack of surface water or droughts. Projects are implemented by municipalities through funding that is provided by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) or by municipalities themselves.
The Department of Water and Sanitation developed a Standard Operating Procedure for Groundwater Development for Communities Water Supply Projects (SOP). This SOP is specifically developed to ensure and enforce a common approach and a high standard for groundwater development for community water supply projects. This SOP is guiding the sector and practitioners to enable high standards throughout the exploration, development and monitoring of groundwater usage.
b) Where borehole projects are funded by the DWS, Water Services Authorities are appointed as the Implementing Agents, based on their capacity to implement the projects. Municipalities appoint contractors in accordance with their own Supply Chain Management processes. The Department of Water and Sanitation’s officials oversee project progress by conducting monthly meetings with municipalities and undertake site visits to verify work completed and provide monthly progress report on all funded projects. There are also quarterly performance assessments that are compliled by the DWS compiled and submitted to National Treasury.