Question NW4112 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
14 December 2023 - NW4112
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
Whether, in light of the ongoing water access challenges in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, there is a realistic prospect of rectifying these longstanding issues and ensure consistent access to water and sanitation for the people in the affected areas of the specified provinces and other areas experiencing water access disruptions, given that these problems have persisted for many years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has a constitutional responsibility to support municipalities to carry out their water and sanitation functions. Secondly, as the regulator of the water sector it is required to set regulatory rules, norms and standards for municipal water and sanitation services in terms of the National Water Act and the Water Services Act.
Whilst the government has made great strides to improve access to water services since 1994, the demand for water has continued to escalate due to economic growth, population growth, urbanization, inefficient use (including increasing physical losses in municipal distribution systems), degradation of wetlands and the impacts of climate change. Another contributing factor to the ongoing water access challenges in the water sector is the fragmented planning and implementation of projects.
The Ministry is in ongoing engagements with municipalities that have severe challenges with the delivery of water services in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces. In many of the most challenged municipalities, the DWS and municipal leadership have agreed on improvement plans which include the following:
- DWS financial support in the form of Regional Bulk Infrastructure and Water Services Grants, technical advice and management support from DWS and water boards.
- The development of 5-year reliability plans that seek to ensure that municipalities provide reliable water services 95% of the time. These plans will also assist municipalities in managing their assets coupled with shorter turnaround time to fix breakages.
- Through the District Development Model, the Department is working with municipalities by assisting with integrated planning for water supply projects being funded through the DWS grants and the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).
- The Blue and Green drop audits are another mechanism that the Department has put in place to ensure reliable water services, and these audits are able to identify plants that need urgent action from the municipalities. Based on the reports from these audits, municipalities are expected to develop action plans and allocate budgets to attend to the issues identified during the audits.
Furthermore, there are Departmental projects that have been completed, are ongoing or still in planning stages in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo as indicated in Annexure A below. These projects will contribute towards improving access to reliable water supply, address water supply backlogs and increase the capacity of water supply systems to meet current and future water demands.
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|
WSA |
Project Name |
Implementing Agent |
Area |
|
|
LIMPOPO |
Lepelle Northern Water Board |
|||
|
Vhembe DM & Mopani DM |
NANDONI TO NSAMI REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME: Provision of Raw water pipeline from Nandoni to Nsami WTW, Provision of Clean Water Pipeline, Giyani Water Services, Upgrading on Nandoni WTW from 60Ml/day to 120Ml/day |
Vhembe DM, Collins Chabane LM, Malamulele East (incl. Muswane & Mphambo). Mopani DM e.g. Giyani, Xikukwani and etc (55 villages_ |
Practical completion Nov 2023 |
|
|
Mopani DM |
Giyani WTW Refurbishment (Phase 1) Giyani - Reticulation of 24 Villages (Phase 1) |
Giyani, benefiting of 55 villages while Giyani (P1_ 24 Villages) |
Jan 2023 to April 2024 (37 Contractors on-site) |
|
|
Polokwane City & Capricon |
OLIFANTSPOORT /EBENEZER WATER SUPPLY SCHEME Ebenezer/Olifants Bulk Water Scheme |
Polokwane, Capricorn, |
Aug 2023- Aug 2026 |
|
|
Masodi LM |
MASODI WWTW - MLM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH IVANPLATS PROPRIETARY LIMITED MINE -Masodi WWTW |
Masodi LM |
To complete by Dec 2023 |
|
|
Polokwane LM |
Polokwane interventions |
Polokwane LM |
Polokwane, Seshego, Bloodriver and Perskebult |
August 2023 - April 2025 |
|
Vhembe DM |
MUSINA WATER SERVICES AUGMENTATION INTERVENTIONS:
|
DBSA/ DWS/ Lepelle Northern Water Board |
Musina |
Jan 2024-Jul 2026 |
|
Sekhukhune DM and Mogalakwena LM |
DWS and Lebalelo Partnership Projects: The purpose of the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project Phase 2 (ORWRDP-2) is to develop the infrastructure required in the Middle Olifants River (in the areas of Sekhukhune and Mogalakwena Districts of Limpopo) to meet the water demands in the area. This Includes the building of 2 dams (De Hoop and Flag Bashilo dams), and the construction of bulk pipelines and pump stations as part of the conveyance system.
|
Lebalelo Water Users Association |
Sekhukhune DM and Mogalakwena LM |
Jan 2023- 2030 |
|
Sekhukhune DM |
Moutse East Water Scheme_ A sub-scheme to receive water from Loskop Bulk water scheme_ through construction of storage and pumpstation |
Sekhukhune DM |
Moutse East Community |
Aug 2022 – Sept 2025 |
|
EASTERN CAPE |
||||
|
NMMB |
NOOITGEDAGT COEGA LOW LEVEL SUPPLY SCHEME (NCLLS) phase three entails the construction of a flash mixer, two flocculation channels and settling tanks, six new filters (increasing the capacity of the WTW’s with 70Ml/day to 210Ml/day) |
Amatola Water |
NMBM |
Completed June 2023 |
|
NMMB |
Lower Sundays River GWS:The works are inclusive of earthworks, canal realignment, servitude rehabilitation, etc. This project is of major importance to the water security of Nelson Mandela Bay |
DWS |
NMBM |
Sep 2023 – Sep 2025 |
|
Mbizana |
GREATER MBIZANA REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME (GMRBWS) & Repair of Ludeke Dam Upgrade Nomlacu Water Treatment Plant from 10 Mℓ/day to 20 Mℓ/day,. |
uMgeni Water Board |
Mbizana |
July 2023- June 2024 |
|
Mnquma Municipality |
NQAMAKHWE REGIONAL BULK WATER SCHEME; To provide bulk water infrastructure to supply approx 78,000 people in 120 rural villages (wards 13-20 of Mnquma Municipality) with domestic water |
Amatola Water Board |
Ngamakhwe, Butterworth, Centane |
Construction. Completion by April 2024 |
|
Ndlambe LM |
NDLAMBE BWS PROJECT PROGRESS: The construction and commissioning of the 5 Mℓ/day Port Alfred RO-plant and 16 Mℓ reservoir, including the brine sea outfall pipeline, the construction of 2Mℓ reservoirs in Cannon Rocks |
Ndlambe LM |
Ndlambe |
Construction. Completion Dec 2024 |
|
Makana LM |
The augmentation of the existing 10 Mℓ/day James Kleynhans WTW by the construction of an additional 10 Mℓ/day WTW to 20Ml/day, along with associated works required to meet the bulk potable water needs for the Bulk Water Supply |
Amatola Water Board |
Grahamstown + Makhanda |
July 2023 - March 2024 (31 August 2023 Practical Completion) |
|
Makana LM |
Emergency Repair & refurbish pumpstation @ Howlsons Poort Dam and commission water to Waainek WTW. Provision of O + M for Makana LM for Waainek WTW |
Amatola Water Board |
Grahamstown + Makhanda |
Jun 2023 - Dec 2023 |