The water levels in Qwaqwa’s two major dams decreasing to below 70% of their capacity have raised concern among residents. The level of the Fika-Patso Dam is at 66,3%, while that of the Metsimatsho Dam is at 69,4%.
The Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) data for the week of 2 October showed both dams highlighted for their concerning water levels, while the levels of the other 18 dams in the Free State were above 90%.
The overall provincial storage level stood at 91,5%, while this time last year it stood at 98,4%. The difference is attributed to rainfall and climate change.
Given the dams’ situation, the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality announced in a statement on 2 October back-up plans to mitigate the looming water crisis.
Its short-term plans are to discharge water into the Wilge River from the Badenhorst farm dam; with the medium-term plan involving the upgrade of the existing siphon system that supplies the Sterkfontein Water Treatment Works (TWT) to release water into the Nuwejaarspruit without relying on the reserve of the Sterkfontein Dam outlet system. The long-term plan pertains to the refurbishment of the Nuwejaarspruit Pump Station.
Residents in the greater Qwaqwa region depend on water supplied through tankers owned by private companies.
This alternative service, however, appeared under threat recently, owing to an apparent delay in payment to the owners of the 37 companies contracted to supply water. The aggrieved owners halted the provision of water due to non-payment exceeding seven months.
Residents in other areas indicate that running water is seemingly only available during the night.
The real problems underlying the water crisis were found to range from a lack of proper infrastructure to political instability in the municipality, maladministration, poor delivery of services, high levels of corruption, and poor financial management.
The situation is compounded by prolonged load shedding by Eskom and the municipality’s failure to pay the huge debt of more than R7 186 553 097,49 to the power supplier, which is for bulk supply.
