Residents of Tesselaarsdal say they are satisfied that measures will be put in place to prevent taps from running dry, as was the case two weeks ago.
Kobus le Roux, chairperson of the Tesselaarsdal Community Forum, confirmed members of the forum had met with a delegation from Theewaterskloof Municipality last week. They included the Theewaterskloof (TWK) Executive Mayor Karel Papier, Municipal Manager Boy Manqoba Ngubo, his directors and the Town Manager.
The meeting, on 30 January, was called after residents were left without running water for nearly two weeks, after a bore-hole pump supplying water to the village broke.
Hugo Geldenhuys, Theewaterskloof municipal spokesperson, said officials first became aware of issues with the bore-hole pump on 13 January. “On investigation, our teams on the ground discovered there was an electrical fault at the Tesselaarsdal bore-hole and pump station,” he stated.
The village had more than one bore-hole a few years ago. “The town had another reservoir and pump, but it had been decommissioned as the bore-hole ran dry,” Geldenhuys explained. “Recent problems resulted from a broken pump. The pump had been replaced and a generator added to the system to ensure load shedding does not interrupt the electricity supply. When load shedding kicks in the generator is activated.”
Le Roux confirmed municipal officials also discussed long-term solutions and contingency plans to safeguard against the possibility of the town being left without water in future.
Geldenhuys reported these preventative measures include a generator being left at the bore-hole site for some time while the municipality also obtains a second pump and considers broadening reservoir capacities.
Residents’ concerns about water meters continuing to run despite taps being dry also received attention. Geldenhuys explained this was a common result of wind in the water pipes. “Municipal procedures and operational procedures will ensure people pay for actual water,” he stated.
Le Roux described the meeting as very fruitful, and added residents’ concerns over contingency plans to prevent similar incidents were addressed.
“The support we received since the meeting has been very good. Plans to set up back-up measures are in motion.”
