The OR Tambo District Municipality (ORTDM) says it has purchased four back-up generators – at a cost of R23 million – to ensure that water supply interruptions due to the current loadsheddding crisis are kept at a minimum.
This is according to the ORTDM mayoral committee member (MMC) responsible for infrastructure, water and sanitation, Councillor Mntuwoxolo Ngudle.
Ngudle made the announcement during an interview with Unitra Community Radio on the effects of loadshedding to water supply recently.
“It is important to note that all the equipment we use to supply water to our residents and businesses is powered by electricity,” said Ngudle. “The current loadshedding crisis negatively affects our water supply efforts as our reservoirs become depleted and it takes hours to replenish them, and forces the municipality to implement water rationing.”
Pressed on what the district municipality was doing to minimise the impact of loadshedding to ensure an uninterrupted water supply, Ngudle said their intervention in that regard was twofold.
“Firstly, we have procured back-up generators that will help in ensuring that pumping and purification of water to our reservoirs is not disrupted due to loadshedding. This, however, is not financially sustainable as it costs us over R25 000 per hour towards purchase of diesel for the generators.”
“Secondly, we are currently negotiating with Eskom to allow us to generate our own electricity through an independent hydro power station, using our own water falls as part of our medium- and long-term solution to the loadshedding crisis,” Ngudle added.
He further said they were also using water carting to mitigate water outages, but this cannot be provided when reservoirs are dry.
The district municipality has appealed to communities to report leaking taps and pipes, use bins to dispose of tissues and hand towels instead of flushing, not leave water running for rinsing and rather use a bucket instead of hosepipe as part of mitigating water supply challenges.
