Nelson Mandela Bay residents can expect the first drop of water to come out of the much anticipated Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works phase three facility in April as the multimillion rand project is at 99% completion amid the metro’s ongoing drought crisis.
This was announced by South African Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, during his two-day visit to Nelson Mandela Bay late last week.
Mchunu met Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Eugene Johnson, together with other leaders from the provincial government, Buffalo City Metro, Amatola Water Board and Sarah Baartman District Municipality, to discuss the water challenges currently faced by the Eastern Cape.
Mchunu said that he was happy with the progress made with the project, which had experienced some challenges in the past.
“We know that we are at 99% now in terms of finishing this Nooitgedacht project. We are in a very exciting stage in that we are right at the end. We are told by the construction managers here that the first water from this project will flow before the end of the month or April 1, but the whole project is finishing in July and will be handed over.
“Our message to the people of Gqeberha and surrounding areas, including the Sarah Baartman District, is that we are hard at work looking at their security needs from a water point of view,” he said.
“We intentionally came here to work on a few things, to assess water resource management and the needs for Gqeberha, to also see what is there currently, against what should be there.
“That means we also have to assess in case of more need than supply, where water would come from in future, and what we need to expand and build where and when,” Mchunu added.
“We are aware of the challenges currently, but this project is adding just above 70 megalitres to what is already there, which means that Nelson Mandela Bay’s water security is improving.”
During the site visit to the Nooitgedacht facility, Mchunu commended the metro’s long-term planning, which also caters for the possible expansion of the facility, should the need arise.
“It has taken us an hour to walk around here, just looking at the processing of cleaning water to guaranteeing that people get quality water.
“We are delighted that the mayor is here and is aware that this is their plant in terms of what they are going to be doing in future.
“What is even more exciting is that the plant has a further possible expansion should there be further demand and when you plan your things like that it means you plan for the future as well, and that is very good,” Mchunu added.
“We are happy with the confirmation that this project is at 99% completion stage. We can now see that this project is real, not just lip service.
“Co-operation between the city and the department in delivering this project has been encouraging. We don’t sit there and dream.
“I’m happy with the progress,” he added.
Johnson added that the metro is happy about the minister’s visit. “This is what we were waiting for. We are grateful to National Treasury because they are going to assist us; they have made a commitment.
“We are looking forward to the deliberations to discuss a way forward on how to resolve the water crisis. I want to thank the province because you can see that there is a combined effort to ensure that this water crisis is addressed.”
Johnson also urged residents to continue using water sparingly, as the metro’s total dam levels are currently sitting at less than 16%.
– ISSUED BY THE NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
