The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) has embarked on a 10-day rehabilitation project for the Sundays River canal, which commenced on June 24.
The initiative, led by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), aims to enhance the reliability and sustainability of the water supply to Nelson Mandela Bay residents.
Initially scheduled for earlier this month, the project was postponed owing to recent flooding in the area. The DWS has stressed the critical nature of this rehabilitation work, emphasizing its importance in preventing the total collapse of the water scheme.
Executive Mayor Gary van Niekerk addressed the media on June 21, urging residents to conserve water during this period. The closure of the canal will result in reduced water supply, with the available water decreasing from 210 to 70 Ml/d. The Scheepersvlakte Balancing Dam, which supplies water to NMBM, has only 10 days’ worth of storage at 70 Ml/d.
To mitigate the impact, the DWS has agreed to allow NMBM to extract additional water from the Kouga/Loerie and Church/Impofu schemes. This will ensure continued service to the communities during the rehabilitation period.
Residents are encouraged to use water sparingly to minimize disruptions. The municipality will rely on alternative sources, including the Church, Elandsjacht, and Loerie Water Treatment Works, to partially offset the reduced output from the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works.
The rehabilitation project is expected to last 10 days, during which time the canal will be dewatered, and old concrete panels will be demolished and replaced. The stakeholders have assured the public that measures are in place to minimize interruptions to the water supply.
The successful completion of this project is crucial for ensuring a reliable and sustainable water supply to Nelson Mandela Bay residents.
