NELSON Mandela Bay Municipality continues to face one of the harshest drought in history, with combined dam levels currently below 16 percent.
To circumvent a possibility of Day Zero, the metropole is currently implementing a water master plan which includes short, medium to long term infrastructural development plans.
Under the medium term the metro is currently working around the clock to finish Phase 3 of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works. On completion, an additional 65 million litres of water will flow through the treatment works, increasing the output to 210 million litres of water per day. Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Nqaba Bhanga visited the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works construction site near Addo to check on progress made so far.
“I am satisfied that this project will be completed in September this year. The briefing I received from engineers gives me hope that the future of the metropole’s water security is looking good,” said Mayor Bhanga.
“The amount of water that will be pumped from this facility will be a major boost to our plans to build the economy of the metropole.”
Mayor Bhanga said he was also pleased to know that the water from Nooitgedacht will be part of the integrated system, where water can be “moved around when the need arises in different areas.”
Part of the medium term plans currently under implementation is maintenance and refurbishing of the pump stations and the water pipeline to support the integrated system.
Mayor Bhanga has however warned residents against excessive use of water. As per Department of Water Affairs allocation, the metropole is supposed to use 250-280 million litres and yet the current consumption is more than 300 million litres per day.
“Any efforts that we are making to improve the system to give us more water will continue to be at risk or under pressure if we do not decrease our water consumption.
“The metropole is also playing its part to speed up fixing of leaks and run awareness programmes about the importance of this resource,” said Mayor Bhanga.
Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works phase 3 construction is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation at a total cost of R318 million.
Issued by: Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Communications Office.
