KIMBERLEY – In an emergency water interruption update issued today, Mr BS Matlala, the Municipal Manager of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, informed residents about an additional afternoon water interruption scheduled from 13:00 to 16:00. This interruption is in addition to the nightly interruptions caused by low water levels at the Newton Reservoir due to low production at Riverton Waterworks due to repairs to two of the three pumps.
The Municipality claims it had made significant progress last week in addressing the water shortage. Repairs were carried out on the siphon, the flocculent (chemical) was changed, and the filter media at Riverton Water Treatment Works was revitalized. These efforts improved the water levels in the Newton Reservoir to 14.0 feet (79%) of its total capacity of 102 megaliters.
However, a sudden drop in water levels occurred due to repairs being carried out on two filter pumps at the old Riverton Water Treatment Works. With only one pump in operation, only four out of the six filter tanks could be filled. Repairs on one of the pumps were expected to be completed on Wednesday afternoon, leading to the operation of all six filter tanks and increased capacity of treated water.
The Sol Plaatje Municipality say they are working tirelessly to provide uninterrupted and reliable water to the residents of Kimberley. In order to achieve this, residents and the general public are urged to reserve water for consumption only and cease watering their gardens. This conservation measure will ensure that the water pumped into the reservoirs can generate enough pressure to supply all areas in Kimberley.
Furthermore, the community is encouraged to adopt water-conserving habits even during periods of normal supply. Efforts are being made to provide water to schools, clinics, and hospitals that do not have water storage through the use of water tanks.
The ongoing water crisis in Kimberley has been a source of frustration for residents, who have been experiencing nightly water interruptions for months. Previous statements and promises from the Sol Plaatje Municipality have failed to address the issue effectively, leading to increased scepticism among residents.
The Kimberley Prospector reached out to councillors from different parties for clarity on the progress at Riverton Waterworks and Newton Reservoir. Councilor Kobus van den Berg of the VF+ party expressed concern over the lack of progress and the negative impact on residents. The filter sand has not been received or replaced. Additionally, a pump at Riverton Waterworks has broken down. Therefore the pumps at Newton cannot operate as there is no water to supply. The situation has gotten worse.
According to Van den Berg, residents can only hope for improvement to the water supply in the next 12 months, as large investments have been approved for infrastructure improvements. However, until then, it appears that empty promises from the ANC-led Sol Plaatje Municipality will continue to frustrate residents.
Councilor Chris Whittaker could not provide answers to our questions and responded that he would be conducting an oversight visit to the two sites to verify the municipality’s claims if his schedule allows.
The Kimberley Prospector acknowledges the delayed notification and the failure to alert the public promptly about the progress of the repairs and water interruptions. The Executive Mayoy municipality had previously hinted at resolving the water crisis by October 22nd, but those promises have not materialized.
The ongoing water crisis in Kimberley has been covered extensively in recent news articles, highlighting the inadequate infrastructure and delays in addressing the issue. Residents continue to face uncertainty and frustration, despite intermittent attempts to address the situation.