The Sol Plaatje Municipality’s (SPM) February 13th media statement outlined several contracts, described as “significant,” aimed at addressing the ongoing water crisis in Kimberley. However, the focus on future infrastructure repairs and the lack of detailed timelines and goals for stabilizing the Newton Reservoir Complex call into question the true “significance” of these contracts for addressing the immediate needs of residents. This highlights a continued disconnect between the SPM’s messaging and the lived experience of those struggling with severe water shortages. To compound the uncertainty, infrastructure contractors have had control of the site for over a week with minimal communication on any progress, steps taken, or plans.
Key Contracts: Uncertain Impact
Contract 1: Emergency Leak Repairs (R18.72 million, 15-month timeline)
- This contract is crucial for addressing water loss, targeting at least 27 major leaks, a significant increase from the 14 initially identified in November 2023. This highlights the potential for further undiscovered leaks. While work is likely underway, the lack of updates after over a week raises questions about progress being made. Based on the 15-month contract period, contractors should repair at least 2 leaks per month to finish addressing the initial leaks. However, to provide immediate relief, a much faster pace is likely necessary – potentially multiple leaks repaired simultaneously.
Details of Contract 1
The project tackles not just leak repairs, but also valve replacements, bulk pipework, and infrastructure assessments. This broader scope includes:- Leak Repairs: Targets at least 27 leaks across major pipelines supplying from Riverton to the Newton Reservoir Complex.
- Midstation Upgrades: Construction of valve chambers and related work will allow better isolation of pipelines for future maintenance, minimizing disruption to the Newton Reservoir Complex.
- Diagnostics: Includes drained CCTV inspections and specialized surveys to better understand the system’s condition and inform future repair needs.
- Scope: Targets at least 27 leaks across major pipelines supplying water to Kimberley, along with valve replacements, bulk pipework, and infrastructure assessments.
- Significance: Addresses immediate water loss, a critical issue impacting supply. The inclusion of diagnostics suggests a proactive step towards long-term infrastructure health.
- Concerns: The 15-month timeline might be insufficient for significant, immediate relief. No clarity on whether the contract focuses solely on bulk lines or also addresses leaks within the city’s distribution network.
- Urgency: The lack of progress updates raises questions about the pace of work and whether it can provide the urgently needed relief to the water crisis.
Contract 2: Meter Installation & Monitoring Systems (R28.5 million)
- Awarded but construction is yet to start in March. Important for long-term water management but offers little immediate relief.
- Scope: Installation of meters and systems for improved monitoring of water usage across Kimberley.
- Significance: Vital for long-term water management, enabling data-driven decisions and potentially identifying areas with high unaccounted-for water loss.
- Concerns: Offers minimal in terms of immediate relief for residents in the current crisis.
- Urgency: While important, the immediate priority for residents is increased water supply, making transparency about the expected time for this project’s completion crucial.
Contract 3: Treatment Plant Refurbishments (R41 million)
- Still in the final award stage as of February 13th. Potentially beneficial for water production, but the lack of updates on the award of this contract is concerning.
- Scope: Refurbishing water treatment plants (it’s unclear if this refers to both old and new Riverton plants or others within the system).
- Significance: Potential to increase water production capacity, which is a crucial factor in addressing the water crisis.
- Concerns: Crucial details are missing since the contract is still in the award stage. What components will be refurbished? Are the refurbishments sufficient, or could a larger-scale upgrade be needed?
- Urgency: The lack of updates on the award of this contract, considering the water production issues, raises serious concerns about whether the SPM is prioritizing this element sufficiently.
Contract 4: Riverton Power Supply & Pumpstation Repairs
- Still pending: advertised and in evaluation.
- Scope: Upgrading the power supply and repairing pump stations at the Riverton Water Purification Plant.
- Significance: Upgrades aim to improve plant reliability and water production capacity, a potential key factor in addressing supply issues.
- Concerns: Lack of specific details within the update. What improvements to power supply are planned? What’s the scope of pump station repairs? Without this, it’s difficult to assess the potential impact.
- Urgency: With water production a significant concern, swift progress and clear communication about the expected outcomes of this contract are crucial.
Contract 5: Kimberley Bulk Meter Installation (Phase 2) & Pressure Management
- Still pending: advertised and in evaluation.
- Scope: Extending the installation of bulk meters and implementing pressure management systems.
- Significance: Focus on controlling water flow and reducing wastage, but offers limited immediate relief for residents. Primarily a long-term improvement measure.
- Concerns: The lack of detail on where new bulk meters will be installed makes it difficult to assess the areas likely to see the most benefit.
Ekapa Partnership: A Glimmer of Hope
The public-private partnership with Ekapa Mining to refurbish water treatment clarifiers offers some hope for increased water production. Kimberley-based Ekapa has committed R10 million to recommission a clarifier at the old Riverton Water Treatment Plant, out of use for six years, and contribute their engineering expertise. This partnership was announced by Ekapa’s CEO Jahn Hohne at the Sol Plaatje Municipality Water Workshop earlier this month. Despite the announcement that work would commence immediately, there have been no recent updates on progress or planned phases.
Concerns about Newton Reservoir Complex
The February 13th update provides limited information on the specific challenges facing the Newton Reservoir Complex and lacks clarity on the immediate actions to address them. Key concerns include:
- Newton Reservoir Levels: While Newton Reservoir levels were included in the February 21st update, the absence of this crucial information in the February 13th update is concerning. Furthermore, the SPM has a habit of infrequent reporting on these levels. Residents deserve daily transparency, with updates provided following both the nightly (21:00 – 05:00) and midday (12:00 – 17:00) interruptions. Alternatively, at least one comprehensive daily report would provide some insight. This lack of regular information hinders the public’s ability to understand the current situation and the effectiveness of actions being taken amidst their suffering.
- Scope of Repairs: It’s unclear whether Contract 1 repairs and the mentioned production optimization are enough to address the full range of problems impacting the Newton Reservoir Complex. More comprehensive solutions might be needed.
- Urgency & Past Leaks: The current persistence of severe water shortages at the Newton Reservoir Complex is alarming given historical leaks. Despite major leaks on the bulk line in 2018-2019 and other leaks throughout the system, residents previously had a better supply than currently, even after frequent major shutdowns in the past as well as the recent repairs. This raises serious questions about whether current actions are sufficient or if deeper problems exist.
- Transparency: Residents need clear timelines, targets for Newton Reservoir levels, and production capacity goals to understand when they can expect results. Without this information, it’s impossible to assess if the measures for the Newton Reservoir Complex are adequate..
School Faces Potential Disruptions Due to Current or Future Bulk Water Issues
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Venus Primary School in Homevale is zoned over the bulk water line. This raises serious concerns about the potential impact current or future infrastructure repairs and maintenance could have on the school’s operations. Given the Emergency Leak Repairs contract’s 15-month focus on bulk infrastructure, the SPM must urgently clarify plans to minimize disruptions to essential services like the school. This includes specifically addressing the section of the bulk line running under the school property. A future article will delve deeper into these issues, pending further investigation.
The Bottom Line
While the contracts hold promise for long-term improvement, the continued escalating severity of the daily and nightly water interruptions highlights the urgent need for immediate solutions:
- Slow Progress: The pace of infrastructure projects seems insufficient to address the immediate crisis, further emphasized by the lack of updates and limited information.
- Lack of Transparency: The absence of specific details about actions being taken at the Newton Reservoir Complex fuels public mistrust and questions accountability.
- Immediate Relief Unlikely: Residents must continue to endure severe water restrictions, suggesting that the infrastructural solutions and the measures for the Newton Reservoir Complex are not materializing quickly enough. The lack of water tankers available to affected areas during daily and nightly interruptions, despite their use during previous crises, further highlights the SPM’s inaction in providing immediate relief.
Call to Action
The Kimberley community has the right to demand greater transparency and accountability from the SPM. Residents should call for:
- Regular and detailed updates on the progress of all the water infrastructure projects, specifically addressing leak repair rates, anticipated completion dates, AND specific actions being taken at the Newton Reservoir Complex including daily dam level reports.
- Explanations from the SPM about potential delays and how they are being addressed.
- Clearer timelines on when tangible improvements in water supply can be expected, including direct measures taken at the Newton Reservoir Complex and their expected outcomes.
- Clarification from the SPM about the specific scope of Contract 1, including the types of leaks (bulk line vs. city distribution) and estimated repairs needed in each area.
- Direct updates on the operational status of the Newton Reservoir Complex, including reservoir levels, current production capacity, and immediate measures being taken to boost water availability within the complex.