Byna vyf weke nadat die Demokratiese Alliansie (DA) uitgewys het dat ses besinkingsdamme by die Riverton-watersuiweringsaanleg nie in werking was nie, het die Sol Plaatje-munisipaliteit vanoggend uiteindelik begin om herstelwerk aan besinkingsdam nommer ses uit te voer.
So sê Ockert Fourie, DA raadslid van die Sol Plaatje-munisipaliteit.
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Hy sê die werk wat tans gedoen word, is lankal agterstallig en het veroorsaak dat inwoners van Kimberley buitensporig onder min water en swak kwaliteit moes ly.
“Dit het ook ontelbare vergaderings, telefoonoproepe, whatsapp-boodskappe en selfs besoeke van waterkenners geneem, wat gefasiliteer is deur myself en mede-DA-raadslid George Joseph, wat saam met my op die nutskomitee dien, om hierdie kritieke werk aan die gang te kry. Ons is nietemin verlig dat dit nou plaasvind.”
“Die toestand van die besinkingsdamme is slegter as wat ons kon dink. Dit sal moontlik meganiese en elektriese instandhouding, asook die skoonmaak van die dam, noodsaak aangesien slik so opgebou het dat mens nie eens die bodem van die dam kan sien nie.”
“Sodra werk gedoen is, sal dit ‘n noemenswaardige invloed op die water hê, want dit sal skoner wees en die hoeveelheid water wat na Kimberley herlei kan word sal ook groter wees. Daar moet egter aandag gegee word aan al ses besinkingsdamme.”
“Alhoewel dit ‘n klein oorwinning vir inwoners van Kimberley is in die stryd om volhoubare voorsiening van gehalte water aan inwoners te verseker, lê daar nog baie werk in die waterafdeling voor.”
“Na die vinnige oplossing van die besinkingsdamme moet die fokus nou skuif na die voorkoming van grootskaalse waterverliese, wat byna 60% van die stad se water beloop.”
“Die DA sal dus ons aandag vestig op die herstel van waterpype en voortgaan om druk uit te oefen op die munisipaliteit om hierdie projekte in die infrastruktuurontwikkelingsprogram op te neem, sodat daarvoor begroot en geïmplementeer kan word, voordat ons weer ‘n waterkrisis op hande het,” sluit Fourie af.
Sol finally acts on DA’s water complaints
Almost five weeks after the Democratic Alliance (DA) pointed out that six clarifiers at the Riverton Water Purification Plant were not operational, Sol Plaatje municipality has this morning finally started to effect repairs at clarifier number six, says DA Cllr Ockert Fourie.
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He says the work currently being done is undeniably long overdue and has caused Kimberley residents to unduly suffer with low water quantity and quality.
“It has also taken countless meetings, telephone calls, whatsapp messages and even visits from water experts, that were facilitated by myself and fellow DA councillor, George Joseph, who serves on the Utility Committee with me, to get this critical work actioned. We are nonetheless relieved that it is now underway.”
“The state of the clarifiers is worse than could have been imagined and will necessitate possible mechanical and electrical maintenance, as well as cleaning of the dam. This, as sludge has built up to such an extent that you cannot even see the bottom of the dam.”
“Once work is done, it will have a notable impact on the water, as it will be cleaner and the volume of water being transported to Kimberley will also be greater. However, all six clarifiers must be attended to.”
“While this is one small victory for Kimberley residents in the fight to ensure sustainable provision of quality water to residents, much work in the water department still lies ahead.”
“Following the clarifier quick-fix, the focus now has to shift to preventing large scale water losses, which amount to almost 60% of the city’s water. The DA will therefore focus our attention on the repair of water pipes, and continue to place pressure on the municipality to incorporate these projects in the Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) so that they can be budgeted for and implemented before we have another water crisis on hand,” Fourie concludes.