Cape Town - The Theewaterskloof Municipality, in the Western Cape, is expected to implement emergency measures to enhance water infrastructure and procurement of generators as water supply is under severe pressure due to load shedding.
The municipality said the high frequency of cuts, coupled with high water demand has made it difficult for pump stations to provide sufficient volumes of water to maintain reservoir levels.
Pump stations lost up to eight hours of pumping time a day leaving reservoir levels critically low.
The feed reservoir was at 2.75%, on Friday affecting the Caledon midtown, Uitsig, Riemvasmaak and Myddelton areas.
Water tankers were organised to go to these areas and a standby team ready to assist where needed.
“In Caledon and Myddleton, our water challenges are because Eskom implemented load shedding affecting Overberg Water Scheme’s ability to supply the Theewaterskloof Municipality with continuous water supply in our water network.
Although water supply has been interrupted, we have continued to provide water to residents and have had multiple trucks roaming in areas where there is currently no water or low water pressure. The situation is under full control of the municipality that implemented extraordinary measures, even though the situation is beyond our control,” the municipality said.
Acting municipal manager, Boy Manqoba Ngubo, said they will be focusing on enhancing their water infrastructure on the water pipelines and reservoirs holding capacity. This includes the procurement of generators.
“Theewaterskloof Municipality is a water service authority responsible for distribution, while Overberg Water Scheme is a water supply authority. Theewaterskloof Municipality can only distribute what the water supply authority can provide and currently the demand of water consumption by consumers is much higher than what Overberg Water purifies or is able to supply” said Ngubo.
Residents who need assistance can contact the Caledon Town standby number on 083 261 6849.
Cape Times