Call to conserve water

Residents urged to keep consumption to a minimum after fire damage

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has made an urgent plea to residents – particularly in the metro’s western areas – not to use water other than for drinking, cooking or medical purposes until early this evening.

This is as a result of the fires between the Van Stadens gorge and Loerie which damaged the electrical supply to the Loerie water treatment works, resulting in 50 megalitres of the usual 250ML being unavailable.

Municipal water and sanitation director Barry Martin said it was anticipated that the electricity supply would have been re-established by late yesterday, but warned this would not mean water would be immediately available.

“It will take at least five hours for water pressure to come back to normal and it could take up to 24 hours in some areas,” Martin said. “During this time 14 water trucks will be roaming the affected areas to provide relief.

“The Loerie works operate similarly to that of a factory, the processes are switched on and checked one at a time.

“The water will have to be pumped slowly into pipelines to avoid potential bursts.

“It is a process which we hope will be completed tomorrow [today].”

Municipal acting senior director for electricity and energy Carl Hempel estimated the damage to the supply lines to be in the region of R2-million.

“There has been significant damage which entailed us replacing two 66kv conductors, about 1 000m of high voltage cable, and replacing about 80 wooden electrical support poles,” he said.

“And while the electricity supply to the water treatment works should be reinstated today [yesterday], for areas which are supplied by the rural line – from Woodridge to the Longmore Forest – it could take up to two weeks before electricity is restored.” Communities supplied by the rural lines have been feeling the effect of the loss of energy supply, with more than 200 people in the Longmore Forest living without water and electricity since Saturday.

Kouga executive mayor Elza van Lingen said 80 households had been affected by the service interruption caused by fire damage to electrical infrastructure.

“Longmore is situated in the Kouga region, but Nelson Mandela Bay is the supply authority for electricity,” she said.

“The metro had hoped to have the power restored by today [yesterday], but the damage was more extensive than anticipated.

“We are also collecting ready-made meals for the 204 people of the village because it has been difficult for them to make their own food.”

Martin said the municipality was maximising the production of water from Nooitgedacht and pumping it via the western supply line.

However, this has resulted in the Chelsea reservoir, suppling the western areas, dropping below 10%.

“We were hoping to rectify the situation by lunch today [yesterday], but realised it would not be possible, hence we are urging residents not to use water aside for cooking, drinking and medical purposes,” Martin said.

“Over the next two weeks we will still be playing catchup, as the reservoirs will have to be filled and balanced again. All bulk reservoirs are now below 30%,” Martin said.

The affected areas include KwaNobuhle, Rowallan Park, Kabega, Westering, Cotswold, Sunridge Park, Framesby, Fernglen, Linton Grange, Gelvandale, Baywest, Reservoir Hills, Khayamnandi and the Van Stadens gorge area.

14 water trucks will be roaming affected areas to provide relief