Plea to safeguard water infrastructure

The national water and sanitation department has issued a stern plea to communities to “protect water infrastructure” from all forms of vandalism.

The plea relates to the water tanks being delivered to schools and communities during the coronavirus crisis.

The department planned to deliver an additional 756 tanks to schools in the Eastern Cape last week but by Saturday, 254 tanks were yet to reach their destination, according to department spokesperson Sputnik Ratau.

“By the end of today [Monday], those numbers will have changed,” Ratau said.

Ratau said vandalism in communities was a common trend, and water infrastructure needed to be protected.

“We know the general trend that there will always be vandalism of infrastructure if put in place. What we are saying is that whether the infrastructure is in the form of tanks or anything else, it needs to be protected.

“It’s about the livelihoods of people.” Ratau said provision of water tanks would continue,.

“For us, the goal is for every school to have water tanks. We have not finished the work,” he said. Ratau said using water prudently was just as important as washing hands.

“The rollout of water tanks to schools is in line with government’s efforts and determination to ensure reliable water supply to all communities, particularly to areas faced with acute water challenges.”

He said the state of disaster had helped the department to look at issues that had been stalling service delivery.

“Minister [Lindiwe] Sisulu instructed all water boards in the country to urgently put measures in place to provide water to rural areas and informal settlements and to date, 5,684 water tanks and 171 water tankers [trucks] have been delivered in the Eastern Cape. A total of 4,962 water tanks have been installed and are in use.”