Umgeni Water await report on infrastructure damage

UMGENI Water announced yesterday that a service provider had been appointed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of aqueducts 1 and 2 that were damaged during the recent floods.

Umgeni Water’s corporate stakeholder manager, Shami Harichunder, said the assessment was expected to be done over three days.

He said after the assessment, detailed costings would be provided to Umgeni Water and a letter of appointment would be issued for work to begin.

“The service provider’s assessment report will indicate the extent of damage to these pipes, the cost of restoration to full use and the projected duration of work that will have to be done,” said Harichunder.

Aqueducts 1 to 4 convey raw water from Nagle Dam to the Durban Heights Water Works in Reservoir Hills, Durban, for treatment and supply as potable drinking water to eThekwini Water and Sanitation, the entity of eThekwini Metro that is responsible for provision of water to consumers.

“In the heavy rains that accompanied the storms of 8-12 April, a rock fall occurred in Wushwini, Inanda, resulting in the pipes breaking and dislodging during the downpours.

“They have since been temporarily decommissioned. This resulted in a situation in which a deficit of raw water supply to the Durban Heights Water Works has occurred,” said Harichunder.

Regarding the Durban Heights Water Works, the amount of potable water that is currently being supplied daily to eThekwini Water and Sanitation amounts to, on average, 490 megalitres, which is 50 megalitres less than the contracted amount.

“The objective is to gradually increase inflow to 560 megalitres so that, on average, 540 megalitres of potable water are produced. At this stage, the options available are increased volumes through aqueduct 3 and aqueduct 4 (from Nagle Dam) and supported by additional pumping from Inanda Dam (three shaft pumps),” Harichunder said.

He said it must also be noted that in the heavy rains, reticulation infrastructure of eThekwini Metro was also damaged.

At Hazelmere Water Works, at this stage, the plant is producing, on average, 90% of daily demand from iLembe District Municipality, Siza Water and eThekwini Metro.

This plant supplies five systems and the bulk storage reservoirs are between 49% and 100%. The supply areas include Verulam, Waterloo, Sea Tides, La Mercy, Ballito, Ndwedwe and Groutville.