NMB drought mitigation plans on overdrive – NMBM

Nelson Mandela Bay drought mitigation plans are in overdrive as the City continues to experience insignificant rainfall and low dam levels that have resulted in intermittent water supply in some areas.

On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) Member of the Mayoral Committee for Infrastructure and Engineering, Councillor Thsonono Buyeye, visited the KwaNobuhle Supply Pump Station to check on progress made on the augmentation construction work currently underway. 

This R50 million project commenced in July this year and entails the construction of a new sunken pump station and pipework to increase the pumping capacity.

Once completed, the pump station transfer capacities will be doubled, providing a reliable potable water supply to KwaNobuhle, Greenbushes and surrounding areas. 

Simultaneously to this project, the City is also in the final stages of the construction of a pipeline that will bring water from the Nooitgedagt Water System, supported by Gariep Dam, into the KwaNobuhle Supply Pump Station.

The KwaNobuhle pipeline is expected to be completed in two to four weeks’ time, should weather and site conditions permit. 

Buyeye said that part of objective of the visit to this site was to get a sense of and interact with the officials on how we can push for a closer completion time, without compromising the quality of work.

“I have asked the project managers to rework the operation plan and see if we cannot finish at an earlier date. We are doing this because we understand the severity of the challenge we face,” said MMC Buyeye. The current completion date is August 2022.

“What is good about this facility is that it will guarantee us security of water supply for the community of KwaNobuhle. On completion, the pumping capacity will be in a position to cover not only KwaNobuhle in Kariega, through the City’s integrated system, but also the Western side of the City, which is supplied through the Kouga Dam,  which is currently below 5 percent,” MMC Buyeye added.

Buyeye said that as the political leadership, they cannot sit in offices while the whole City is under stress with the eventuality of running out of water. 

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