R60,8 m Bushy Park Wellfield a resource for generations to come – NMBM

The
Bushy Park Wellfield, implemented at a cost of R60,8 million, puts the Nelson
Mandela Bay Municipality on course to become more resilient despite being a water
scarce region.

Started
in July 2021, the wellfield is considered to be a resource for generations to
come.

Executive
Mayor Gary van Niekerk said the pumping of treated borehole water directly in
the Churchill pipeline will take the pressure off the western dams by supplying
water to the western suburbs, the Central Business District and the Ibhayi
areas.

“We
are now enjoying the benefit of a project started two years ago in July 2021. I
am especially happy that we empowered twenty-two local emerging enterprises
with this project as well.

“The
municipality must continue to play its role as a catalyst for economic
activities and the enabler of a lucrative and seamless business environment,”
Mayor Van Niekerk said.

Senior
Director for Water and Sanitation, Barry Martin, cautioned against becoming too
complacent.

“Even
though we will be able to abstract an additional 10Ml per day from the 10
boreholes of the wellfield, we must still remain vigilant with our water
resources.

“We
refer to our water supply as “critical, but stable” as our water usage is still
too high at around 300 Ml per day.

“Our
average dam levels are at 25% with the Churchill Dam at 41% and the biggest supply
dam dedicated to supply the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Impofu Dam, is still
at 7%.

“In
order for the Impofu Dam to fill up, the Churchill Dam must overflow. We are
very far from that point,” Martin said.

Member
of the Mayoral Committee for Infrastructure and Engineering Khanya Ngqisha opened
the launch with a word of welcome.

#13;

Issued on behalf of the
Office of the Executive Mayor by Media Management Officer Kupido Baron (082 780
2726 / 041 506 1500 / kbaron@mandelametro.gov.za/ @kupidobaron).