The Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works (NWTW) in Addo treats water from the Sundays River System. The treated water is pumped to the Grassridge reservoir, from where it gravitates to Coegakop, Colchester, Motherwell, Uitenhage, Despatch, Chatty, Bethelsdorp and Bloemendal reservoirs.
The treatment works is currently being upgraded as part of the Nooitgedagt / Coega Low Level Scheme. The construction activities require a number of shutdowns in order to integrate the new work with the existing plant.
These “scheduled” shutdowns cause a drop in reservoir storage and, depending on the frequency and duration, can result in certain reservoirs falling below critical levels. It is often difficult to predict the effect due to fluctuating demands and other influences such as burst pipes.
A recent shutdown on 03 May 2017 took longer than expected as a result of heavy rains in the Addo area. This, together with the non-availability of two of the four pumps at the treatment works, has caused certain reservoirs to fall below critical levels, thereby affecting the supply to certain areas.
The affected reservoirs include Van Riebeeck and Fairbridge in Uitenhage, Chatty, the tower and End Street in Despatch. The current demand is exceeding the available inflow and the reservoirs are practically empty, resulting in low pressures, and in some cases, a complete breakdown in supply.
The areas currently affected include:
- Strelitzia Park
- Winterhoek Park
- Fairbridge Heights
- Valleisig
- Scheepershoogte
- Khayamnandi
- Reservoir Hills
- Daleview
- Heuwelkruin
- Azalia Park
- Joe Slovo
The situation is aggravated by the scheduled shutdown in the Bethelsdorp and Bloemendal areas to repair a long outstanding leak.
Water is being re-routed from other areas and all available tankers have been deployed. Work on the pumps is expected to be completed tomorrow and the situation should improve towards the weekend.
The upgrading work is expected to continue until the end of July 2017 and more shutdowns are being planned. Residents are therefore urged to be patient and use water sparingly.
NMB Communications
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