According to the NMB Communications department; “Water consumption of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has increased due to the improved level of service that is being provided.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Benson Fihla, affectionately known as Oom Ben, called for water consumption levels to decrease to at least 250 mega litres from the current level of 270 mega litres a day.
“I would like to remind all of us that despite the recent flood, we did not receive adequate inflow in our main supply dams which means that we still have to use water sparingly.
“Our current levels of consumption are too high at two hundred and seventy mega litres per day and it must come down to at least two hundred and fifty mega litres a day.
“To achieve this we need to continuously remind those we come into contact with that they must do their best to save water,” Oom Ben said.
The current levels of the main supply dams are approximately 76%.
Mayor Fihla explained that the water consumption of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has increased due to the improved level of service that is being provided.
To ensure that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality does its part as a responsible water distribution authority, we:
- embarked on an aggressive leak detection programme which has resulted in a reduction of water losses,
- Community based semi – skilled artisans are used to repair leaks at indigent households; and,
- Although additional funding is required to revive plumbing repairs at schools, the Metro facilitated plumbing repairs at 20 schools thereby preventing significant water wastage.
FUTURE PLANS TO IMPROVE WATER RESOURCES by the NMBM
The Nooitgedaght Coega Low Level Scheme (NCLLS) is the next system that will provide the NMBM with additional water going forward. This project will increase the available water by 90 Ml/d.
The current work on the NCLLS was commenced with during the last drought and progress is as follows:
- 40 km of pipeline from the Nooitgedaght Water Treatment Works to Motherwell as well as a 10 Ml reservoir at Olifantskop near Coega,
- The construction of the new Stanford Road pump station is nearing completion. This will enable the transfer of water from the NCLLS to the south western side of the Metro and supply areas that are normally supplied by the Churchill and Impofu Dams,
- Phase 2 of the project to commence in October 2014 for completion in two years.
- In addition to the NCLLS the NMBM has been actively busy in exploratory work for large volumes of ground water:
- The preferred site has been established as the Uitenhage / Coega area.
- Pilot holes have been drilled and the biggest source was found at 198m.
- It is estimated that the series of boreholes would generate ±15 Ml/d.
- The water quality is reasonable, but the iron and manganese levels are high. This will cause substantial staining of clothing etc.
- A special treatment facility will have to be built to remove the iron and manganese which is estimated to take at least two years, but longer should environmental approval be required.
Sea Water Desalination:
- The site selection for a sea water desalination plant is in its final stages.
- Preliminary design has commenced.
- The environmental process to commence shortly.
- A 24 months sea water monitoring programme is underway in order to collect data to be used during the design phase.
- Construction of this is only planned after about five years once the impact of all the other projects has been assessed.
NMB Communications
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