Water affairs residents water crisis turns into sewage crisis
This week marks the fifth week that residents on the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) property in Hartbeespoort have been without water. The water shortage has now also resulted in sewage spills on the property.
“For the past five weeks, we have been dependent on water trucks. The water shortage is causing sewage to spill from manholes as there is no water to feed the sewerage plant. It is becoming a serious health hazard,” a resident said.
The water shortage affects approximately 120 households on DWS property at the dam wall.
According to residents on the property, the pump at the borehole that provides water to the properties at the Hartbeespoort Dam wall burned out five weeks ago. “Often the water from the trucks is dirty. We cannot drink the water,” a resident told Kormorant.
Kormorant has been receiving numerous calls in the past two weeks. DWS spokesperson Andile Tshona said two weeks ago that the department was “working on fixing the borehole.” According to residents waiting for relief, nothing has been done to resolve the water crisis.
The Department of Water and Sanitation told Kormorant two weeks ago that it became aware of a water supply problem on 22 May and upon investigation found that the isolating valves were tampered with and that the borehole pump was pumping at reduced pressure.
Upon a request for an update on the promised repairs, DWS said that the allegations from residents are unfounded according to “the team on the ground.” “The process to restore water is unfolding and procurement is being done in accordance with PFMA and treasury prescripts. We are waiting for quotations from the contractor,” Tshona said.