Over 52 000 households in the Moretele Local Municipality in the North West stand to benefit from a sustainable, reliable and continuous supply of potable water from the Moretele South Bulk Water Supply Scheme Project.
Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu visited the site of the a 25 megalitres per day (ml/d) reservoir in Dilopye village and a 36.2km bulk pipeline in Mogogelo on Saturday to witness the construction of the infrastructure, which started last month.
Phase 3 of the project will ensure a reliable supply of potable water to the far west of Moretele Municipality.
A total of R640 617 000 has been budgeted for the scheme from the department’s Regional Bulk infrastructure Grant (RBIG).
Phase 1 of the project included the upgrade of the Klipdrift Water Treatment Works from 18ml/d to 42ml/d, which was completed in 2022. Phase 1 ensured that there is adequate potable water from the treatment plant that will be transferred to various networks of reservoirs and bulk pipelines, and ultimately to communities.
Phase 2 included a 30km bulk pipeline from the treatment plant towards the far west end of Moretele, while Phase 3, which is currently under construction, started in June 2023. Its completion is anticipated for June 2024.
Mchunu said upon completion, Phase 3, which includes the construction of a reservoir and bulk pipeline, will ensure reliable supply of drinking water to, among others, seven villages identified in Moretele including Swartdam, Noroki, Ratsiepane, Moeka, Ga-Motle, Kromkuil and Mmakaunyana.
While some of the villages have reticulation from Moretele Municipality, which is a water service authority, Mchunu said the villages depend on unreliable sources for drinking water, including boreholes, water sold from private water tankering and rainwater harvesting due to inconsistent provision from the current system.
The Minister said the 25 ml/d reservoir will have capability to store excess water above the daily required demand and ensure sustained reliable supply to its network of communities uninterrupted.
Addressing the community at Mathibestad’s Lepono Sport Grounds, Mchunu urged the community to be patient, and assured them that water will soon be available in their households.
“We went see the site where the reservoir and the trench of the 36km pipeline are being constructed and are satisfied with the progress. Although we would have loved to come and tell you that we have completed the work and water is being reticulated, we are happy that we are very close to that, Mchunu said.