Whatshot
Water nightmares in Umdloti
Water nightmares in Umdloti
Date: 2016-02-05
The Bugle spoke to Ashan NandlalSenior Manager: Water Network (Operations), Ethekwini Water who assured me that Umdloti restrictions are necessary and are in line with the water restrictions guidelines.
Despite various interventions since October 2014 to sensitize consumers about reducing their consumption, very little progress had been made. Speaking to Ashan, he is frank about the present challenges and the future of water services to local communities.
Ashan explains, "At the end of last year drastic measures had to be taken and it then became mandatory that consumption be reduced to 50%. A quota system was implemented whereby each Water Service Authority, ie EThekwini, SembCorp Siza Water & ILembe would commence with a 30% reduction in supply and progress to 50% over the next few weeks and months."
"As a result of the reduced quantities of water being released to each entity, water shutdowns had to be implemented for periods commencing from 6-8hrs per day."
"The implementation meant that a daily quota be supplied to each area and unfortunately, when it runs out, water supply will be cut off until the next day's quota is made available to us. This process is being administered by Umgeni Water at the source so that the available dam storage can be extended for as long as possible."
"It is for this reason that various initiatives have been implemented by eThekwini Municipality to manage the crisis and distribute the available supply of water to all of our consumers as fairly as operationally possible. The same is being done by our counterparts in neighbouring areas supplied by Hazelmere Dam."
The Hazelmere Dam level is currently 35.26% (as at 28/01/2016) and the restriction as stipulated by the Department of Water and Sanitation is 50%. The rest of Durban, which is supplied from the Umgeni System, is now being imposed with a 15% restriction as the Midmar, Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda Dam levels continue to drop.
A portion of the areas is supplied from the Umdloti water treatment works. This treatment works does not follow the schedule and supplies water as long as there is water in the small stream from which it draws its raw water. In the past months this stream ran dry which resulted in the area it usually supplies having to be supplemented from the Hazelmere dam supply. This stream is flowing again and the Umdloti WTW is currently producing water. Ashan stresses that consumers who are stockpiling water are making the situation worse, by causing very high peak demands when the water is first supplied into the system. It also does not present a real reduction in water being used but only a change to when it is being drawn from the network.
Unfortunately the supply system was never designed to be operated in this manner and eThekwini Water and Sanitation are doing their best to make sure everybody gets some water in these desperate times.
Ashan continues, "If the community as a whole reduce their total consumption, the system should stay pressurized, and everybody should be able to get some water."
Both Mount Moreland and Ballito are currently on water restrictions but as the total demand of these areas has reduced, they are able to maintain supply to these areas without the need to cut the water off.