The community of KwaMaphumulo under Ilembe District Municipality (DM) gathered at Ngcebo and KwaMaphumulo to celebrate the districts’ completion of the bulk water supply scheme as part of this year’s National Water Week (NWW) celebrations.
The event started at Ngcebo where Ilembe Executive Mayor, Councillor Sibusiso Mdabe and his councillors welcomed Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to officially hand over the Ngcebo bulk water supply. The Ilembe District Municipality relies almost entirely on grant funding for the provision of water and sanitation services to its poor population. The opening of this scheme would significantly aid surrounding communities that rely on water from the rivers. An estimated 17 000 people within the area will benefit from the project.
Challenges such as limited capital funding, competing needs and high cost due to steep river basin almost resulted in this project not being completed. Ilembe municipality undertook the reticulation portion of this project while Umgeni Water funded the bulk works from their capital programme.
Maphumulo Sports Ground was the other venue where the second leg of the event was continued. “Today, I am honoured to be here with you to celebrate two very important events, that is; the opening of the Ngcebo Water Scheme and the sod turning of the KwaMaphumulo Bulk Water Supply Scheme,” said Minister Buyelwa Sonjica while delivering her keynote address.
The minister also acknowledged Umgeni Water for being on board with Ilembe DM, in making the water supply scheme a success. Umgeni Water’s main function is the provision of bulk treated water to municipalities. It is providing the KwaMaphumulo/Ilembe area, Ethekwini Metropolitan, Umgungundlovu, Ugu, Sisonke District and Umsunduzi Local Municipalities with bulk water.
Sonjica concluded by congratulating Ilembe DM on the completion of Ngcebo project and wished them well on the implementation of the KwaMaphumulo bulk project. The KwaMaphumulo Bulk Water Supply Scheme will provide sustainable and reliable supply of portable water to the rural communities located in and around the town of KwaMaphumulo. These include Masibambisane, Kwasizabantu, Maqumbi, Ngcebo two and Ashville.
The scope of work for phase one of KwaMaphumulo bulk water supply scheme project will include the construction of a temporary abstraction works on Imvutshane River; a raw water abstraction pipeline; a raw water pump station; rising mains; a 6,000,000 litres per day water treatment works and the upgrade of Eskom’s electrical reticulation that will be required to service the entire scheme. This phase of the project will produce sufficient supply of potable water for the entire scheme. When completed, the scheme will supply 38 140 people in Ngcebo two with potable water.
Minister Sonjica joined top Ilembe officials in a sod turning event for the commencement of the KwaMaphumulo bulk water supply scheme project.
Mbalenhle Mahaye
Issued by: Department of Water
17 March 2010
Source: Department of Water (http://www.dwa.gov.za/)
