The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Mrs. Edna Molewa, MP, together with the Premier of Mpumalanga Mr. David Mabuza has today, Tuesday, 16 July 2013 launched the Bloemendal bulk water project in Delmas. This project, valued at R171 500 000-00, is in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality, one of six local municipalities within the Nkangala District of Mpumalanga province.
The bulk water project is part of the government’s drive to bring services to the people of the country. The Minister said that Delmas was particularly critical as it has in the past experienced serious water challenges some of which resulted in the break-out of water-borne diseases. “The launch of this bulk water project will go a long way in addressing water shortages in the area and ensuring that there is no repeat of what happened in the past” she said.
The available volume of water over time has been inadequate to guarantee a constant supply for Delmas especially in the dry seasons. The construction of the Bloemendal-Delmas Bulk Water Project will now address the water shortages for Delmas while allowing for future growth and development. The project is designed to supply 25 megalitres a day and will be sufficient to meet water demand in the service area up to the year 2026. The new project incorporates a 10 mega liter reservoir located at mid-point of the new pipeline and is also designed to improve system operation.
With the introduction of the Bloemendal – Delmas Bulk Water Project, the water distribution network is being reconfigured such that the Rand Water connection at Modder-Oos Reservoir supplies water to the reservoirs at Sundra and Eloff. The Modder-Oos Reservoir amounts to 1.825 mil m3/a. This area has 1 367 households. The yield from the boreholes which can provide up to 3.5 mil m3/a is retained to supply Botleng extension 3, 4, 5,6 and the extension 7 which is yet to be developed. This scheme will serve 7 640 households, a further 1 406 households will be added into this system as part of the planned Extension 7 of Botleng.
The project will have further impact on the other areas within the Municipality as well. The Bloemendal –Delmas Bulk Water Project will service Delmas (town), Delmas West, Delmas Extension 1-7, Scheme 88, Delpark, Delpark Extension 2 & 4, Botleng Proper and Mandela informal settlement. The total number of households in this service area is 6880. More importantly, the Water Distribution network is designed such that all the water distribution zones are interconnected.
The Minister and Premier are still concerned that communities in the outlying Municipal areas like Hawerklip situated approximately 21 km South East from Delmas and Groenfontein situated 34 km North East from Delmas, are currently receiving water by means of water tankers. They made a commitment that boreholes will be drilled for these communities in order to have a non-interrupted water supply.
They are also concerned about those communities living on privately owned land which do not have access to basic services. The responsibility to provide potable water to these communities between the municipality and the landowner is a matter that needs urgent attention. Currently, these small communities are serviced by means of water tankers from the Municipality.
The Municipality has serious challenges around the matter of water conservation and demand management. These challenges are primarily as a result of household leakages and high pressure exerted on the supply pipeline during times of high demand.
To ensure the water supply during these high demand periods, the VKLM rations the water supply between 05h00 and 11h00 as well as 16h00 and 21h00 so as to reduce the water loss and elevate the water levels in the reservoirs to levels that will ensure water supply at Botleng Extensions 4, 5 and 6 which are high lying areas at almost the same elevation as the reservoir.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942 or
Mandla Mathebula
Cell: 083 235 8675
