R15 million needed to complete Deneysville water treatment works’ upgrade
Director-General, Margaret-Ann Diedricks of the Department of Water and Sanitation has revealed that an additional R150 million is required to complete the ongoing refurbishment of the Deneysville Waste Water Treatment Works Project in the Metsimaholo Local Municipality, Free State. This will be in addition to the R9 million that was initially budgeted for the project.
The main purpose of the upgrade of the ageing infrastructure is to address water pollution affecting residents along the Vaal River system. The project entails an upgrade of the main plant and the refurbishment of the sewer outfall line.
Admitting that the money is currently not available, Diedricks says that the department has embarked on planning processes to ensure reallocation of budgets towards the upgrade and is already in contact with other structures involved, such as the National Treasury.
Diedricks added that Department of Water and Sanitation’s Minister has issued a directive to the Metsimaholo Local Municipality responsible for this Waste Water Treatment Works to address issues of lack of proper management and technical skills to operate and maintain the plant.
Diedricks: “The department is trying to correct the mistakes and address the challenges by assisting the municipality in getting the correct regulatory matters sorted, amongst these are the water use licences, design and ensuring that they work according to those regulations that are in place”.
