The Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) planned maintenance of the Heyshope system started well and the programme is well on track to ensure that the work is completed on time in order to restore the normal water supply to the communities of Driefontein, Kwa Ngema and Dirkiesdorp on 21 June 2015.
In order to minimise the impact of the water supply interruptions caused by the planned maintenance outage, the DWS and the Mkhondo local Municipality have dispatched water tankers water to supply the affected communities during this period. The water tankers are currently supplying water at Sakheni Boarding School in Donkerhoek, Driefontein and Kwa Ngema clinics, and at strategic street corners for the communities of Driefontein, Dirkiesdorp, Kwa Ngema and Mabola to ensure that the community members do not have to walk long distances to access water.
The Department of Water and Sanitation requests the communities to be patient and use water sparingly as this planned maintenance outage is meant for the Department to undertake maintenance work and rehabilitation of the infrastructure to ensure sustainable supply of bulk water for the future which will benefit the communities now and for future generations. In fact, every South African citizen must use water sparingly and practice water conservation as South Africa is a water scarce country and one of the 30 driest countries in the world.
The planned outage is necessary for conducting maintenance work on the canal, valves and the bulk pipeline that transfers water from the Heyshope Dam to the Driefontein Water Treatment Works.
The affected communities can contact their respective municipality and the department for updates and any challenges relating to the planned maintenance outage.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 0828742942
