Deputy Minister David Mahlobo kickstarts Greater Breyten Water Supply Scheme

The Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Honourable David Mahlobo accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Gert Sibande District, Cllr MG Chirwa and the Acting Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa Local Municipality, Cllr TA Mnisi officially launched the beginning of work on the Greater Breyten Water Supply Scheme project in Warburton on 16 March 2021.

The project which is planned for 36 months and anticipated to be completed by 13 May 2024 will cover four magisterial areas in the Msukaligwa Local Municipality which are basically Breyten, Chrissiesmeer, Lothair and Warburton.

The project is part of the Msukaligwa Regional Bulk Supply Scheme which aims to ensure that all water infrastructure has sufficient capacity to cater for the future water demands over a 30-year design horizon, i.e. until 2048.

The sod turning ceremony took place during the current National Water Week which runs from 15 to 22 March 2021. This year’s celebration takes place under the theme “Valuing water” which is also the theme for World Water Day as per United Nations Water, which is celebrated on 22 March.

The theme is more important than ever before, especially in a dry and water scarce country like South Africa as it reminds each and every person of the value of water in our lives and everything we do.  The theme basically poses this question to every member of society: “What is the value of water, what value do we place on each and every single drop of water, especially in a water scarce country like ours?”.

In his address, Deputy Minister Mahlobo highlighted that he is aware that the community is not well served in relation to service delivery, especially water provision as no one can live without water. He also spoke out against the vandalism and theft of water infrastructure which leaves people without water as people stole newly acquired engines (pumps) at the Torbanite Dam which supplies the community. He called on the community to work with government to prevent the theft and vandalism of water infrastructure.

“Programme Director, today marks a major milestone towards achieving the infrastructure goals as articulated in our Water Master and National Development Plan of infrastructure development and provision of access to water to our people. We are very confident that after the completion of these water projects, our people will have access to water and decent sanitation which will restore dignity to our people, hence we say: “Water is life and Sanitation is dignity”, stated Deputy Minister Mahlobo in his address.

“There is work underway to draw water from the Torbanite Dam and bring it to areas of Breyten, Chrissiesmeer, Warburton and Lothair. This is the project we are bringing and launching today, to say to these areas water is available in that dam but we must put infrastructure to draw that water and bring it to you in your houses in the areas mentioned. All we want to say is that plans to start working are ready. Today, together with the District Mayor and the Local Mayor we are handing over to the contractor to start working under the implementing agent which is the Gert Sibande District”, stated Deputy Minister Mahlobo.

The project scope includes the refurbishment of the Torbanite Dam pump station, installation of a new raw water rising main from Torbanite Dam to Breyten Water Treatment Works (WTW), refurbishment of the Breyten WTW, installation of a new rising main from Breyten WTW to Breyten WTW reservoirs, replacement of secondary bulk mains supplying Breyten town, installation of a new rising main from Breyten WTW to Chrissiesmeer bulk reservoirs, construction of a new pump station at Chrissiesmeer reservoir site to provide bulk water supply to Warburton, installation of a new secondary bulk main from new Warburton reservoir to Warburton reticulation, installation of new gravity main from Chrissiemeer bulk reservoirs to Lothair reservoirs, installation of reservoirs in Lothair and the installation of new rising main from in line booster pump station to the elevated tanks in Lothair.

Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942

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