Durban - The national Water Department has unveiled proposals to build a massive R18.2 billion water supply system to cope with the growing demands of Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
eThekwini councillors are not convinced and have balked at the hefty burden that will be placed on ratepayers - estimated at about R12bn in the long run.
Touted as one of the largest schemes in South Africa, comparable to the Lesotho Water Highlands Project, it involves building two major dams on the uMkhomazi River, along with a 32km underground water transfer tunnel that would be dug out using a giant tunnel-boring machine.
Building the new dams and transfer scheme on one of the last undammed rivers in the country is expected to double the current supply capacity of the Umgeni Water dam system - but also push up future Umgeni Water tariffs by at least 58% compared with current prices, with eThekwini ratepayers chipping in at least R12.2 billion of the total capital costs. The scheme would see the transfer of water from the uMkhomazi River to the uMngeni system.
Details of the proposed uMkhomazi water supply project were presented this week to the eThekwini Municipality’s human settlements and infrastructure committee, with the project costs raising concern among several councillors.
But the city’s water and sanitation head, Ednick Msweli, told the committee the city had no choice but to support it.
Msweli said: “The reason this is being brought to us is … we need a council resolution ultimately supporting … we’ll need the dams at some point in the future.”
Also, he said, “the department uses the user-pay system. You’ll see from the numbers that are being presented that 75% of the billing system comes from us. It means that the costs that are being presented, we would actually take 75% of them”.
“Three quarters” of the total R16.5 billion (before VAT) capital costs would be paid by eThekwini.
“This is why we are bringing this thing now to council. The impact of that on the future tariff is it will be R7.33 per kilolitre. At the moment we pay Umgeni Water under R5; you would be increasing that by about R3 … on top of that we put our own increases as the city. Our own water will end up costing about R20,” he said.
“The department is coming to us because they need the support for the project. We can’t avoid it. It’s not like we have a choice. If we don’t do it by 2023, then you don’t have enough water,” he said.
Then restrictions would be unavoidable.
Durban and Pietermaritzburg’s 5 million residents - and major industries - are currently supplied via five major dams (Midmar, Albert Falls, Inanda, Nagle and Spring Grove) as well as a water transfer scheme from the Mooi River.
The new proposal involves building two new dams - Smithfield Dam near the town of Richmond and the larger Impendle Dam about 15km west of the town of Impendle. But because it involves interrupting the flow of one of the last undammed rivers in the country, a detailed environmental impact assessment will also be necessary.
A preliminary screening report suggests that damming the uMkhomazi would permanently modify the river’s natural function, with knock-on effects upstream and downstream.
Initial studies suggest about 50 families would have to move from the Impendle site once the dam water flooded the valley.
There are also separate proposals under consideration to build desalination plants in Durban and recycle and purify effluent water for human consumption.
Reacting to the presentation to the infrastructure committee, DA councillor Heinz De Boer said: “The project has major financial implications for the city. Whereas we see this as a medium to long-term solution for water into the Umgeni system, there are two issues.
“The first one we need to put back on the table is whether we as a city are going to look at taking over the Durban Heights water treatment plant because it ties into this and helps us save money.
“Secondly, in which way would this help the northern parts of the city, especially areas fed by the Hazelmere Dam? The Umgeni River system, even with the diminished rain, is still okay.”
He suggested the city should rather spend money on bulk infrastructure to supplement Hazelmere supplies.
IFP councillor Sunil Kalicharan said the R12bn expected to be covered by eThekwini was an “exorbitant amount” and would “burden” ratepayers.
ANC councillor Samuel Kikine said: “We are talking about all of this, but I don’t hear how we are going to benefit us.”
The Mercury