DURBAN - The water supply crisis and damage to pipes continues unabated, leaving holidaymakers and residents frustrated in the Ugu District Municipality on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
Areas around Margate, Ramsgate and Port Edward had been without water for more than a week, said DA councillor and MPL, Dr Rishigen Viranna. He said areas along the coast had intermittent water supply. Harding and many rural areas had been without water for months.
The largest towns in the municipality are Port Shepstone, Margate, Umzinto, Scottburgh and Harding. The municipality said the ongoing water outage in parts of Margate and Ramsgate was being investigated.
On Monday the municipality stated that teams were working around the clock to fully restore supply. Reported burst pipes in Shelly Beach were also being attended to.
Many residents took to the Facebook page Ugu Complaints to voice their concerns. Clarita Tillim questioned what was happening in Ramsgate which has gone five consecutive days without a water supply.
“We came here on holiday! It’s been totally ruined! We now have to go back to Joburg not knowing why we have not had any water. Ugu Municipality should all be fired! Useless people. I am so sorry for the people who live here all year round. We occupy ours a few times a year but still pay our municipal bills for the house.”
Lee-anne Pretorius Naude said she had booked a holiday apartment in Margate three weeks ago.
“Without water since first day. We cannot clean my kid’s bottle and cannot go to the beach because we cannot clean up afterwards when we get back. It is ridiculous. That is why this holiday town does not go forward any more.”
The Ugu Municipality Facebook page on Monday stated that in the KwaJali area water was not reaching Komkhulu and Nkungwini at the same time due to a suspected break compromising the pressure.
The Nyuswa 1-Plant was currently out of service due to a break found on the pumping main to reservoir B. In the Kwa-Mazakhele area the unavailability of jetting services was causing an increased backlog of complaints.
At the Galloway Sewer Pump Station an overflow was experienced over the past 5 days due to rain that led to an increased inflow (of storm water), but this had been contained.
In the Umzumbe water supply area the Odeke Water Pump Station was off line pending Eskom's report findings.
“Emergency relief is being provided in the meantime due to limited municipal resources, they are unable to meet the high demand.”
In the Umthamvuna area the Shobashobane and Nodalane reservoirs would be supplied by Tuesday when Izingolweni reservoir had an adequate reserve.
High areas in Port Edward and part of Banners were expected to receive supply by Tuesday when Port Edward was above 60%. In the interim, water tankers had been despatched.
On Friday, Ugu district mayor Councillor Phumlile Mthiyane introduced four new water tankers and six service delivery vehicles to fast-track issues of service delivery.
Daily News