Water shortages in various areas across Durban due to shaft pump failure

Published Nov 17, 2021

Share

DURBAN - Water shortages are being experienced at reservoirs across the eThekwini Municipality after an emergency shaft pump that conveys raw water from Inanda Dam to the Durban Heights Water Treatment Works failed.

Umgeni Water said the pump failure had caused water shortages in eThekwini’s central, southern and northern systems.

Explaining the matter, Umgeni Water said raw water is treated at Durban Heights Water Treatment Works and supplied as potable water to eThekwini Water and Sanitation.

As a result of the pump failure, there has been a reduction in water supply to eThekwini Water and Sanitation of 50 megalitres per day, leading to the shortages at the reservoirs.

Umgeni Water said it was working with the municipality to resolve the problem in the shortest possible period.

It said it had appointed an external contractor to repair and re-install the shaft pump that failed.

But the contractor had indicated that work on the pump, which is approximately 180 metres below ground level, could take at least five weeks to complete the removal, repair, refurbishment and re-installation of the shaft pump.

Shami Harichunder, corporate stakeholder manager at Umgeni Water, said that at the weekend Umgeni Water, in collaboration with eThekwini Water and Sanitation, began implementing strategies that had resulted in distribution of drinking water on a rotational basis.

"While a degree of success was achieved with this, particularly the prevention of total collapse of the system and in some households receiving water two to three hours per day, it had since emerged that it is not a sustainable response to the prevailing situation,“ Harichunder said.

“One of the effects of this strategy has been Reservoir 2 frequently reaching below four metres, causing pressure loss, bottlenecks and inadequate outflows of treated water from the plant. In order to maintain pressure at the appropriate level and reduce bottlenecks, Reservoir 2 has to consistently remain at four metres or more. This remains the main contributory factor to eThekwini Water and Sanitation reservoirs in the Central, Northern and Southern regions receiving inadequate water, and consumers experiencing low pressure, insufficient water or no water when they open their taps,” he said.

Harichunder said Umgeni Water’s technical staff and colleagues from eThekwini Water and Sanitation were investigating other alternatives to augment raw water supply to Durban Heights Water Treatment Works to ensure that the persistent shortfall in raw supply is addressed.

“eThekwini Water and Sanitation continues to assist through the provision of motorised water tankers in the affected areas, however, demand is now putting pressure on the availability of water tankers.”

He added that strategies were also being investigated to ensure adequate and sustainable water supply to vital services, such as hospitals, homes for the aged, police stations and government buildings.

The affected reservoirs and areas are:

– Umlazi H, G, N, W, C, D, K, J, BB, CC, AA, M, L, R P, Q,

– Folweni

– Nsimbini

– Phoenix

– Sunningdale

– North of Durban

– Trenance 1 Reservoir

– Trenance 3

– Elevated Tower

– Mountview Reservoir

– Ntuzuma 3

– Ntuzuma 7

THE MERCURY