If the population grows by only 1.2 % per year, the water demand in the metro will increase with approximately 30 % over the next 20 years.
municipality, and thirdly, water supply from the Gariep Dam.
Addressing the issue of water losses, the MMM had to embark on an extensive Water Demand and Conservation Programme in the short term. Since September 2011, the municipality has reduced water losses in the distribution system with an average of 11Ml per day, annually. It also increased its internal bulk distribution capacity with the construction of the 35Ml Naval Hill Reservoir, the 45Ml Longridge Reservoir, and an 8Ml reservoir in Botshabelo. The increased storage capacity is providing some relief.
The municipality is planning to address the re-use of water from the new North Eastern Waste Water Treatment Works near the Bloemspruit Air Force Base. This treatment works will provide the highest quality re-use water to drain into the Mockes Dam for use at the Maselspoort Water Treatment Works. Currently, the ageing Maselspoort treatment works is being upgraded with new technology to ensure improved quality drinking water to Bloemfontein.
Several urban and agricultural water conservation, demand management, and surface water interventions have also been deployed to combat rising demand.
Despite these interventions, water supply in the metro remains under threat and the third priority area— securing bulk water supply from a major water source— is an expensive but vital long-term solution for sustainable water supply to the metro.
Bulk supply solutions
Soon, the inhabitants of MMM will feel the nett effect of the bulk water supply problems directly. Water
supply via the Caledon River and Welbedacht supply system has increased with an average of 16 % per annum over the past three years. If something is not done soon, tariffs will continue to rise.
The challenge with bulk supply is that it takes years of planning, lead time, political will, and significant capital outlay to bring it into fruition.
Over the past three years, the municipality, as the official Water Services Authority, has proactively investigated bulk water supply solutions to solve Bloemfontein’ s water challenges.
One of the bulk supply solutions that has been proposed is a 180km water augmentation pipeline that will run from Gariep Dam( South Africa’ s largest dam) to the municipality. The pipeline would be able to supply up to 130Ml of potable water per day.
The sooner the project commences, the lower the costs would be and the quicker the municipality would be able to address people’ s urgent need for potable water, argues proponents of the project.
In October last year, there was talk that the DWS would fast-track the water pipeline from the Gariep Dam to alleviate the water supply crisis in the MMM.
Status of pipeline project
The municipality registered the Gariep project with National Treasury’ s Government Technical Advisory Centre( GTAC) to initiate the project in accordance with its Municipal Services and Public-Private Partnership Guidelines. It also registered the water use license applications with the DWS.
The first phase of the bankable feasibility study started in November 2015, and planning, including environmental studies and water use licences, continues.
16 Water Sewage & Effluent March / April 2017