Bloemfontein’ s important economic role in the Free State makes the need for short- and longterm interventions to address the city’ s water challenges critical.
Drop-the-Block
Although the Bloemfontein system has seen an increase with the four dams serving Mangaung increasing from 37.9 % to 41.6 % due to nationwide rain in February, dam levels remain alarmingly low.
The DWS announced its Drop-the-Block campaign to find creative solutions for water conservation across South Africa. In February, the initiative was rolled out in various parts of Mangaung. DWS spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, says the department will be handing out green plastic blocks the shape and size of a building brick at households with waterborne toilet reservoirs.
“ These green blocks can save up to 2 litres per flush. It would reduce the water services bill of any household and would, therefore, have an immediate impact on the expenses of any particular household,” says Ratau.
The campaign has been rolled out in Phahameng and Bochabela in Bloemfontein, Section G2 and Section E in Botshabelo, as well as Selosesha in Thaba Nchu. u
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. networking contributor tech news industry environment infrastructure municipalities
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