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Setsoto bulk water scheme progresses
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The Setsoto Local Municipality is one of the municipalities in the Free State province that has received an allocation under the
Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) to improve the sustainability of bulk water supply in Ficksburg.
The second phase of the pipeline comprises the upgrading of the bulk raw water pipeline from the Meulspruit Dam to
Ficksburg Water Treatment Works (WTW). This is to ensure adequate raw water supply to Ficksburg WTW, which is currently
getting raw water supply from Meulspruit Dam, as well as through direct abstraction from the Caledon River.
The abstraction from the Caledon River is, however, not sufficient to supply the raw water demand, hence the augmentation
by Meulspruit Dam. The upgrading of the line from Meulspruit Dam to Ficksburg WTW will also ensure full raw water demand
for the treatment works, mainly during the winter seasons.
To date, pipeline construction is 81% complete, air and scour valve construction is 45% complete, thrust blocks for M-PVC
pipe bends are 55% complete, and pipe jacking (R26) is 30% complete. The bulk water scheme should be sustainable and will
address both social, as well as economic needs and requirements of the residents and it is anticipated to be complete by the
end of January 2017, says the Department of Water and Sanitation. u
Gauteng residents who ignore water restrictions would face severe penalties or even imprisonment.
Jail and fines for water wasters
Water and sanitation minister Nomvula Mokonyane recently
warned that users in Gauteng who ignore water restrictions
would face severe penalties or even imprisonment.
Mokonyane says the Department of Water and Sanitation
will call on all stakeholders to spread the message of water
saving, adding that the Vaal water system could collapse
unless stringent measures are taken.
Water levels at the Vaal Dam are decreasing at a rate of
0.8% week-on-week, and the dam is reaching a dangerously
low level. If water usage is not decreased, it could hit the 25%
mark before the end of the year.
The Vaal Dam is part of the Vaal River system, which
consists of 14 dams and mainly services the Gauteng
province, with at least 13 million users.
“We introduced this instruction in August; we further
issued another instruction in September,” Mokonyane notes.
“Every Gauteng municipality has less 15% of water from what
they were normally receiving from Rand Water.”
She states that Gauteng relies on water from other
provinces and calls on communities to help save every drop.u
Water Sewage & Effluent November/December 2016
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