Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Resulting from issues with Eskom, water shortages are affecting parts of Northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Bebsie Cronjé, a DA Councillor, explains that the Newcastle Municipality believes the problem stems from a faulty transformer at uThukela (our Bulk Water supplier). As a result, water cannot be pumped to Newcastle. An issue which Newcastle Municipality Communications Department has confirmed.
Areas affected by the fault are:
- Arbor Park
- Lennoxton
- Fairleigh
- Central
- Fernwood
- Madadeni
- Osizweni
“Eskom are already on-site working on the transformer. Water outages will only be restored once the transformer is fixed. There is unfortunately not an estimate time for repairs, but the planning is that it will be fixed today as soon as possible.”
Cllr Bebsie Cronjé
Newcastle Municipality’s Communications Unit adds, “Residents are advised to exercise patience, while also being urged to reduce water consumption in a bid to help reservoirs recover more quickly.”
Cllr Shandy Singh of ActionSA highlights that water tankers will not be dispatched. This is because there appears to be no water to fill them.
“I have asked for them to fill in neighbouring towns, but it looks like they are fed with the same pumps that are out.”
Cllr Shandy Singh
Fortunately, Cllr Singh has secured assistance from Hollywood Bollywood, who will sponsor water to the tankers. This is to ensure water is distributed to the affected areas.
Cllr Singh says he has been told that the repairs could be finished by 2 p.m. “Thereafter, it can take up to five hours to fill the reservoirs before we get water,” he says.
The Amajuba District Municipality’s communication department has also stated that Dannhauser and Durnacol residents will be affected as the Chelmsford Raw Water Pump Station pumps have been shut down since early this morning, 17 December 2021. The reason for this is a power outage in Chelmsford.
Eskom has been notified of the problem.
“The above challenge will, unfortunately, interfere with water production at Durnacol and Dannhauser,” the Amajuba District Municipality notes. The District Municipality has stated that it will follow up with Eskom to resolve the power outage.
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
RELATED NEWS
One Response
The handling of this situation was extremely pathetic and frustrating. The municipality had no contingency plan in place, the residents went the entire day without water or continuous updates.
As a rate payer this is unacceptable