Leaks and loadshedding hurting local water supply

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Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Following a string of articles on the state of Chelmsford Dam and its various challenges, according to reports, the dam has another issue to add to its wrap sheet.  

To refresh your memory, various farmers spoke with Newcastillian News back in July 2022, stating that despite previous commitments from the government to repair the dam, nothing had been completed. However, in response to a media enquiry on the matter, the Department of Water and Sanitation disagreed.

Click here to read the article.

But, in August 2022 the Department of Water and Sanitation affirmed that the work on Chelmsford Dam’s sluice gates was ongoing. Yet, assured there was no water wastage.

Click here to read more on this.

With Chelmsford Dam being Newcastle’s primary water source, what most do not realise is that the dam has a line which feeds water through to Dannhauser, a smaller town about 45Km away.

Yet, according to a recent report, this very pipeline coupled with loadshedding is leaving the local community with dry taps. This, a major concern for the Northern KZN town.

Providing the Dannhauser community with some guidance on the troubling matter, the Amajuba District Municipality‘s Mayor, Cllr Bam and the Dannhauser Mayor met with several residents.

During the meeting, the District Mayor promised that the responsible parties would be held liable and regardless of the challenges brought on by loadshedding, answers were needed.

“As much as we are doing everything we can to bring back water supply, we need answers from the engineering team on what has been causing these endless frustrations,” said Mayor Bam.

According to the Dannhauser Municipality’s Communications Unit, findings have isolated where the main fault sits.

The findings showed that the leakage stemmed from the ageing raw water pipeline spanning from Chelmsford to the DNC treatment plant. Moreover, the Municipality’s Communications Unit added that the ongoing loadshedding has also adversely affected production.

Offering solutions, in his response to the issues raised by the community members, Amajuba District’s Acting Municipal Manager, Mr T. Dube assured residents that the District, as a water service authority, had supplied their responses to the challenges brought forward by the community.

1. In regards to the ageing infrastructure, the Acting Municipal Manager said as a long-term solution, a service provider was appointed through the Covid-19 funding to deal with the issue.

2. As a short-term solution, Dube stated that Council had implemented industrial backup electrical supply both at Chelmsford and Durnacol. He reported that a generator had already been installed in DNC. Yet, there are slight delays with the one at Chelmsford. However, a report has been received from the supplier assuring that by the end of this week, the generator would have been installed.

This will ensure that even when there are issues with loadshedding, the water supply system is not at all affected.

4. In regards to complaints related to the conduct of a team that operates the water treatment plant, he said interventions would be made and disciplinary action will be taken against them if a need arises.

5. If ever these issues continue even after these interventions, the team from engineering services is on standby to zoom into the finer details of the issue.

The combination of aged infrastructure and loadshedding is truly hurting the progression currently required throughout Northern KwaZulu-Natal. Jointly, if Chelmsford Dam’s issues are not remedied, what does the future hold for the communities it serves?

Share your thoughts with us on the subject in the comment section below.

Comments 1

  1. Trevor says:

    Question…. have the contractors been paid to fix the problems?…are ALL payments due to the contractors been honored?

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