The mayoral subcommittee led by deputy Mayor Nasiphi Moya overseeing the Rooiwal waste water treatment plant. SUPPLIED
The problem of undrinkable water that has plagued the people of Hammanskraal for years will soon be a thing of the past.
This was according to ward 73 councillor Michael Ndlovu, who was part of the recent oversight visit by the mayoral subcommittee overseeing the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant.
Led by City of Tshwane deputy Mayor Nasiphi Moya, the subcommittee also assessed progress at the ongoing project to upgrade Magalies Klipdrift water treatment works with a view to provide clean water to residents in September.
Ndlovu said: “That problem of water that is not drinkable will soon be gone. Around September certain areas will receive clean water. We are very happy and pleased about the progress being made by our government and Magalies Water.”
Prior to the May 29 general elections former Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu promised residents in Hammanskraal that Klipdrift water treatment works would be upgraded from 42 to 92 megalitres a day.
The upgrade would ensure that households in the township receive portable water through the Klipdrift Package Plant in September this year.
The Klipdrift plant project takes place alongside a long-term project to refurbish the Rooiwal waste water treatment plant through partnership between the Department of Water and Sanitation, the City and the Development Bank of Southern Africa as an implementing agent.
Moya expressed confidence that work at Rooiwal and Magalies Klipdrift plant showed progress to supply clean water to Hammanskraal.
She said significant strides have been made in upgrading Rooiwal with a new professional service provider appointed, setting the stage for substantial work to be completed by 2026.
For years the Rooiwal plant has come under criticism for its lack of capacity to purify waste water, resulting in the sludge or effluent being discharged into the Apies River.
The Apies River in turn supplied water to Temba water treatment plant, used for purifying water for the Hammanskraal residents.
Moya said: “Our immediate targets remain critical: Delivering clean water to Hammanskraal by September 2024 and beginning to measure effluent quality by December 2024. Progress includes enhanced site security, improved equipment management and ongoing sewage effluent pumping.”
She said the subcommittee also conducted a visit to Magaliesberg Klipdrift plant and met with the Magalies Water Board led by deputy chairperson Yvonne Matolong.
They assessed the progress of the Magalies Water Package Plant project aimed to deliver 50 million litres of water from the Pienaars River to augment supply from Temba Water Treatment Works.
Moya said: “The combined efforts of the Magalies and Rooiwal projects will ensure that a portion of Hammanskraal residents will have access to clean water by September 2024. We appreciate the cooperation of Hammanskraal residents in completing water meter audits ahead of schedule and remain dedicated to ensuring the success of these vital projects.”
Pretoria News
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