Durban — EThekwini residents should brace for more water outages following a letter from the Department of Water and Sanitation directing the uMngeni-uThukela Water Board to stop supplying “too much” water to the city.
The Daily News has been reliably informed that the department’s decision was influenced by the eThekwini Municipality’s continued water losses which led to uMngeni-uThukela Water oversupplying the city.
In its written response to questions, the department confirmed the directive, saying that it came about because of the non-compliance by the water authority, since it was exceeding its authorised surface water abstraction volume from the uMngeni Water Supply System (WSS).
The department said the municipality was implementing measures to manage demand and address non-revenue issues, and that the water authority had indicated that curtailments would be introduced if the municipality did not sufficiently reduce its demands.
“The uMngeni WSS is in a deficit,” the department said.
“The current abstraction is also higher than the water use licence, which has been aligned with the sustainable water resources potential. The estimates of real water losses are 41% and 53% non-revenue water in eThekwini, so reducing losses and non-revenue water is critical not only to balance current and future water requirements with availability but also to address the ability to afford new infrastructure,” it said.
The department denied that the restrictions were a form of punishment for unaccounted water in eThekwini.
uMngeni-uThukela Water Board spokesperson Siyabonga Maphumulo confirmed that the entity had received the directive and had no alternative but to implement it.
The Daily News understands that the directive would have to be implemented by the end of October.
eThekwini Municipality chairperson of Trading Services, Mdu Nkosi, confirmed the City was aware of the directive, saying that to avert further escalation of the water crisis, the City would write to the national Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina and ask her to reverse her decision to restrict the supply of water to the city.
Trading Services is a new unit of water, sanitation, electricity and solid waste which has been given to the IFP in eThekwini as part of a deal between the ANC and the IFP that helped smooth the way for the governments of national and provincial unity.
Nkosi said if the directive was carried out it would be a disaster for the residents of eThekwini.
“We have agreed that the City must write to the minister and urge her to reverse her decision,” said Nkosi.
“We will explain to her that the city cannot afford further water restriction.”
He said the decision by uMngeni-uThukela Water to reduce its supply to the City was taken because the utility was of the view that Umkomaas Dam, which is under construction, would have been finished by now to start supplying water to the city.
“The initial plan was to complete the dam this year, but due to delays – partly caused by disruptions caused by construction mafia gangs – the dam was still under construction and was likely to be finished only in 2026.”
Nkosi said that to alleviate the problem and avert imminent new water restrictions, the City had bought 100 new water tankers. He said the additional tankers would not only assist in reducing the water challenges but also cut down the expenses caused by the City having to hire tankers.
Of the 100 tankers, 21 have been delivered.
The City currently has 160 tankers on its books, along with 230 privately owned ones. With the new tankers, it will have a fleet of 260.
Nkosi said that buying tankers was a temporary measure and his ultimate goal was to fix the water infrastructure and end water outages, ensuring that residents got water every time they open their taps.
Nkosi was now chairing the water crisis meeting which sits every Friday to deal with water challenges.
The City has been besieged by water and sanitation issues for a long period of time, especially in the northern areas.
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