Lack of water an ongoing affair

KWAMBONAMBI residents have been without water since late September and appear to be receiving far less than their allocated seven hours a day, as dictated by restrictions.

Residents allegedly received no warning before their water was cut off but were notified about a week later that outside taps could be utilised for an hour in the mornings and evenings.

This is still the case and nowhere near enough water to wash dishes, flush toilets, wash clothes or store water for hand washing is available.

‘This is totally outrageous, how do they expect us to keep hygienically clean when we have no water?’ asked a KwaMbonambi resident who wanted to remain anonymous.

Furthermore, it has been reported that tanker-delivered water is being sold to residents both in and outside KwaMbonambi.

uThungulu District Municipality confirmed that, where pipeline water cannot be supplied for whatever reason, water tankers make deliveries.

‘This is a free service and no resident should be charged for the supply of water delivered via water tanker,’ said uThungulu District Municipal Manager, Mr MH Nkosi.

‘Should residents be charged for normal scheduled tanker deliveries, the license number of the truck should be recorded and this should be reported to the uThungulu Municipal Manager for an investigation to take place,’ Nkosi concluded.

Consumers ordering special deliveries of water for an event will be charged.

An ongoing issue

Residents in Mfolozi and Ntambanana municipalities were warned in late August of restrictions owing to ‘ongoing drought conditions’.

These areas are supplied by Nseleni pump station which is supplied by the City of uMhlathuze.

Owing to low water levels at the city’s raw water source, pumping has been reduced from 24 to 12 hours a day. This will change when water levels increase through rainfall. uThungulu has confirmed, however, that supply periods are far longer than one hour in the mornings and evenings as reported by KwaMbonambi residents, who should receive water between the hours of 4 and 8am and 5 and 8pm.

The Cinci area is the municipality’s furthermost supply area. While pipeline infrastructure is in place, this area is supplied by water tanker because water pressure is at its lowest at this point and water from Upper Nseleni does not reach residents at the volumes necessary for a stable supply.

uThungulu has applied to COGTA MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, for the district to be declared a disaster area and is awaiting communication thereof.

Apologising for the inconvenience, Nkosi said, ‘The town of KwaMbonambi is not wholly affected by restrictions. Where we are not supplying at optimal levels, these areas will be normalised as soon as the City of uMhlathuze increases our supply to the Upper Nseleni pump station.’