Weekend water woes for Meerensee residents
The City of uMhlathuze is expecting water to be back to normal by the end of the day
AN apparent miscommunication was the reason for many Meerensee residents spending Sunday night and Monday without water, as desalination plant workers inadvertently closed the valve that feeds the reservoir.
‘It is not right that workers at the desalination plant took it upon themselves to close the valve without consulting the authorities,’ said one concerned resident.
‘Surely there is a procedure that must be followed, that entails the contractors in question notifying Mhlathuze Water and the City of what they need to do, prior to doing it.’
Residents said, had they been made aware of maintenance-related water cuts, they could have prepared for it.
‘Meerensee experienced water cuts from Sunday night, as contractors working on the Alkantstrand beach desalination plant closed valves pumping water to the nearest reservoir until it almost went dry,’ said City of uMhlathuze Communications Manager Mdu Ncalane in a statement this morning.
‘Upon detection, valves were opened from another reservoir to resuscitate the system.’
He said that, throughout the ordeal, low-lying areas were continuing to get water but at a very low pressure.
As an interim measure, water tankers were dispatched to the affected areas.
‘The City, working with Mhlathuze Water, is working hard to pump water to the reservoir to ensure the flow is back by later today (Monday),’ said Ncalane.
However, a burst water pipe in the vicinity of the steel bridge could delay water restoration to the area.
‘The City apologises for the inconvenience and miscommunication.’
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