Launch of Construction of the Greater Eston Bulk ... - Umgeni Water
Launch of Construction of the Greater Eston Bulk ... - Umgeni Water
Launch of Construction of the Greater Eston Bulk ... - Umgeni Water
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T<br />
orrential rainfall over a 24-hour period on 10th and 11th December<br />
2012 damaged bulk water supply infrastructure managed and<br />
operated by <strong>Umgeni</strong> <strong>Water</strong> in parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> South Coast. The most<br />
serious damage was experienced at EJ Smith Dam, where <strong>the</strong> outlet pipes<br />
broke, and at <strong>the</strong> Mtwalume abstraction river, where pipes also broke.<br />
As a consequence <strong>of</strong> storm damage to <strong>the</strong> bulk water infrastructure, raw<br />
water supply to <strong>the</strong> Umzinto <strong>Water</strong> Treatment Works was interrupted,<br />
resulting in <strong>the</strong> water treatment works receiving inadequate amounts <strong>of</strong><br />
water to treat and supply to Ugu District Municipality.Consumers in<br />
several high-lying areas in <strong>the</strong> vicinity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Umzinto supply system<br />
experienced intermittent water supply for between 24 and 36 hours.<br />
Some areas still remain without water, and are being supplied by tankers<br />
deployed by <strong>the</strong> Ugu District Municipality. The situation was exacerbated<br />
by damage caused to Ugu District Municipality’s reticulation network by<br />
<strong>the</strong> storm <strong>of</strong> 10th and 11th December 2012-which unleashed an<br />
estimated 220mm <strong>of</strong> rainfall in 24 hours - and through increased demand<br />
due to an influx <strong>of</strong> holidaymakers.<br />
Due to damage caused to roads, some which were impassable, <strong>Umgeni</strong><br />
<strong>Water</strong>’s work crews from <strong>the</strong> South Coast Area were unable to reach <strong>the</strong><br />
damaged bulk infrastructure which meant, in effect, that <strong>the</strong> work crews<br />
and South Coast Area Management were unaware at that stage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> full<br />
extent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> damage. Only when <strong>the</strong> rains began abating about 24 hours<br />
later <strong>the</strong>y were able to assess <strong>the</strong> damage. And what <strong>the</strong>y found was<br />
going to be time-consuming to repair and required additional resources in<br />
order for <strong>the</strong> damaged systems to fully recover. In <strong>the</strong> meantime, <strong>the</strong><br />
Office <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chief Executive swung into action with messages on radio<br />
stations, alerting consumers to <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> damage, <strong>the</strong> anticipated<br />
time for system recovery and <strong>the</strong> critical need to conserve <strong>the</strong> little water<br />
that was available at <strong>the</strong> time.<br />
From this point, it was a race against time for <strong>Umgeni</strong> <strong>Water</strong><br />
maintenance staff from Pineside and <strong>the</strong> South Coast and external<br />
contractors. An undertaking had been given by South Coast Area<br />
Manager Bruce Boyers – and reiterated on radio by Stakeholder Manager<br />
Shami Harichunder – that <strong>the</strong> repair work and system recovery would be<br />
completed in 48 hours,<br />
This was accomplished, in line with <strong>the</strong> pledge made by Bruce.<br />
“The completion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> work is a testimony to how well <strong>Umgeni</strong> <strong>Water</strong><br />
teams can work toge<strong>the</strong>r with external contractors to deliver on <strong>the</strong><br />
promises we make to people. Our systems have now fully recovered, due