AMATOLA WATER COMMISSIONED FOR DROUGHT INTERVENTION
AMATOLA WATER COMMISSIONED FOR DROUGHT INTERVENTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
The Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Ms Lindiwe Sisulu has commissioned Amatola Water Board to lead the drought intervention plan in the drought stricken Eastern Cape Province. This task is assigned to the water board, to solve challenges relating to water shortages and infrastructure challenges in various municipalities. The aim is to ensure adequate water supply in the drought affected municipalities.
This called for a collaborative approach of all affected stakeholders in the three spheres of government. Drought intervention war room has been established for information sharing to ensure effective and efficient communication amongst the following stakeholders:
- Department of Human Settlements, Water and sanitation
- Office of the Premier
- Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
- Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform
- All district municipalities (Water Service Authorities)
- Dr Beyers Naudee Local Municipalities
- Makana Local Municipalities
- Ndlambe Local Municipalities
- Sundays River Local Municipalities
This intervention is not a blanket approach, it is customised according to the challenges facing each municipality. Municipalities have already submitted their needs to mitigate the drought situation.
Amongst the short-term interventions, Amatola Water will employ the following:
- Drilling and equipping of boreholes
- Sand River Water abstraction
- Water tankering
- Rain water harvesting tanks
- Mobile plants to purify water in areas far from water treatment works
- Mobile storage for treated water
- Partnering with Water Research Council to explore new technological solutions for alternative water supply
- Rapid Response Unit (this is a team of Civil Engineers, hydrologists, geo hydrologists and other related specialists)
All the above efforts must be complimented by water conservation and demand management efforts.
This integrated and multi-stakeholder intervention has already benefited Mnquma Local Municipality. In working together with Amathole District Municipality, water was supplied in Butterworth on the 21 February 2020. In all the drought affected areas, Amatola Water works together with Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and water service authorities in the respective municipality. We also encourage households to look at the option of rain water harvesting as a backup plan and to use water sparingly.
Issued by
Amatola Water
Communications and Stakeholder Management
0833577953 / 0437073437
