DURBAN - Constant load shedding has started to impact the water supply in the Ugu District Municipality.
That was according to the municipality in a statement issued on Saturday morning.
The municipality said the south central water supply system was badly impacted by load shedding.
It said pumps had improved to 79ml/d at St Helen’s Rock but were still below capacity due to load shedding, and that caused a ripple effect.
Bhobhoyi waterworks was gradually filling. It was at 18% on Saturday morning.
The municipality said in the northern system, the uMzimkhulu main reservoir was at 20%, dropping from above 70%.
“The North Shepstone Reservoir is above 20% with Tweni and Sea Park now restored, but unstable due to demand. Please Reduce usage,” the municipality said.
It said uMzimkhulu was replenishing Hibberdene and Woodgrange areas.
“With load shedding, times of restoration are difficult to predict; however some areas in Hibberdene are expected to be receiving water with Woodgrange expected later today (Saturday),” the municipality said.
It said Anerly Reservoir had dropped, and it called on residents to reduce usage to allow recovery as the day progressed.
The Marburg bulk line was repaired on Friday and the reservoir was gradually filling. It was at 30% due to the stop-start of pumps.
It added that the Murchison Maveshe Reservoir was at 75%, when the Bhobhoyi Plant reaches +30% the pump will start and open outlets.
Regarding the southern system, the municipality cautioned that most of the systems in the south had their outlets closed to avoid a total system collapse. Closely monitored, by Saturday afternoon to yeterday morning, the outlets were expected to be opened.
The municipality said it was referring to the following areas:
- Uvongo reservoir was at above 80% and outlets were expected to be opened on Saturday afternoon.
- Margate 2A reservoir was at 65% and was expected to be opened on Saturday evening.
- Margate 9A reservoir feeding Manaba was currently above 44% and rising and was expected to be opened on Saturday evening.
- Seaslopes reservoir was expected to be opened on Saturday afternoon to top-up Ramsgate reservoirs.
- Margate ext. 3, Wingate was expected to be opened early yesterday morning and water will be restored instantly as the Kaizers Reservoir is at 68%.
- Both Ramsgate reservoirs were expected to be opened yesterday.
- Gamalakhe reservoir outlets were opened on Friday and the reservoir was currently at 56%.
“The delay in opening the outlets in the southern reservoirs is attributed to the low level of the plant and load shedding currently happening,” the municipality said.
It added that for all Water and Sanitation Emergencies, residents can contact the municipality's 24/7 call centre 08000 92837, sms their details to 44751 or alternatively download and log the fault on Ugu Municipality Citizen App.
Daily News