Local Government, Environ-mental Affairs and Development Planning
Whether the Matzikama Municipality has provided reasons why the reservoirs were not pumped with water before maintenance was carried out; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The Municipality experienced a temporary lack of sufficient hydraulic pumping capacity to the raw water reservoirs, prior to the shut off of raw water supply through the canal feeder system for executing scheduled maintenance; and this was exacerbated by a complex timing programme for the shutdown of the raw water supply. A temporary pipeline was installed and additional pumps and generators were supplied by Saldanha Bay Municipality and Swartland Municipality for augmenting the raw water supply with the assistance of the Department of Local Government. Arrangements were made with Eskom to suspend load shedding during the said period. DLG engaged with Coke and Steller to continue to cart water to the Van Rhynsdorp area. The Municipality undertook to immediately initiate water conservation measures in the form of communication to the communities regarding water restrictions and identifying and addressing all top high water consumers.
