Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
With reference to the 2016/17 audit cycle during which the Beaufort West and Laingsburg municipalities reported water losses above the acceptable norm of 30%:
- (a) What are these municipalities’ reported actual water losses per financial year over the last four years and (b) what are the root causes of these two municipalities’ water losses being higher than acceptable per annum;
- whether his Department is assisting these two municipalities to lower their annual water losses; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
3.1 (a) & (b)
|
MUNICIPALITY (a) |
FINANCIAL YEAR |
REPORTED LOSS |
root causes (b) |
|
Beaufort West |
2013/14 |
55.3% |
1. Faulty Pre-paid meters and software 2. Billing related matters 3. Lack of funding of leak detection and water meter replacement programme 4. Ageing Infrastructure |
|
2014/15 |
53.3% |
||
|
2015/16 |
53.8% |
||
|
2016/17 |
49.4% |
||
|
Laingsburg |
2013/14 |
53.2% |
1. Faulty Pre-paid meters and software 2. Billing related matters 3. Lack of funding of leak detection and water meter replacement programme 4. Ageing Infrastructure 5. Overflowing of main reservoir. |
|
2014/15 |
51.3% |
||
|
2015/16 |
48.9% |
||
|
2016/17 |
44.9% |
3.2 The Department funded a study in Beaufort West Municipality analysing billing data in order to identify account and water meter anomalies and to identify projects that could be implemented to promote Water Conservation and Water Demand Management in order to reduce unaccounted for water (UAW), which includes water losses. The Department prioritized a MIG funded project to reduce the pressure in the water network to which already contributed in the reduction in water losses.
In the case of Laingsburg Municipality, the Department funded the installation of water valves, linked to a telemetry system, which prevents the main reservoirs from overflowing. Laingsburg was prioritised for drought relief support by the Department whereby the bulk water supply line to the town of Laingsburg will be replaced. The pipeline reached the end of its remaining useful lifespan, which resulted in regular pipe bursts which contributed to high water losses.
Both Laingsburg and Beaufort West are part of the Local Government Back to Basic programme which identified high water losses as an area for improvement and have both registered water conservation and demand management projects for implementation. Furthermore, the Department secured assistance from the DBSA for the implementation of a Revenue Enhancement Project in Beaufort West Municipality and infrastructure planning support in Laingsburg Municipality.
The Department has furthermore embarked on the following initiatives as part of its integrated water response plan to strengthen the capacity of municipalities to manage and maintain water related infrastructure:
• Appointment of a group of professional engineers which have been assigned to each District to provide guidance and advice.
• Appointment of Geohydrologists to assist municipalities with ground water management.
