Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
In respect of the ongoing water crisis in the Matzikama Municipality:
(i) When last was the water distribution network upgraded and (ii) what impact does this have on the equitable distribution of water to the different areas in the Municipality, (b) what specific (i) plans and (ii) budgets were in place for infrastructure maintenance and upgrades in the past five years, (c) what is the detailed expenditure breakdown for these and (d)(i) what are the reasons for the delays in implementing water restrictions and (ii) what measures are now being taken to build up the water supply for affected communities?
(a)(i) The upgrading of aged water supply- and water distribution systems / networks are directly linked to annual approved budgets of the local municipality as well as additional Grant Funding secured from both Governmental / External stakeholders.
Planned upgrading- and refurbishment of existing aged engineering infrastructure are annually aligned with infrastructure & regional master planning, to secure adequate water security and water resilience as well as to minimise impacts (unforeseen pipe bursts which affect daily water supply) on local residents.
(ii) An allocated budget for maintenance during the past five (5) years was in the order of approximately R6,56 million; at an average of R933,000 per annum but increasing quite significantly over the past two (2) years from an amount of R540,000 in FY 2021/2022 to R 7,1 million in FY 2022/2023.
The dramatic increase within annual maintenance costs is jointly due to material price increases (mechanical and electrical), due to the commercial impact of the unforeseen Covid Pandemic and monthly increasing fuel prices (diesel and petrol).
(b)(i) Upgrades in the past five (5) years within the Regional Water Supply Infrastructure Scheme were prioritised towards the outer / smaller regional residential areas; like Klawer, as they had historic “water-shedding” and other water supply related issues (aging water distribution networks) that needed to be addressed by Council.
Current financial allocations towards water supply infrastructure are as follows:
- R 20 million has been allocated for the current upgrade to the existing Vredendal Bulk Water System; a regional scheme providing water to Vredendal South, Vredendal North and Van Rhynsdorp.
- R49 million has been applied for from DWS, for the planned Phase 2 of this regional water supply scheme: new Raw Water Canal Pumpstation at Vredendal & other water supply pumpstations situated within the current bulk water supply system – linked to continued water supply master planning.
- Pumpstations in the Bulk System which will be implemented over a three (3) financial year period, should it be approved.
(d) (i) The community / residents of Matzikama Municipality were updated daily of the existing daily water usage (especially high-water usage consumers) as well as “days remaining” in terms of available water supply (during maintenance / compulsory closure period of the LORWUA water supply canal).
It was not necessary to introduce interim water restrictions since daily water usage at the end of August 2023 / early September 2023 did “come down” to within manageable / acceptable values / levels, once media / written notifications of “high” water usage were issued by the municipality. Council is currently continuously monitoring the daily water usage by all consumers on an ongoing.
(ii) Continued water supply master planning, approval of applied grant funding, updated maintenance – and operational maintenance plans, water leakage detection surveys as well as continued daily interactions between the municipality staff and external role players (DWS, DLG, MISA, LORWUA); would secure that all necessary water supply infrastructure scheme upgrades / refurbishments are undertaken within the Municipality.
DLG initiated support plans will also ensure that progress will be monitored and that all water supply problems and associated risks are well documented, managed, and mitigated within an approved municipal support plan and strategy.
