While there are numerous projects around the country, the focus is on 3 in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
Misty mountain reservoir
Amatola Water said it is completing the construction of a reservoir to supply parts of South Africa’s largest District (OR Tambo District Municipality).
Known as the Misty Mount Project, the project is a construction of a new reservoir with a capacity of about 10ml.
Once completed, the small towns of Libode and Ngqeleni will receive water from the reservoir.
The District has about 70% of rural land, and a population of about 1,364,943 people
It spans across 110 square kilometers, to include the King Sabata Dalindyebo, Nyandeni, Mhlonto, Port St Johns and Ingquza Hill.
The tender for the project was issued back in March 2023.
uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply Project
The Lower uMkhomazi Water Scheme project is part of the uMkhomazi Water Project. The project entails the construction of a dam that is 81 meters high, at Smithfield on the uMkhomazi River. A tunnel that is 33 kilometers long, will be built from Smithfield dam to the uMlaza River Valley.
The estimated storage capacity of water in the dam, is 251 cubic million milliliters.
Agreements are already in place with beneficiaries for the project, including Municipalities of eThekwini, Msunduzi, uMgungundlovu, Ugu, iLembe, and Harry Gwala.
Giyani Water Project
Some 55 villages in Giyani, are expected to benefit from the Giyani water project in Limpopo.
The project includes a facelift of the Giyani Water Treatment Plant, to carry about 30 milliliters a day.
Linked to that is a construction of a 19.4 km reticulation pipeline, as well as the refurbishment of an 800 kl concrete reservoir, the Department of Water and Sanitation, reported last week during a Ministerial visit.
Lepelle Northern Water Board said about 62% of water reticulation was completed.
The Water Board also said the Minister of Water and Sanitation would conduct an oversight inspection of the Olifantspoort and Ebenezer Water Supply Scheme Refurbishment and Upgrade Project, as well as the Capricorn and Sekhukhune projects. These project are expected to supply water to 1.3 million people, projected to grow to 1.7 million in 2045.
Greater Giyani has a population of an estimated 224, 217 people with about 63, 548 households (Census 2011 & the Greater Giyani Municipality). It spans across 19,51 square kilometers of rural land.
Pictures: Supplied (Lepelle Northern Water Board & Amatola).