PLANNED TEMPORARY WATER INTERRUPTION
Thursday, 4th April 2024 at 18:00
until Monday, 8th April 2024 at 18:00
CLICK HERE for the locations of Jojo Tanks and Roving Water Tankers
UPDATE: 9 April 2024 – 17:30
Good afternoon, Residents
I have just spoken to the municipality.
Newton has been turned off due to low levels. There appears to be an issue with supply from Riverton.
Regards
Chris Whittaker
Ward 24
UPDATE: 9 April 2024 – 15:00
[IN VISUALS 🎬]: THE SOL PLAATJE MUNICIPALITY IS MAKING STRIDES IN ITS QUEST TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLY
The fixing of the last two clarifier scrapers out of four by diamond mining company, Ekapa Mining, will be completed before the end of this afternoon. Extensive repair and refurbishment work has been undertaken aimed at pushing water production to a maximum capacity and achieving the highest quality. Ekapa also extended a helping hand in the desludging of the clarifiers. From tomorrow, Wednesday 10 April 2023, taps are expected to provide a high pressure flow.
Credits for text and visuals: Thabo Mothibi – Sol Plaatje Municipality.
UPDATE: 9 April 2024 – 06:45
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THE RESTORATION OF WATER SUPPLY
Residents are informed that we currently have both the 600mm and 900mm valves fully open at the Riverton pumpstation while running on line filling mode. This is just over 600 litres per second, about 50 million litres per day production, and balances well with what we are getting into our clearwater reservoir.
We will continue maintaining the supply volume at the Treatment Plant until work on the two clarifiers is completed and allowing for the ramping up of production. Once that is achieved, we will be able to take the pumps from line filling to normal operation and run on two pumps to boost the pressure.
We appeal to the community to bear with us whilst we are gradually building pressure in the system to avoid pipe bursts in the distribution network.
We apologise for the low pressure in areas that have already started to receive water and for the lack of supply in a number of high-lying areas. We will monitor the situation and provide feedback at 09h00 on our efforts of recharging the system.
CALL CENTRE 053 830 6111 – TOLL FREE 080 122 9010 – SMS 44204
UPDATE: 8 April 2024 – 20:00
91 MEGALITER RESERVOIR OPENED AT NEWTON FOR IMMEDIATE SUPPLY
We currently running with one pump whilst the other pump is still priming.
Most areas will receive supply before midnight.
With two clarifiers at Riverton back in operation tomorrow, we will be able to produce water at full capacity and ensuring the reservoirs at Newton retain full storage.
UPDATE: 8 April 2024 – 19:40
NEWTON RESERVOIRS TO BE OPERATED SOON. LINE FILLING IN PROGRESS
Our clearwater tank level at Riverton has dropped a bit leading us to revert to one pump. This implies that it is taking us a little longer to fill the extremely empty distribution network and a bit longer for the water to reach Newton.
We are producing water at Riverton to restore our levels which are low owing to the two bigger clarifiers that will only be back in operation tomorrow.
The Newton Reservoirs are expected to be opened soon, in an hour, and supply restored.
The delay is regretted.
Kind Regards,
Thabo Mothibi
Communications Unit
Sol Plaatje Municipality
UPDATE: 8 April 2024 – 13:50
LINE FILLING IN PROGRESS AT RIVERTON
》Riverton taps have started to flow, Roodepan, Platfontein and other low lying areas are expected to start receiving water just after 16h00 this afternoon. Water supply to the CBD and neighbouring high-lying residential areas will be restored as per schedule; 18h00 or slightly ahead of the hour.
We are appealing to residents who are experiencing slightly discolored water from the taps due to sediment in the pipes, to run their taps for a short while until the water clears. We assure residents that the water is fit for consumption.
EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY
》Water tankering will remain in force in areas of deployment and will be systematically withdrawn upon full restoration of supply. Similarly, the filling of JoJo tanks will cease once the taps start running.
OPERATION OBJECTIVE: 1. The successful undertaking of repair work on four major leaks that have been source of excessive water losses on the bulk water supply pipeline, has put us in a position to uphold uninterrupted water supply by ending the daily Nightly Water Supply Interruptions of 20h00 to 05h00. 2. The critical repair and maintenance work that unfolded at the treatment plants during the water outage will also boost production.
Kind Regards,
Thabo Mothibi
Communications Unit
Sol Plaatje Municipality
UPDATE: 8 April 2024 – 06:00
WATER SUPPLY WILL BE RESTORED TODAY
》The Sol Plaatje Municipality hereby assures residents that the supply of water will be restored today and as communicated before the start of the five-day Planned Water Supply Interruption of 4-8 April 2024.
The filling of the pipeline will be commencing at midday. All the scours between Riverton and Midstation on the outskirts of Roodepan were closed last night.
EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY
》Water tankering will remain in force in areas of deployment and will be systematically withdrawn upon restoration of supply. Similarly, the filling of JoJo tanks will cease once the taps start running.
OPERATION OBJECTIVE: 1. The successful undertaking of repair work on four major leaks that have been source of excessive water losses on the bulk water supply pipeline, has put us in a position to uphold uninterrupted water supply by ending the daily Nightly Water Supply Interruptions of 20h00 to 05h00. 2. The critical repair and maintenance work that unfolded at the treatment plants during the water outage will also boost production.
Kind Regards,
Thabo Mothibi
Communications Unit
Sol Plaatje Municipality
UPDATE: 7 April 2024 – 15:40
DAY FOUR OF THE FIVE-DAY PLANNED WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION OF 4-8 APRIL 2024
》ALL THE REPAIR WORK AT FOUR MAJOR LEAK SITES COMPLETED: The fitting of new scour valve at Camellia Street in Roodepan is now done amid delay due to flooding. The three other sites (Riverton manifold, Soul City and Midstation Roodepan) were completed on Friday and Saturday).
》Riverton Water Purification Plant: work in progress at the Riverton – Ekapa’s team of engineers are still at it fixing scrapers of clarifiers.
EFFORTS TOWARDS RESTORING WATER SUPPLY
》 Filling of clear water tank at old plant has taken off (filters are in operation). Two of the five raw water pumps started running at midday.
》3 EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY: Heavy rain in some parts of Kimberley has slowed down operations. Some residential areas have been inaccessible due to flooding. We remain committed in enforcing water tankering and filling of the JoJos at designated sites.
OPERATION OBJECTIVE: 1. End the Nightly Water Supply Interruptions (20h00 to 05h00) by effecting repairs on the major leaks that sparked excessive water losses. 2. Undertake maintenance at treatment plants to boost production.
Kind Regards,
Thabo Mothibi
Communications Unit
Sol Plaatje Municipality
UPDATE: 7 April 2024 – 10:00
DAY FOUR OF THE FIVE-DAY PLANNED WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION OF 4-8 APRIL 2024
》TECHNICAL ADVANCES: Extensive repair and refurbishment work succesfully completed on the bulk pipeline’s four major leaks.
Flooding At Camellia Street (Roodepan)
Sharp focus is on Camellia Street – fitting of new scour valve delayed due to flooding. Extensive draining to upfold as soon as the rain has subsided (SEE VIDEO)
It is work in progress at the Riverton Water Purification Plant – Ekapa’s team of engineers are to fix scrappers of clarifiers. Desludging went extremely well.
Cleaning of filters done. Valve replacement also done.
》3 EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY: Heavy rain in some parts of Kimberley has slowed down operations, however, we remain committed in enforcing water tankering – filling of the JoJos tanks at designated sites and upholding supply through roving trucks.
OPERATION OBJECTIVE: 1. End the Nightly Water Supply Interruptions (20h00 to 05h00) by effecting repairs on the major leaks that sparked excessive water losses. 2. Undertake maintenance at treatment plants to boost production.
Kind Regards,
Thabo Mothibi
Communications Unit
Sol Plaatje Municipality
UPDATE: 6 April 2024 – 18:50
[PICTORIAL WRAP OF DAY THREE]:
》 TECHNICAL PROGRESS: Repair work remains ahead of schedule at four major leaks that have been the source of excessive water losses on Sol Plaatje Municipalities bulk water supply pipeline stretching from Riverton to Kimberley.
》OPERATION OBJECTIVE: End the Nightly Water Supply Interruptions (20h00 to 05h00).
》Frame 1- Midstation: cross connection valve installed and welding completed. Frame 2 – Riverton old plant welding completed on manifold. Frame 3 – Camellia Street in Roodepan – scouring valve to be installed. Frame 4 – Soul City in Galeshewe – welding on flange completed.
UPDATE: 6 April 2024 – 09:30
[NEWS BULLETIN SOUNDBYTE: MORNING UPDATE – DAY THREE]
According to a soundbyte shared earlier this morning by Sol Plaatje Municipal Spokesperson Thabo Mothibi, the status of repairs of the current water shutdown is well ahead of schedule. In terms of the Municipality’s emergency water supply within a number of areas, the tankering and filling of JoJo’s is still ongoing with no major incidents encountered.
UPDATE: 5 April 2024 – 13:25
[UPDATE IN VISUALS🎬 – DAY TWO]: SOL’S REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE INTERVENTIONS FOR THE PLANNED WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION ARE WELL ON TRACK
Consulting engineering company Bigen Africa’s project leader Rickus Rossouw has given the start of all repair and refurbishment work on the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s bulk water supply infrastructure a double thumbs up. Rossouw spoke to the municipality’s spokesperson Thabo Mothibi at Midstation on the outskirts of Roodepan….
UPDATE: 4 April 2024 – 21:45
DAY ONE WRAP – PLANNED WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION OF 4-8 APRIL 2024
》 1. WATER SUPPLY OUTAGE: Pumps switch-off at Newton Reservoirs and Riverton Water Treatment Works executed as planned. Draining of the pipeline in force and set to be declared empty before 06h00 tomorrow;
》2: TECHNICAL READINESS: All systems are in place. Repair teams have amassed all relevant machinery and are geared to execute repairs at the four major leaks and other sites. At Riverton WTW, critical maintenance work has taken off with the replacement of valves well underway.
》3 EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY: From yesterday afternoon, our officials were already at it in placing stands for JoJo tanks in various wards. Filling of the JoJos is underway and Water tankers are filling up to take off early tomorrow morning with roving and refilling of JoJos were necessary.
OPERATION OBJECTIVE: 1. End the Nightly Water Supply Interruptions (20h00 to 05h00) by effecting repairs on the major leaks that sparked excessive water losses. 2. Undertake maintenance at treatment plants to boost production.
Kind Regards,
Thabo Mothibi
Communications Unit
Sol Plaatje Municipality
UPDATE: 3 April 2024 – 11:00
RE: SOL PLAATJE MUNICIPALITY DECLARES PLANNED WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION STATE OF READINESS
The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality (“SPLM“) hereby assures residents that all systems are in place for the Planned Water Supply Interruption that will be effected from tomorrow: Thursday 04 April at 18h00 to Monday 08 April 2024 at 18h00. Repairs are to be effected on four major leaks on the bulk pipeline from Riverton to Kimberley that have been the source of excessive water losses and threatening to collapse our water supply.
We are determined to execute this critical operation with precision and within the set timeline in avoiding a further inconvenience for residents. The appointed contractor has set-up site at all operational localities and we have also established internal supporting teams.
We will be enforcing emergency basic water supply by placing JoJo tanks in most of the wards and at accessible spots. Water trucks will also to be deployed and will be roving within a number of our residential areas. Special supply provision has been made for hospitals, homes of the aged and all other critical centres.
A Joint Operations Committee (JOC) consisting of team leaders drawn from technical, emergency services management, communications, security, petitions office, South African Police Services (SAPS) and Municipal Mayoral Committee has been established and will be meeting daily during the operation.
We wish to flag the following; (1) No Entry — no members of the public and private trucks will be allowed entry at the filling site – Newton Reservoirs (2) Road Closures — Waterworks and Reservoir Roads will be closed to allow ease of access for tankering from the reservoirs. (3) Safety — Occupational Health and Safety Regulations will be observed at all repair sites and compliance will be strictly adhered to with no member of the public allowed access.
SEEKING SUPPORT IN GUARANTEEING WATER SECURITY AND WATER ACCESS FOR ALL
In reversing the excessive water losses, our target is to end the ongoing daily Nightly Water Supply Interruption that has been serving as a water shedding measure. This, in ensuring supply from our reservoirs where we have been battling low water levels during the summer season at a stage when demand was at its peak.
We urge residents to be patient and to support the efforts we are putting into addressing our ageing bulk water supply infrastructure and maintenance backlogs.
The investments made into Kimberley’s building infrastructure evidenced by a string of construction sites, compels us to pull out all the stops in ensuring our water supply meets the demands of a growing economy and population.
Editor’s Notes: The Planned Water Supply Interruption
Repairs Scope: (1) Mid-station Gasket (Roodepan) – we have experienced excessive water losses from mid-December 2023 from a leaking gasket on the 900mm diameter butterfly valve situated at Mid-station on the outskirts of Roodepan. Repair work requires a complete switching off at Riverton Water Treatment Works and Newton Reservoirs pump stations. It will require eight hours to fix the leak, however, the draining of the pipeline would take longer. We will ensure that the closing of valves is done timeously.
Another key aspect in undertaking repairs on the gasket is the replacement of the interconnection valve in isolating the 600mm diameter from the 900mm diameter pipeline which will in future help with avoiding a total water supply outage. (2) Soul City (Galeshewe) – leak is on the scour tee.(3) Camellia Street (Roodepan) — leak is also on the scour tee and both two will require new ones. At the latter, we are losing 20megaliters daily, and (4) Riverton Water Purification Plant — high lift pumpstation manifold repair (patching).
Maintenance Scope: Other critical work has unfolded at the Riverton Water Treatment Plants (old and new). Our aim is to recommission two (2) clarifiers at the old plant and perform maintenance on four (4) clarifiers in an effort to improve production and reduce water losses. //END
Issued By:
Executive Mayor — Kagisho Sonyoni
Sol Plaatje Local Municipality
Enquiries:
Keobakile Musunse
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the Executive Mayor
Email: Kmusunse@solplaatje.org.za
Tel: 053 830 6203 / 071 296 8044
MEDIA STATEMENT📰
03 April 2024 pic.twitter.com/voB7RiLfzz
— Sol Plaatje Municipality (@SolMunicipality) April 3, 2024
UPDATE: 13 March 2024 – 20:00
The Sol Plaatje Municipality (“SPM”) wishes to inform residents that a Planned Water Supply Interruption will be effected from Thursday 04 April to Monday 08 April 2024 and will be preceded by an all-out-effort in raising awareness.
Our communications efforts will also entail the release of detailed information into the water supply contingency measures for all affected areas, healthcare facilities, old age care centres and other key points. Residents will be updated on a regular basis through different mediums ahead, during and post the interruption period.
We would also like to encourage residents to store enough water ahead of the water supply interruption.
As part of the scope of work to be carried out; water losses emanating from four key major leaks will be addressed. Our target is to end the Nightly Water Supply Interruptions through this intervention.
Scenario at Midstation (Roodepan); even though the situation relating to the Midstation leak has us on tenterhooks at this stage with the gasket in the chamber threatening to burst, our contractors have occupied site and all necessary equipment have been commissioned to address the emergency leak repairs.
The gasket on the 900 diameter butterfly valve has been leaking since mid-December 2023. The leak is getting worse by the day as the gasket is abraded due to the high pressure of water gushing out through the leak.
Extensive draining of the bulk pipeline will stretch into two days whilst the actual repair work at Midstation will last an estimated eight (8) hours. Other maintenance and repair work will make-up for the timeframe set into Monday 08 April 2024.
One of the major highlights relating to the scope of work of the forthcoming interruption is the isolation of the 600mm diameter and 900mm diameter pipelines which are currently interconnected at Midstation (chamber two). The isolation will help with avoiding a total water supply outage in the future.
The National Treasury’s Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) starts in earnest with the Emergency Phase into the refurbishment and maintenance interventions on the bulk water supply infrastructure through this intervention.
Critical work has unfolded at the Riverton Water Treatment Plants (old and new) through the recommission of dysfunctional two clarifiers and replacement of filter media aimed at improving water production. It is all hands on deck in working towards a future of providing uninterrupted and quality water supply to all residents. The recommissioning of the two clarifiers will enhance production by 16megaliters.
Misinformation Peddlers
We would like to appeal to residents to be wary of misinformation being peddled through voice notes and to rely on information from official Sol Plaatje Municipality sources.
We have also with grave concern noted confusion that emanated from a live interview on one of the national radio stations after a site visit to Midstation today, Wednesday 13 March 2024. The matter is being addressed and measures of rectifying the misinformation through which is was purported that a shutdown will be effected this weekend are being undertaken.
We will once again be appealing for patience during the planned interruption and trust that our efforts in ensuring water security shall meet the endorsement of all residents.
We take cognisance of the inconveniences and hardships that many an interruption has created, however, we would like to assure residents that the efforts being undertaken will set us on a path of a water security guarantee.//END
Issued By:
Thabo Mothibi
Communications Manager – Sol Plaatje Municipality
Shortlink for this post: https://www.kimberley.org.za/?p=38031
