The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) says a number of areas have started receiving water from Wednesday morning following the completion of repairs to the Sundays River Canal, with water being subsequently pumped back into the system.

The municipality embarked on a 10-day rehabilitation project for the Sundays River Canal, which commenced on 24 June 2024.

Led by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the project aimed to enhance the reliability and sustainability of the water supply to Nelson Mandela Bay residents.

The Lower Sundays River Canal repairs have led to added pressure on the municipality’s water reticulation system, with more areas identified as high risk.

The Lower Sundays River Canal forms part of the Lower Sunday’s Government Water Scheme (LSGWS). 

The LSGWS forms part of the greater Orange-Fish-Sundays Inter Basin Transfer Scheme and it transfers 740 million kilolitres of water annually from the Gariep Dam to the Eastern Cape through the 80km Orange-Fish Tunnel. 

The repair of the canal is a result of a May 2017 incident, where a section of the canal embarkment slipped, about 4.4km south of Enon. 

The Department of Water and Sanitation then had to construct a temporary embarkment using a plastic membrane to ensure the continuous supply of water to users. However, a secondary embankment failure has occurred, with 200m downstream of the initial embankment and canal failure.

The work on the canal included the demolition of the existing canal at the upstream and downstream tie-in sections.

The municipality said the production at Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works is averaging 120 megalitres per day, with the Motherwell Reservoir at 27% and Grassridge and Oliphant Kop seeing increases to 23% and 32%, respectively.

“Most low-lying areas are receiving water, with the exception of high-lying areas around NU 8, 9, 10, and 11. Water trucks will remain in the Motherwell area.

“Bloemendal and Bethelsdorp reservoirs are also increasing, with average levels of 9%. This indicates that the system is full and that the affected areas in the Northern regions will also begin to receive water, starting with low-lying areas,” the municipality said in a statement on Wednesday.

Planned water shutdown

Meanwhile, the municipality announced that a water shutdown is planned for Thursday, 4 July 2024, for maintenance on the water pipe network to be carried out.

“Areas that will be affected include South End, and Forest Hill. Water supply will be shut off from 8am to 5pm. – SAnews.gov.za