As of yesterday, extensive parts of Mangaung have been grappling with water scarcity and diminished water pressure.
Hardie Viviers, DA caucus leader in the Mangaung Metro, said DA councillors were being bombarded with resident queries concerning water provision.
“We urgently call upon the executive mayor and the city manager to promptly address Mangaung residents regarding the ongoing water shortages. The frequent water shortages and lack of communication in Mangaung, depriving residents of the service they are entitled to, creates an ongoing crisis.”
Viviers said the DA was awaiting confirmation from the city manager, Sello More, for a scheduled DA delegation meeting to be held.
“We will not relent until this is granted, in order to raise the plight of our residents and gain practical solutions to be implemented as a matter of urgency.”
Qondile Khedama, spokesperson, has issued a communication from the Mangaung Metro explaining that cracks were discovered in the scour valve of the main pipeline in the Maselspoort water treatment plant. Operation of the plant had to be interrupted during the night to repair the cracked scour, and the damage was indeed repaired overnight.
He said areas that may experience water supply interruptions as the main pipeline pressurises were: Bayswater, Noordhoek, Dan Pienaar, the CBD, Heuwelsig, Pentagon Park, Universitas, Lilyvale and Northridge.
In addition, Khedama said emergency cleaning was also taking place at the Pentagon Park reservoir from 08:00 until 13:00.
“This will improve the water quality in Hillsboro, Heuwelsig, Pentagon Park and adjacent areas.”
Pieter Lotriet, DA councillor for ward 21, wrote to the Mangaung Metro management that there were at least four primary and secondary schools, as well as many preschools, in ward 21 that were affected by the problem.
“Schools and businesses have no up-to-date, reliable information and time frames to indicate when water will be available once more. The water shortage could particularly have and adverse effect on the sewer systems at these schools.”
Up to now no information on the availability and location of water tankers was communicated.
Viviers said in a news release this morning that water shortages and unavailability in certain areas persist as routine challenges in Mangaung.
