Potable water supply distruption
Details
This is an expired event!
Event title
South Africa - Umngeni-uThukela Water implements 19-hour shutdown in Durban
Source
Severity
Low
Event date (UTC)
2023-11-20 16:47:23
Last update (UTC)
2023-11-20 16:47:23
Area range
City / district wide event
Address/Affected area(s)
Durban, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province
Umngeni-uThukela Water will implement a 19-hour maintenance shutdown at the Durban Heights Water Treatment Works on Tuesday, 21 November 2023. The shutdown, which was postponed earlier last week, is scheduled to start at 01:00 and end at 20:00 on the same day.
DURBAN HEIGHTS WATER TREATMENT PLANT SHUTDOWN
As previously reported, Umngeni-uThukela Water said it is implementing the shutdown to allow for the removal of a steel plate once installed on Aqueduct 2 to isolate the water flow while repairs are in progress. The shutdown would also include the installation of a double isolation facility to enable the contractor to continue working on the Aqueduct in preparation for its recommissioning in December 2023. The entity said the planned maintenance forms part of its efforts to restore bulk water infrastructure following damages sustained during the April 2022 floods. “Umngeni-uThukela Water is working closely with the eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Department to minimise the shutdown’s impacts. “Both organisations will constantly monitor water levels at the reservoirs during the shutdown so that they do not drop below the set points,” Umngeni-uThukela Water spokesperson Siyabonga Maphumulo said.
SUPPLY INTERRUPTION
Some parts of Durban may experience a reduction in pressure while those in higher lying areas may experience water interruption on Friday morning. To minimise the impacts of the shutdown, uMngeni-uThukela Water has urged the public to continue using water sparingly and delay activities that consume additional water such as washing clothes, cars, watering gardens or filling up swimming pools during this time. Click here to see the full list of affected areas.