"A lack of water is not the problem. The town suffers from systemic infrastructure failure due to the lack of maintenance of the archaic pipeline network. The health hazard caused by this situation is unacceptable," the DA's member of the provincial legislature Dacre Haddon said in a statement.
Rhodes University said on Wednesday (14 August) that 42 of its residences had been without water for nine days due to the Makana municipality's unsuccessful attempts to repair the water pump.
Haddon said he had submitted questions to local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane about the town's water crisis.
He said the municipality was withholding the basic human rights of access to water and a healthy environment from Grahamstown residents.
According to Rhodes University's dean of students, Vivian de Klerk, a report from the municipality indicated that the planned repairs on the Waainek pump were not successful.
The water was now being diverted from the Fish River scheme to fill certain dams in Grahamstown as an interim measure.
Municipal spokeswoman Yoliswa Ramokolo said technicians were working on the problem. A problem with the water pump's motor had been fixed, however, there was now a problem with the device which turned the pump on and off, depending on the water level in the tank.
"Maybe by the end of the week the system will be working. At the moment water trucks are giving out water to all affected areas," Ramokolo said.
Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
