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STATEMENT: 10-Hour Shutdown of Hazelmere Treatment Plant for Essential Work POSTPONED
A decision has been taken to postpone to a later date the shutdown of the Hazelmere Water Treatment Plant, which was to have taken place today (Friday, 3 March 2023). This decision was taken to allow the Waterloo Reservoir in Verulam and the La Mercy Reservoir in La Mercy to recover sufficiently for them to begin supplying water again. Both reservoirs are at low levels.
The La Mercy Reservoir lost storage on Thursday night. Its low level was the result of uMngeni-uThukela Water having to supply the Honolulu Reservoir from Hazelmere Water Treatment Plant. The Honolulu Reservoir, which supplies Groutville in KwaDukuza, normally receives its water from the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme.
There was a minor deficit in distribution to the La Mercy Reservoir against volumes normally supplied. However, over the past two days – 28 February 2023 and 2 March 2023 – uMngeni-uThukela Water supplied full contracted volumes to the Waterloo Reservoir. The exception was 1 March 2023 when there was a minor shortfall in supply.
The switch in supply source for the Honolulu Reservoir occurred because the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme was experiencing supply constraints caused by high demand. An additional factor that contributed to the La Mercy Reservoir losing storage overnight was stop-start pumping from the Hazelmere Water Treatment Plant to allow for the two on-site reservoirs to increase storage that had also been depleted.
As a consequence, uMngeni-uThukela Water was unable to supply full volumes to the La Mercy Reservoir. Supply to the Honolulu Reservoir has since reverted to the Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme. This means that contracted volumes can now be supplied to the La Mercy Reservoir.
It was in view of the current situation of low levels of the two reservoirs that uMngeni-uThukela Water decided to defer the shutdown of the Hazelmere Water Treatment. A new date for the shutdown will be announced. It will affect supply to La Mercy, Ballito (through interruption of supply to the Avondale Reservoir), Umhlali, Waterloo and Verulam. uMngeni-uThukela Water apologises to consumers for any inconvenience that may have been caused.
In the meantime, planned disconnection in water supply to Ndwedwe will go ahead from 18h00 today to repair a gasket leak. This is essential work that has to be conducted in order to prevent future water supply failures. An appeal is being made to consumers in Ndwedwe to please bear with us while repairs are being conducted. Every effort will be made to complete the work in the shortest possible period.
Issued by the Corporate Stakeholder Management Unit, Office of the Chief Executive uMngeni-uThukela Water
Friday, 3 March 2023
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