Ugu District Municipality has made major strides in ensuring ultimate reduction of water loss and non-revenue water at large. Such strides are being advanced through the launched Leak Detection Testing Rig and Pressure Management Control Room at 2 Lind Road in Marburg last Friday.
This building costs of this facility is R500 000 and was funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation. The machinery will assist with the detection of underground leaks not visible to a naked eye therefore also eliminating prolonged water disruptions.
During the launch, the Mayor, Cllr Ntombifikile Gumede applauded the positive efforts by the municipality to reduce the non-revenue water from 42% in 2008 to 27% to date. “We would like to appreciate the support and the partnership we have with the Department of Water and Sanitation through the ‘No Drop Compliance’. Our municipality has received accolades of being the best performing municipality in terms of this requirement with an excellent score of 95.38% according to the latest No Drop Report published by the department.
Mayor Gumede further highlighted that this achievement is confirmation that processes and systems are in place to detect the status of water loss in the district.
A gap was identified that plumbers needed training on the operation and maintenance of water supply systems as the conventional training normally focuses on the installation and repair skills. A municipal team went to Sao Paulo in Brazil and came back with this concept. This is the first of its kind in Africa and only the second in the world. Another one is in Brazil.
A total of 10 internal staff have since been trained and are in the process of training others. The plan is to obtain accreditation for the training and trainers. Ugu also has plans to develop Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with other Water Services Authorities in terms of providing training. This initiative is in line with SALGAs Municipal Benchmarking Initiative which is supported by the Water Research Commission which says ‘for municipalities, by municipalities, to benefit municipalities.’
The Leak Detection Testing Rig and Pressure Management Control Room will equip the municipality with all resources to swiftly detect and respond to leaks.
Ugu District Municipality will continue to promote working together to create an environment that is friendly, responsive, accountable, effective and efficient for our communities.