​On the 28thof May 2021, our Municipal Council approved an annual budget for the financial year 2021/22 which signalled a commitment in responding to service delivery imperatives of water and sanitation in the district.The new budget includes for the planning of a permanent abstraction berm/weir on the Umzimkhulu River to upgrade and protect the UmzimkhuluRiver abstraction being the very life source for the Lower South Coast Water Supply from Hibberdene in the north to Margate in the south, Marburg, Bhobhoyi, Gamalakle and Murchison communities amongst others.It is imperative to note that from inception of the Lower South Coast Supply Scheme over 50 years ago all planning, designing and authorisations have been geared towards sustaining the licenced potable abstraction of 32 million m3 per annum from the river which necessitates a maximum system capacity of 108 million litres per day over the short peak demand holiday periods. An Engineering study done in 2005 identified that a weir across the river is required for long-term assurance of flooded suction to the pumps particularly during low meandering winter flows as well as to manage Ecological Reserve requirements. Also, that the weir would be required to synchronise and conserve water releases from Ncwabeni off-channel dam to be constructed 25km upstream, as well as a permanent solution to prevent saltwater contamination once and for all. At a site visit in October 2020 the Minister of Water and Sanitation gave directives to Umgeni Water to fast-track the Ncwabeni dam with a storage capacity of 15 million m3 for release into the river in response to the increasing demand for water in the Ugu District with the St Helens Rock weir being an integral component of the scheme.The new weir and pipeline will be designed in line with industry best-practice with all protocols and compliance strictly observed. A hydraulic scale model of the river and weir will be constructed in the Stellenbosch University laboratory under the guidance of Professor Basson a leading hydraulic expert in river abstraction inside their 100m long facility being one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and having tested most of the recent similar weirs and river abstraction works constructed in South Africa, including the Umkomaas and Tugela River abstraction weirs amongst others.Specialist studies will ensure that the current good health of the Umzimkhulu river and estuary is assured as an asset of the south coast. The weir allows river and sediment transfer to continue as per normal but ensures flooded suction for the abstraction pumps as permanent protection of supply against the vagaries of the river.We encourage consumers to become members of our facebook page by liking the page:’Ugu District Municipality’to receive continuous and factual updates on water and sanitation related matters.ENDSISSUED BY:UGU DISTRICT MUNICIPALITYFor more information and media queries contact:Municipal SpokespersonMr France ZamaTel: 039 6885711Email:France.Zama@ugu.websitesupport.co.za​