Govt centralises water supply amid shortages
Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says the distribution of water will be centralised to one command centre in Johannesburg during the 21-day national lockdown period.
Various ministers updated the nation on Thursday on the revised Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
During the briefing, Sisulu announced the department’s efforts to provide water to areas faced with shortages.
“We have centralised the direction of water, the procurement of all those things that provide you with water and give an indication of where water is available,” Sisulu said.
Previously, various water boards would be tasked with allocating water resources to taps, but under this new regulation the directive will come from the command centre in Johannesburg.
According to the department, there are 15 water boards in South Africa, with the three largest being Rand Water in Gauteng, Umgeni Water in KwaZulu-Natal and Overberg Water in the Western Cape.
“What we have done now is to take all that water and put it under the control of one central command,” said Sisulu.
Rand Water has been identified as the command centre.
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“The command centre ensures that all the water, water tanks that we have procured are taken to the place that has been identified as in need.
“The municipalities will be responsible for identifying the places where the water tanks will be placed.”
Sisulu added that priority will be given to those facing water scarcity.
“Should anybody experience a shortage of water, this is the place where we will be able to direct our tankers to.
“In short, we are now taking over most of the work that belongs to the boards that we have given rights to look after the water.”
Sisulu explains: