The Residents Association of Dana Bay Conservancy We care about our environment

  WEEKLY WATER BULLETIN NO 21

PLEASE JOIN THE COMMUNITY IN PRAYING TOGETHER FOR RAIN AT 12:00 EVERY WEDNESDAY

The following is an update on the water situation in Mossel Bay for your information:

• Good rains fell during the past week with 72mm recorded in the catchment area. The Wolwedans Dam level which at present supplies 90% of the town's water rose by 5,7% and now stands at 20,5%. The level of the Klipheuwel Dam, which is about four per cent of the size of the Wolwedans Dam increased by 1, 7% and its level now stands at 39%. The small Ernst Robertson Dam is 100% full. This effectively means that Mossel Bay's water supply has been extended by six weeks.

• The Hartebeeskuil project, which entails the release of water from the Hartebeeskuil dam into the Hartenbos River commenced during the week. Approximately 5 megalitres of water per day is being pumped into the municipal water supply network. The Hartebeeskuil Dam level is presently 32%.

• The desalination plant remains on track and is scheduled to be in full production by February 2011. PetroSA have spent R 16 million on accelerating their portion of the project and they should receive their 5 megalitres of water per day as from late December 2010. PetroSA may not abstract water from the Wolwedans Dam once the level reaches 10% and they therefore had to ensure that the desalination plant is able to deliver 5 megalitres of water per day before Wolwedans Dam reaches the critical 10% level. The municipality has sufficient water supply until end of March 2011 and it was therefore neither cost effective nor practical to accelerate the municipality's portion of the project. The municipality will receive 10 megalitres of water per day from the desalination plant as from February 2011.

• Ten boreholes have been sunk in phase two of the borehole project with a further four being planned. The success of the boreholes has been limited and in many instances the quality or quantity of water has been inadequate to warrant pumping the water into the municipal water supply network. The bore hole at the Dana Bay reservoir has also started discharging large amounts of sand since the pump was installed. The possibility of drilling a replacement borehole in this area is being considered.

• An Open House Public Meeting on the seawater desalination project was held in the Mossel Bay Town Hall on Tuesday, 19 October 2010. This was attended by ±50 members of the public who had the opportunity to ask questions and obtain more information regarding the project.

Various questions regarding environmental concerns were addressed.

DR M GRATZ, MUNICIPAL MANAGER

WEEKLIKSE WATERBULLETIN NR 21

Die onderstaande is die jongste stand van sake ten opsigte van die watersituasie in Mosselbaai:

• Goeie reënval is gedurende die afgelope week gemeet met 72mm in die opvangsgebied. Die vlak van die Wolwedans Dam, wat tans 90% voorsien aan die dorp, het met 5,7% gestyg en staan nou op 20,5%. Die vlak van die Klipheuwel Dam, wat sowat 4% van die grootte van die Wolwedans Dam is, het gestyg met 1,7% en staan nou op 39%. Die Ernst Robertson Dam wat baie klein is, is 100% vol. Dit beteken effektiewelik dat Mosselbaai se watervoorsiening met ses weke verleng is.

• Die Hartebeeskuil projek, wat die vrylating van water van die Hartebeeskuil dam in die Hartenbos Rivier behels, het gedurende die week begin. Nagenoeg 5 megaliters water per dag word in die munisipale water voorsieningsnetwerk gepomp. Die vlak van die Hartebeeskuil Dam is tans 32%.

• Die ontsoutingsaanleg vorder steeds goed en is geskeduleer om teen Februarie 2011 in volle werking te wees. PetroSA het R 16 miljoen gespandeer op die versnelling van hulle gedeelte van die projek en hul behoort hul 5 megaliters water per dag vanaf laat Desember 2010 te ontvang. PetroSA mag nie water van die Wolwedans Dam onttrek wanneer die dam vlak 10% bereik nie en daarom moet hulle verseker dat die ontsoutingsaanleg in staat is om 5 megaliters water per dag te voorsien alvorens die Wolwedans Dam die kritiese 10% merk haal. Die munisipaliteit het voldoende water voorsiening tot en met einde Maart 2011 en dit was daarom nie koste effektief of prakties om die munisipaliteit se gedeelte van die projek te versnel nie. Die munisipaliteit sal vanaf Februarie 2011 10 megaliters water per dag vanuit die ontsoutingsaanleg ontvang.

• Tien boorgate is gesink tydens die tweede fase van die boorgat projek met ‘n verdere vier wat nog beplan is. Die sukses van die boorgate is beperk en in baie gevalle is die kwaliteit of kwantiteit van die water onvoldoende om die pomp van water in die munisipale water voorsieningsnetwerk te waarborg. Die boorgat by die Danabaai opgaardam het ook begin om groot hoeveelhede sand uit te laat, vandat die pomp geïnstalleer is. Die moontlikheid om ‘n vervangingsboorgat in die gebied te boor, word oorweeg.

• ‘n Ope publieke vergadering ten opsigte van die ontsoutingsaanleg projek is op 19 Oktober 2010 in die Mosselbaai Stadsaal gehou. Sowat 50 lede van die publiek het die vergadering bygewoon en het die geleentheid gehad om vrae te vra en meer inligting oor die projek te bekom. Bekommernis oor die omgewingsimpak van die projek is bespreek.

DR M GRATZ, MUNISIPALE BESTUURDER

SLUIT ASSEBLIEF BY DIE GEMEENSKAP AAN EN BID ELKE WOENSDAG OM 12:00 SAAM VIR REËN