Ngwathe spokesperson, Steve Naale, reminds residents that the infrastructure that is integral to the distribution of water to homes is powered by electricity. Parys went dark on Tuesday evening after an explosion at an Eskom substation. Naale says the technical teams from both Eskom and Ngwathe are on site and are busy with the installation of the technical equipment that was damaged in the fire. 

He says there is no confirmed time for reconnection but he informs the public they will be notified of the latest developments. The technical teams from both the municipality and Eskom were at the substation following the incident on Tuesday night but were unable to ascertain the exact damage done and the repair work required due to the blaze and smoke emanating from the substation at the time. The municipality thanks residents for their patience during this time. It is yet to be determined what time the explosion occurred on Tuesday evening and what the cause is thereof.

Parys has for years experienced issues pertaining to clean water supply. As a result, Ngwathe roped in Sedibeng Water in an effort to intensify efforts to sort out the issues at the Parys Water Treatment Plant. 

Parys, is the lesser known casualty of the Vaal River crisis. The town is located downstream where pollution is likely to gather. Save the Vaal told OFM News previously that the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng - seen as the main offender in the crisis - receives their domestic water from the Vaal Dam which then undergoes extensive treatment by Rand Water. Ngwathe, however, specifically Parys, receives their water for domestic use from the polluted river and due to  the challenges at the treatment plant, the municipality struggles to purify the water to the required standards.

OFM News