The municipality resorted to implementing water-shedding across the district in order to boost the water levels of the Koppie Alleen Reservoir. 

Bloemwater, the company responsible for supplying water to Matjhabeng, opted to install quantum pumps as an alternative means to provide water.

However, the pumps are too small and cannot sufficiently supply the municipality with water. The municipality says: “the levels could only reach 23% maximum, which declines in some days.”

According to the municipality, all three of their main water pumps remain nonfunctional. Bloemwater is trying to repair one of the pumps to alleviate the water crisis.  

Meanwhile, areas affected by water-shedding will be supplied with water tankers.

Previously OFM News reported that Matjhabeng has been suffering from water cuts due to deteriorated infrastructure which resulted in 60% of water usage loss.  

Earlier this year, residents of Doornpan in Welkom had to collect water from a small river as they have been without water due to a damaged water pipe.

ALSO READ: Matjhabeng residents use dam water

Late last year, Matjhabeng locals were without water for several weeks due to a shortage of water purification chemicals. 

ActionSA chairperson in the Free State, Patricia Kopane, said residents remained without water due to the lack of service delivery by the Matjhabeng municipality. 

ALSO READ: Matjhabeng residents plagued by water disruptions

“People are frustrated, people have lost hope. The right to water is a basic need, that is really concerning and the municipality don’t care at all. If there is no water, businesses are closing, which means we are talking about unemployment because business people must close their businesses. This means it is costly as the economy of the country is going down also. Our country is on the verge of collapsing.”

OFM News