Residents in Ntuzuma, parts of KwaMashu, Inanda, and Durban north surrounding areas, will enjoy a more reliable water supply this Christmas following the completion and commissioning of the upgraded Ntuzuma Water Pump Station.
The eThekwini Municipality on Wednesday unveiled the upgraded state-of-the-art facility, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to stabilise and improve water services to the communities.
The event was attended by eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, Chairperson of the Trading Services Committee Mdu Nkosi, and Deputy Chairperson Ayanda Ndlovu.
The pump station had been operating below capacity after its pumps reached the end of their design life. Its condition was worsened by a 2023 fire that caused major damage.
While emergency repairs allowed partial functionality to be restored, the municipality proceeded with a full functional upgrade of the facility.
The R56 million functional upgrade included enhancements to both mechanical and electrical components of the pumpstation, significantly improving the station’s performance, reliability, and resilience.
The improvements have already translated into better water supply for areas connected to the existing infrastructure network. The city is simultaneously undertaking additional projects to upgrade water infrastructure in areas still lacking adequate systems.
Speaking at the site, Mayor Xaba welcomed the completion of the project, describing it as part of the city’s progressive measures to improve service delivery in the water supply environment.
“I am excited with what we have achieved. The completion of the functional upgrade has improved the supply of water significantly and the councillors present here have confirmed this. This station has 15 pumps and standby pumps to assist in case of any challenge. We have also put modernised technology to be able to identify faults before they cause challenges,” the mayor said.
The revamped pump station is now fully automated and equipped with cutting-edge technology, the upgraded pumpstation features high-efficiency pumps, advanced control systems, and real-time monitoring tools designed to optimise performance and reduce operational downtime.
The pumpstation now operates in fully automated mode and enables control room to monitor its operation and respond to faults.
Xaba urged the community to protect water infrastructure from vandalism, noting that damage to pressure-reducing valves and other components contributes to intermittent water supply. – SAnews.gov.za
