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The Democratic Alliance has been driving the upgrade of the Saulspoort Water Treatment Plant in council since 2014. Last week, the DA conducted an oversight visit at the water purification plant together with MMC for Public Works in Dihlabeng Municipality, Cllr J Twala.

Upgrading work on the capacity of the plant to purify and pump clean water to the reservoirs has started. At the time of the visit, the plant was operating at full capacity. This was evident as the reservoir at Panorama, near Mediclinic, overflowed in the early morning hours of last Sunday (6H30am). The fault was reported to the manager of public works.

Preparation for new larger water pumps is underway as the contractor was busy with the new concrete footing on which the bigger pumps would stand. Preparation for a new bigger electricity substation for the facility is in place. However, the matter concerning the lack of a backup power supply for any likely power cuts to the facility remains a major water supply threat.

A new road is under construction that will lead to an additional water treatment plant to support the existing system. The development is going to contribute to the upscaling of the output capacity of potable water.

In addition, the old asbestos pipes are going to be replaced with new steel pipes as the asbestos materials are systematically being phased out. The manholes are also going to be upgraded to ease access to the pipes.

The DA is pleased to see that the upgrading of the facility has started after an eight year battle. The DA will continue to do follow up visits to the Saulspoort Water Treatment Plant to monitor progress made during the upgrade period and address any problems that may arise in order for the work of upgrading the Saulspoort Water Works to be completed as scheduled.

Water is not a privilege, but remains a human right. The DA is at the forefront of fighting for the, and protecting, the constitutional rights of all our people in Dihlabeng and the country.

Issued by Marius Marais - MPL councilor