The operation of the Lepelle Northern Water
Sekhukhune
The Lepelle Northern Water’s area of operation in Limpopo has stretches from three districts to five districts across the province.
According to the organizational terms, the LNM operated in Sekhukhune, Capricorn and Mopani but has now includes Vhembe and Waterberg districts.
As it is, the LNW is the primary bulk supplier to Water Services Authorities, being district and local municipalities, and individual clients, such as mines.
Supplied individuals have service level agreement with LNM which states that they have to be honored to the letter.
LNW explained that when dams are filled to full capacity it is not guaranteed that they may increase the supply of water to the provincial capital or towns without prior approval.
LNW said there are predetermined allowances on abstraction volumes from all-natural resources, such as Ebenezer Dam that was recently overflowing.
And the abstraction volumes are controlled by the Department of Water and Sanitation by means of water user licenses.
“In some instances of planned shutdowns or unforeseen breakdowns brought about by factors like ageing infrastructure, illegal connections or vandalism along hundreds of kilometers of pipeline operated and maintained by LNW between schemes. And reservoirs within the area of supply, the clients with whom LNW have service level agreements get informed in advance or as soon as possible, to alert their consumers in turn,” cited LNW.
In addition, the LNW’s operations are further negatively affected by challenges like load shedding, power cuts and natural disasters.
“During the recent rainy period and the cyclone conditions, LNW operations were impacted by high turbidity levels, affecting the clarity of water to be supplied. Not all plants have initially been designed or are equipped to deal with such phenomena uncharacteristic to that area though,” said LNW.
The LNW said in terms of existing agreements it is compelled to refer all reticulation related matters, like shortage of water supply to individual households in and around a town or the provincial capital, to the respective local government institutions which LNW provides services to.
LNW said they will remain committed to serving the people of Limpopo and said after all, water is their passion.
