Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works to enhance water and sanitation security in KZN Midlands
Image: Sello Seitlholo, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation / Facebook
The government has taken another step towards addressing issues of water and sanitation security in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with the commissioning of the Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works, a project valued at R450 million.
The project is a key part of the government's efforts to ensure water and sanitation security in the uMgungundlovu District. The department stated that the treatment works complement the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme. The Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme is currently undergoing major upgrades to allow it to supply water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the Vulindlela area under the Msunduzi Municipality, who have not had tap water for more than five years.
In July 2023, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DSW) held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of upgrades for Phase 1 of the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme, a mega water supply project. It was stated at the time that the project, upon completion, will provide safe drinking water to communities in the uMngeni and Msunduzi Local Municipalities and surrounding areas in the district.
The Mpophomeni wastewater project was launched this past Friday and is expected to address the sanitation and water challenges of 27,000 people in and around the Mpophomeni area.
Residents in upper Vulindlela have highlighted their concerns regarding the need for water security, pointing out that for the past few years, they have had to rely on erratic supply from water tankers or fetch water from a borehole that belongs to a local doctor's office. They revealed that the municipality recently drilled a borehole, which malfunctioned, and residents were asked to pay towards its repairs.
During Friday's launch, Deputy Ministers Sello Seitlholo and David Mahlobo provided a progress update on Phase 1 of the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme. The Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme, one of the government's most successful post-1994 infrastructure projects, is located west of Pietermaritzburg. Initially constructed in 1998 and later designated a National Presidential Lead Project, the scheme is being upgraded in response to population growth in Vulindlela and increased municipal water demand.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
The Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works is intended to serve the communities of Mpophomeni, Khayelisha, and surrounding areas, benefiting approximately 27,000 residents.
Image: Sello Seitlholo, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation / Facebook
A major component of the Phase 1 upgrade is the construction of a new reservoir that will increase drinking water storage by 20 megalitres per day, bringing the total to 35 megalitres per day to ensure more consistent water distribution to communities across the region. Additional infrastructure includes new pipelines between reservoirs, a new pump station, and an augmented power supply.
This project complements the commissioned Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works. Together, these two strategic infrastructure projects form part of the department's integrated efforts to ensure long-term water and sanitation security for communities in the uMgungundlovu District.
Speaking at the launch, Mahlobo stated that the project's commissioning 'marks a major step forward for service delivery, water security, and cooperative governance in KwaZulu-Natal.'
The Mpophomeni infrastructure project is designed to significantly improve sanitation services, protect sensitive wetland ecosystems, and enhance the quality of life for communities.
It is currently operating at a treatment capacity of 6 million litres per day, with provision for future expansion to 12 million litres per day. The facility includes a 7-kilometre treated effluent pipeline and the rehabilitation of the Mpophomeni wetland.
Seitlholo welcomed the commissioning while issuing a firm call to action to municipalities. 'The success of Mpophomeni proves that service delivery is possible when all spheres of government work together. But we cannot stop here. Municipalities must build on this momentum and address governance gaps, strengthening technical capacity and accelerating delivery. Our citizens deserve systems that work and leaders who make that happen without delay,' said Seitlholo.
THE MERCURY
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
15 hours ago
- The Citizen
Government, experts unite at Indaba to tackle foot-and-mouth disease
South Africa is experiencing significant and ongoing challenges with widespread outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), affecting several provinces, including KZN, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and, most recently, the Free State. The resurgence of the disease has resulted in livestock movement restrictions and significantly impacted the country's red meat trade on international markets. In response to the escalating crisis, the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the University of Pretoria and Onderstepoort Biological Products, is hosting a national Foot-and-Mouth Disease Indaba. The two-day event, today and tomorrow, is taking place at the ARC-VIMP Campus in Roodeplaat, northeast of Pretoria. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa will lead the Indaba, which aims to bring together top veterinary scientists, agricultural experts and key industry stakeholders to deliberate on and develop long-term solutions to combat FMD. 'Having already inflicted significant damage to the multibillion-rand livestock sector, the disease continues to threaten South Africa's broader economy. Therefore, the Indaba presents a vital opportunity to unite expertise and resources to effectively eradicate this devastating disease. 'The Indaba will convene a range of multidisciplinary specialists to develop a coordinated and comprehensive approach to controlling and ultimately eradicating foot-and-mouth disease,' the department said in a statement. Key areas of discussion will include strengthening biosecurity measures at farm level, enhancing vaccination programmes and reinforcing animal movement controls. The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Council, emphasised its commitment to identifying and implementing sustainable solutions to FMD. The department added that the Indaba signifies a crucial advancement in the ongoing efforts to combat the disease. 'By cultivating strong partnerships between government entities, academic institutions and industry leaders, the Department of Agriculture is committed to developing precise and effective measures that will eradicate the disease and safeguard the long-term sustainability of South Africa's agricultural sector.' – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
19 hours ago
- IOL News
Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works to enhance water and sanitation security in KZN Midlands
The Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Plant was commissioned on Friday. Image: Sello Seitlholo, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation / Facebook The government has taken another step towards addressing issues of water and sanitation security in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands with the commissioning of the Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works, a project valued at R450 million. The project is a key part of the government's efforts to ensure water and sanitation security in the uMgungundlovu District. The department stated that the treatment works complement the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme. The Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme is currently undergoing major upgrades to allow it to supply water to hundreds of thousands of residents in the Vulindlela area under the Msunduzi Municipality, who have not had tap water for more than five years. In July 2023, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DSW) held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of upgrades for Phase 1 of the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme, a mega water supply project. It was stated at the time that the project, upon completion, will provide safe drinking water to communities in the uMngeni and Msunduzi Local Municipalities and surrounding areas in the district. The Mpophomeni wastewater project was launched this past Friday and is expected to address the sanitation and water challenges of 27,000 people in and around the Mpophomeni area. Residents in upper Vulindlela have highlighted their concerns regarding the need for water security, pointing out that for the past few years, they have had to rely on erratic supply from water tankers or fetch water from a borehole that belongs to a local doctor's office. They revealed that the municipality recently drilled a borehole, which malfunctioned, and residents were asked to pay towards its repairs. During Friday's launch, Deputy Ministers Sello Seitlholo and David Mahlobo provided a progress update on Phase 1 of the Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme. The Vulindlela Bulk Water Supply Scheme, one of the government's most successful post-1994 infrastructure projects, is located west of Pietermaritzburg. Initially constructed in 1998 and later designated a National Presidential Lead Project, the scheme is being upgraded in response to population growth in Vulindlela and increased municipal water demand. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works is intended to serve the communities of Mpophomeni, Khayelisha, and surrounding areas, benefiting approximately 27,000 residents. Image: Sello Seitlholo, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation / Facebook A major component of the Phase 1 upgrade is the construction of a new reservoir that will increase drinking water storage by 20 megalitres per day, bringing the total to 35 megalitres per day to ensure more consistent water distribution to communities across the region. Additional infrastructure includes new pipelines between reservoirs, a new pump station, and an augmented power supply. This project complements the commissioned Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works. Together, these two strategic infrastructure projects form part of the department's integrated efforts to ensure long-term water and sanitation security for communities in the uMgungundlovu District. Speaking at the launch, Mahlobo stated that the project's commissioning 'marks a major step forward for service delivery, water security, and cooperative governance in KwaZulu-Natal.' The Mpophomeni infrastructure project is designed to significantly improve sanitation services, protect sensitive wetland ecosystems, and enhance the quality of life for communities. It is currently operating at a treatment capacity of 6 million litres per day, with provision for future expansion to 12 million litres per day. The facility includes a 7-kilometre treated effluent pipeline and the rehabilitation of the Mpophomeni wetland. Seitlholo welcomed the commissioning while issuing a firm call to action to municipalities. 'The success of Mpophomeni proves that service delivery is possible when all spheres of government work together. But we cannot stop here. Municipalities must build on this momentum and address governance gaps, strengthening technical capacity and accelerating delivery. Our citizens deserve systems that work and leaders who make that happen without delay,' said Seitlholo. THE MERCURY
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
'No health risk': Government assures after ARVs were found in water sources
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that the presence of anti-retroviral (ARV) residues in drinking water poses no health risk and cannot result in HIV transmission. This comes as a study conducted by the North West University (NWU) found measurable levels of ARV residues in some of the country's water sources. The report by the NWU's Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, titled 'Quantification, Fate, and Hazard Assessment of HIV-ARVs in Water Resources', revealed that ARVs are entering the water supply primarily through municipal wastewater treatment systems. As per the study, the most detected ARVs included lopinavir and efavirenz, with concentrations at some sites far exceeding global norms. The study found that concentrations of ARVs in some water sources exceeded acceptable thresholds, posing potential long-term health risks to humans, and the team emphasised that the current wastewater treatment processes are inadequate for removing these bioactive compounds, highlighting the need for technological advancements. Higher concentrations of traces of ARVs were found downstream of wastewater treatment plants. This means that the municipal wastewater treatment works are not removing them, because most existing wastewater treatment works have not been designed to remove contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), the Department of Water and Sanitation, together with the Water Research Commission, said in a joint statement. Low concentrations of ARVs were found in some of the drinking water samples. There is a possibility that high concentrations of ARVs in sewage or municipal wastewater might reduce the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment works in removing bacteria from the wastewater. Further research is required in this regard. Following concerns, the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Water Research Commission have clarified that the presence of ARV residues in drinking water is harmless, 'although prolonged exposure to the broader population may lead to antimicrobial resistance, a subject of ongoing research. Pharmaceuticals such as ARVs are drugs used to treat diseases – they do not cause diseases. Therefore, the presence of traces of ARVs in the water will not result in people contracting HIV.' 'At present, there is limited knowledge of environmental toxicity, potential adverse effects on ecosystems, and viral resistance of these compounds. The study did not find any ARVs in fish.' According to DWS, the issue of contaminants of emerging concern in water not only affects South Africa but is a growing global problem and area of attention around the world. Globally, the level of CEC compounds in water is generally not yet regulated. This is partly due to their presence often being below water quality detection limits. However, due to their continuous production, lack of appropriate disposal, constant input into the environment and presence in water resources, albeit in small concentrations, there is now increasing global research into the issue. 'Traces of pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and other such CECs that have been found in water resources in South Africa are tiny quantities, measured in nanograms (one billionth of a gram). Conventional water and wastewater treatment technologies are designed to remove much larger contaminants, such as particles of faeces and bacteria,' the department added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
