The Department of Water and Sanitation has announced plans to build a pipeline to supply water to Jericho in the North West where residents have battled with a shortage of drinking water for a number of weeks.

The DWS announced a R2.8-million pipeline which would connect a reservoir to two boreholes to supply the village of Jericho in the Madibeng local municipality with much needed water.

The project, which the DWS conducted in partnership with the provincial government and the Madibeng local municipality, formed part of government’s intervention to ensure water supply to 19 villages within the Madibeng municipality that have been experiencing water and sanitation challenges.

“Magalies Water, which was appointed as an implementing agent, has appointed a contractor to start with digging of a trench to lay pipes next week,” said DWS spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau.

“The contractor started his work last week by conducting a site establishment and he will employ locals to create jobs in the area,” Ratau said.

He said that Phase One of the project would see pipes being laid which would supply water to the village from existing boreholes. This phase was expected to be completed in a month’s time, before Phase Two commenced.

Ratau explained that because the project was of a relatively small nature, the first phase of the project would not see a large number of people employed. He said that this number was expected to increase during the project’s second phase, which would see development of the pipeline from Brits to Jericho.

“The second phase will include the yard connections of households in the village to enable residents to access water in their yards. A pipeline will be connected to the Brits Treatment Plant to ensure a regular supply of drinking water,” Ratau added.

Ratau said government had asked residents to disconnect their illegal water pipes which were having a negative effect on the flow of water from the reservoir.