Rand Water chairperson Advocate Faith Matshidiso Hashatse has stressed the need for the entity to undertake maintenance on its infrastructure, stating during a media briefing on November 15 that it operates in an asset-intensive environment that requires regular maintenance to ensure optimal operation, while enhancing capacity to meet growing demand.
Hashatse said the maintenance on pipelines was needed to extend the life of the pipelines; expand capacity by adding more pipes for augmentation of water; and to contain costs, as the work done would ensure that the asset can operate in a more energy efficient manner.
Moreover, she said the work was also necessary to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructure.
She acknowledged that the work being undertaken this week on the B11 and B19 pipelines would impact on businesses and citizens, but said the entity was hopeful that the impact would be minimal, as the maintenance was planned and mitigation measures had been put in place.
Rand Water CEO Sipho Mosai added that the maintenance of the pipelines would only affect about 13% of Rand Water’s purification works; therefore, it would not require a full water cut or a complete shutdown.
He pointed out that this was the culmination of a ten-year augmentation plan, with Rand Water adding additional infrastructure and pipe network into the system.
He expressed confidence that the entity would be able to complete the work on the B11 and B19 pipelines within the scheduled 54 hours.