Boipelo Mere
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in the Northern Cape handed over a R55 million refurbished wastewater pump station and an outfall line to Phokwane Local Municipality for Jan Kempdorp on Sunday, 22 March.
Phokwane Local Municipality’s sanitation infrastructure underwent an emergency refurbishment and upgrade through the DWS Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG).
The handover, which forms part of World Water Day commemoration, will benefit more than 2 000 households and enable future development in the town.
The refurbished sanitation infrastructure will ensure dignified sanitation for women and girls while also protecting the environment, which directly impacts the quality of available water resources.
It brings relief from sewage spillages affecting the environment and improves sanitation services for a population of 8 300 people.
DWS Spokesperson Amogelang Moholoeng explained that Jan Kempdorp has expanded over the years, and land use has increased, while the municipality has not upgraded its existing wastewater infrastructure.
This resulted in the existing pump station pumping sewer into Valspan Wastewater Treatment Works, which overflew due to the overwhelming capacity of sewerage inflows.
“The scope of the refurbishment and upgrading project entailed constructing a new pump station and rising mainline with sufficient capacity to accommodate current and future sewer runoff. It also included connecting the infrastructure to the existing reticulation network to ensure that it functions optimally without blockages,” said Moholoeng.
He said the handover forms part of the Department’s series of activities to mark World Water Day, a global commemorative day held annually on 22 March.
“The day focuses on protecting freshwater resources, addressing the global water crisis, and supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 water and sanitation for all by 2030,” added Moholoeng.
This year’s global theme is: ‘Water and Gender’ with the slogan “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows.”
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