Significant progress is being made on the Lower uMkhomazi water scheme project, which aims to improve water supply for 50 000 households across the eThekwini and Ugu municipal districts, along KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast.

The R20-billion large-scale project, which was previously hindered by delays, had gained renewed momentum as a result of proactive involvement and determination by the Department of Water and Sanitation, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said during a site inspection.

Majodina and Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo, along with uMngeni-uThukela Water board members, conducted an onsite progress review of the bulk water project on November 7.

The Lower uMkhomazi bulk water supply project is implemented by water utility uMngeni-uThukela Water, and will augment water supply within eThekwini metropolitan municipality (Ward 99) and uMdoni local municipality (Ward 18).

Inspecting the Goodenough Abstraction Site, which has achieved over 60% completion, Majodina endorsed the progress made so far in implementing the project.

“This progress is a testament to the commitment and expertise of the appointed contractors and our entity uMngeni-uThukela Water. The project is set to tackle longstanding water challenges for South Coast residents and secure reliable water resources for years to come,” she said.

The parties also conducted an oversight inspection of a construction site of the Ngwadini off-channel storage dam, which is expected to be completed by December 2027.

Critical to KwaZulu-Natal’s water resilience, the bulk water scheme includes two phases.

Phase 1 will focus on raw water components, including the Ngwadini and Goodenough Systems, while Phase 2 will deliver potable water infrastructure, with a 100 Mℓ/d water treatment facility, gravity pipelines, expanded reservoir capacity and a Green Star-rated administration building.

“The overall implementation of the project signifies transformative progress toward addressing water shortages that have impacted the region since 2016,” Majodina stated.

Upon completion, the uMngeni water supply system will increase its yearly freshwater capacity from 394-million to 608-million cubic meters, securing sustainable water resources for more than five-million people across six districts, including eThekwini, Msunduzi, uMgungundlovu, Ugu, Ilembe and Harry Gwala.

“The project has helped to create temporary employment opportunities for over 380 locals and more than 100 small, medium-sized and microenterprises have participated in the project to date,” she concluded.