The Department of Water and Sanitation is actively working to speed up construction of lkageng 25 mega litres ground reservoir in the JB Marks Local Municipality for delivery of water services in the North West south Africa. Their initiative aims to improve access to a stable and dependable water supply throughout the province.
The construction of the lkageng 25 mega litres ground reservoir Is one component of the broader Potchefstroom Water Treatment Works project enhancement. This comprehensive project comprises six phases, which encompass the restoration and improvement of the treatment plant, the expansion of the AC pipeline, the upgrading of the Ikageng Pump Station, and the creation of a new Rising Main and Bulk Distribution Pipeline in Ikageng.
This project is part of a series of large-scale water initiatives that the department, along with other stakeholders, is expediting under the Operation Bulela Metsi program. The aim is to guarantee a dependable water supply in the province.
The department has revealed that the reservoir’s construction is financially supported by the department’s Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG). The municipality, serving as the Water Services Authority (WSA), has been assigned the role of implementing this project.
The reservoir and the recently established gravity-based bulk distribution pipeline will serve several communities, including Ikageng Proper, Ikageng Extension 1, 4, 5, 9, 12, Potchindustria, Mohadin, and the northern part of Ikageng Extension 7.
This project emerged in response to the decommissioning of the Ikageng West Reservoirs, which left the networks of Ikageng Proper and Potchindustria without any storage capacity.
Completion date for the Ikageng 25 mega Ground reservoir
The construction of the reservoir began in January of this year, and it is projected to reach completion by July 2024. This project is also set to create over 100 employment opportunities for local residents.
To meet the necessary storage capacity, it was essential to build a new reservoir. A key consideration during this process was ensuring that the new reservoir would not be located in an area at risk of dolomite-related issues. The department stated that the successful completion of this reservoir will bring benefits to approximately 22,000 households and a population of 94,201.
Furthermore, the department mentioned that the chosen reservoir site is well-suited for accommodating future developments in the Mooibank area to the south of the N12, and it will be designed to accommodate additional ground reservoirs when needed.
The location of the new reservoir site is also well-suited to facilitate potential future developments once the urban boundary is extended to the northwest of the reservoir site, as outlined in the recent Spatial Development Framework.
The Operation Bulela Metsi project Is the result of extensive efforts by a technical task team that was formed by Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu and the Provincial Government in January of this year. This team conducted an evaluation of the state of water and sanitation services in the province and devised strategies to address the challenges and ensure the sustainable provision of these services.
During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the construction site as part of the District Development Module (DDM) Presidential Imbizo in North West, Water and Sanitation Minister Mchunu pledged to accelerate the progress of bulk water projects in areas facing water shortages.
The department mentioned that It is collaborating with the provincial government and its entities, in line with the Minister’s guidance, to ensure water security in the province and throughout the nation.
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