The City’s Water and Sanitation Department is in the process of rolling out its water tanks programme to enhance water provision as part of its emergency COVID-19 mitigation efforts in informal settlements.
On Wednesday, 15 April, Alderman Xanthea Limberg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, inspected the installation of water tanks in the Nkandla settlement in Wallacedene. These were delivered ahead of schedule over the Easter weekend. This water tank programme aims to assist in driving the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in vulnerable communities by augmenting access to water for health and hygiene purposes.
‘The installation of two water tanks in Nkandla, Wallacedene, has assured me that the City’s Department of Water and Sanitation’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing the provision of services within informal settlements is ongoing,’ said Alderman Limberg.
The department maintains and operates a system of water supply to informal settlements via communal taps, and the City is committed to exceeding the standards set by National Government.
As part of the emergency efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, the City has increased its efforts to augment existing access to water by deploying water trucks and installing water tanks in informal settlements.
Phase one of the rollout of tanks comprises installation of 93 tanks in informal settlements, where the City’s ability to provide access to water is constrained by factors such as the settlement having been established in a wetland, on railway lines or in high density areas, among other things. Water pressure to informal settlements is also being increased to ensure adequate water from the standpipes.
Nkandla is home to some 161 households, and residents welcomed the installation of two water tanks. Each tank has a capacity of 2700 litres, and a combined total of eight collection points.
‘To date, a total of 23 tanks have been installed at informal settlements to enhance existing water access. I would like to thank the Nkandla community for assisting our teams by clearing the spaces for preparation of installation of the tanks, and their overall helpful cooperation with the efforts,’ said Alderman Limberg.
The installation of tanks requires careful consideration for their placement, and a range of conditions need to be in place, such as a level foundation (base), prevention of sunlight and heat, and space to clean the facility and conduct water quality monitoring. Regular water quality testing is carried out to ensure the water in the tanks is SANS241 (drinking water quality) compliant. Site investigations and designs to connect tanks to existing water reticulation are ongoing, though each settlement presents its own unique characteristics and challenges.
The 93 tanks are being installed at various sites across 16 informal settlements, particularly on City owned land. Wherever it is practical to do so, the tanks are connected to the reticulation network, but in some cases it’s necessary for water trucks to replenish supply.
Once the immediate impact of COVID-19 has passed, it is envisaged that projects be implemented to connect tanks to the reticulation network where possible to reduce the reliance on water tankers for the filling of the tanks.
Certain areas will, however, require additional planning and approvals prior to reticulation given topographical constraints in settlements established on land unsuitable for permanent infrastructure, such as in a wetland. The exact timeframes and logistics associated with sustaining these enhanced services beyond this period can only be determined at a later stage.
Phase two of the programme will comprise installation of up to 244 additional tanks with capacity of 2500 litres each, donated by the National Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation. This phase is a joint government effort and the City is working directly with National Government to finalise the details of this arrangement. These tanks will be installed in a number of identified areas, mainly in the Khayelitsha area. This will be done in collaboration with Rand Water, who were appointed as an Implementing Agent by the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation.
The City has been conducting community awareness campaigns to drive the message of the importance of handwashing and other hygienic best practices. This has been done through a rapid and extensive dissemination of pamphlets/posters in different languages, and engaging community leaders in each settlement with key messaging. We are also promoting the use of squeeze bottles to wash hands regularly.
The City’s Executive Mayor Alderman Dan Plato said: ‘I would like to thank the teams responsible for the extensive planning and execution of this rollout of the programme to enhance access to water in vulnerable communities. Their hard work and dedication is critical to the broader effort to pull out every stop possible to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
‘I would like to extend my gratitude to communities who are working together with our teams to allow these programmes to be implemented as efficiently as possible. By working together, we stand the best chance of stopping the virus and flattening the curve.