Planning for a water-secure future begins today

In anticipation of this boom in demand, from as far back as 2005, Mhlathuze Water secured a wateruse licence to develop infrastructure on the Tugela River, allowing it to churn 47.3 million megalitres of water per annum.

The year 2022 was an extraordinarily difficult one for KwaZulu-Natal. Floods ravaged the province in April, leaving a trail of death and destruction in their wake.

While Mhlathuze Water did not experience any major disturbances to its water infrastructure during the floods, it is not immune to the threats of climate change. The threats posed by climate change compel the water utility to act decisively. Consequently, approaches to infrastructure planning must change in order to adapt and minimise the effects of climate change.

Climate change manifests itself in a variety of forms; the north of KwaZulu-Natal found itself faced with one of its severest droughts in 2015, which exposed how ill prepared the province was for the tectonic shifts in weather patterns.

In both these cited instances, an important lesson for Mhlathuze Water is that all plans for future water security must consider the myriad effects of climate change – ranging from water scarcity to extreme rains.

Mhlathuze Water has developed a Bulk Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Plan that makes provision for the long-term bulk water and related services to meet the needs of industries and communities. This plan provides an integrated overview of all actions, initiatives and projects to effectively meet current and future bulk water and wastewater demands. The plan also makes provision for water reserves in order to accommodate the growth forecasts of industries and communities.

The 2040 Reconciliation Strategy for the Richards Bay growth node is also expressed in the plan, as well as the actions required over the next 20 years in anticipation of these projections.

Furthermore, the board of Mhlathuze Water has approved a sum of R21 million for three feasibility studies that are critical to future water security.

The Tugela River holds massive promise for expanded water provision in the north of KwaZulu-Natal. Provided this system is adequately developed, the anticipated growth in demand for both residential and industrial water in the northern corridor of the province will be met and surpassed.

Through this development, the intention would be to transfer the abstraction licence to the Tugela-Goedertrouw Transfer Scheme by increasing water being transferred to the Goedertrouw to the Mhlathuze River.

This would enable Mhlathuze Water to meet future demand and business development initiatives by relieving pressure on the Mhlathuze weir supply system, as well as add a second raw water source.

Lessons from the droughts seven years ago brought into sharper focus the need to explore alternate water sources. Mhlathuze’s master plan recommends a feasibility study into the desalination of water.

Ultimately, depending on the outcomes of the study, the intention is to construct a desalination plant to support the current water resources in use in Richards Bay and the surrounding areas.

Due to its location, Mhlathuze Water makes plans in tandem with the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ). The RBIDZ Phase 1F Water Supply and Effluent Disposal has been developed to assist a mega industrial development by Nyanza Light Metals.

The R5 billion development will require Mhlathuze Water to provide effluent disposal infrastructure to dispose of approximately 872 m3/h with (20.9 Mℓ/day of) brine containing gypsum suspended solids.

Previous experience in handling large volumes of effluent for industries like Foskor means that Mhlathuze Water is more than equal to this task. This development will be a major injection into the economy of KwaZulu-Natal and will result in the creation of much needed jobs in the Richards Bay region.

Mhlathuze Water has an obligation to respond to the directive by the 2030 National Development Plan (NDP) to water institutions to act as enablers for water provision.

The NDP calls for municipalities and water boards to ensure: that the use of water is equitable; that citizens and all stakeholders are represented in issues of water governance; and, third, that decent water and sanitation services are available for all South Africans.

In pursuit of this objective, over the past financial year, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu, issued a Section 63 to Mhlathuze Water to provide intervention and complete the restoration of water projects in the uMkhanyakude District to provide water to households.

There are advanced plans to execute this mandate within the shortest possible period. With these infrastructure upgrades, Mhlathuze Water will work closely with the uMkhanyakude District so that locals benefit from the resultant employment and economic opportunities. Looking ahead, the utility remains poised to play a central role in the growth of KwaZulu-Natal’s fortunes and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of ordinary citizens.