24 Mar 2022

 The P38 million mega water project, which will supply ten villages in Ghanzi South and Kgalagadi North with water from Ncojane well fields is on track.
Addressing Kgalagadi  Full Council virtual meeting yesterday, chairperson, Mr Hendrick Jacobs said the project entailed rehabilitation, cleaning and test pumping of production boreholes within Ncojane and Karakubis wellfields.
It will also include the design and construction of a water pipeline to supply villages of Lehututu, Lokgwabe, Hukuntsi, Ncaang, Monong, Hunhukwe, Zutshwa, Maake, Metsimantle and Metsimantsho.
“The project comprises three components where P4 million will be used on groundwater.  P25 million will be expended on engineering while the environmental impact assessment will cost P9 million,” he said.
Mr Jacobs stated that currently, the Ncojane wellfield water supply project was experiencing delays due to the frequent breakdown of the contractor’s test pumping machinery.
“However, the situation was resolved on February 2022 following the introduction of a new plant where satisfactory progress has been made,” he said adding to date, test pumping had been completed in five of the six production boreholes.
 He said the contractor was still attending to the sixth borehole, which collapsed during testing, but was stabilised on March 15. The whole process of reconstruction and blow-testing was expected to be completed by end of March, he said. He expressed optimism that the project was progressing well adding overall progress for the groundwater component was 68 per cent complete.
Mr Jacobs noted that completion of test pumping in all boreholes would enable finalisation of engineering designs by the engineering consultant and of tender documents for the hiring of the construction contractor.
On other water issues in the district, the council chairperson said water challenges were also exacerbated by constant Botswana Power Cooperation power cuts or load shedding in Kgalagadi South. He said this had resulted in some of the villages in the BORAVAST cluster going without water for days.
He said the project to construct a main ring and reservoir to supply the western side of Tsabong village which entailed equipping two additional boreholes and their associated pipelines was behind schedule at 77 per cent against the expected 92 per cent. The project was funded to the tune of P36.9 million and was expected to improve the water situation in the Tsabong cluster.
Furthermore, he said, the Werda cluster water supply situation continued to improve with the engagement of a second 18 000 litre bowser truck to boost the water supply situation in Makopong and Draihoek through bowsing from Werda.
He said Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) had successfully drilled two boreholes that yielded 50 cubic metres per hour and 10 cubic meters per hour respectively.
 “Unfortunately, water quality tests showed that the water was too saline for human consumption, and needed to be treated,” he said.
He said WUC was in the process of sourcing funds for the construction of a reverse osmosis plant to make water from the high yielding boreholes drinkable.
Mr Jacobs said there were water supply challenges in the Middlepits cluster where the South African cross-border water scheme failed to deliver water for five days between the period of March 4 and 9 as the pump station supplying Botswana was struck by lightning. The scheme also failed to supply Botswana from March 14 to date due to multiple pipe bursts.
Meanwhile, he said, WUC had taken a decision to revive the Khuis treatment plant and its boreholes. He added that the corporation reinstated three boreholes and was currently working on reinstating the treatment plant. Parts were expected to arrive in the first week of April 2022. The plant was expected to be operational towards the end of the same month, he said.
In an interview, Hukuntsi East councillor Ms Kebaneilwe Mmesetse said the Ncojane water project was a welcome development as it would reduce water woes in the target villages. She said the salty water that they currently had to drink affected various sectors of the economy and staff attraction and retention, as well as investment in the largely remote area.
 “The project will help fast-track developments. It will attract a lot of positivity including employment creation,” she said.
For his part, Hunhukwe/Monong/Ncaang councillor Mr Dipogiso Gaboitsalwe said the project would help in the implementation of programmes, and generally improve the quality of life of beneficiary communities.
ENDS