The current problems with the water supply in Louis Trichardt are due to power failures at two of the municipal pump stations.

Some parts of town suffered a lack of water for the entire past weekend. Although an all-out effort is underway to rectify the problem, residents were warned of the possibility of further shortages, unless water is used sparingly.

According to a statement issued by the municipality at the beginning of the week, there was a shortage of water in Makhado Park, Makhado Crossing, Eltivillas and Extension 9, due to the power failure.

Mobile tankers and tanks were to be provided at strategic points in the affected areas for the duration of the shortage. In the meantime, residents were urgently reminded that the total ban on the usage of municipal water for gardening purposes was still in force.

Technicians had been attending to the pump station problems since Monday and it was expected to be rectified by Tuesday evening.

The public relations officer of the municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, requested residents in a media statement “to bear with the municipality for any inconvenience that might result from the unexpected shortage of water.”

It was reliably established that the power failure is the result of two electric motors which were damaged as a result of fluctuations in the power supply.

The two affected pump stations are Rouwater, immediately below the Albasini damwall, and pump station Number 2, halfway between the town and the dam. In the meantime, the supply from Albasini had to be delivered by means of two small standby pumps, resulting in a shortage in the supply to the areas in town east of the N1, which depend solely on Albasini water. The rest of the town is at present serviced from boreholes. An official warned that this emergency supply will not last, unless the utmost restraint is exercised by residents in the utilization of the available municipal water supply.

Residents were reminded that the total ban on watering gardens with municipal water will be rigorously enforced. A serious request was issued that anybody witnessing the usage of a hosepipe with municipal water should phone 083 6363 550 to report the matter.