Amatola Water Board Bushmans Reverse Osmosis Plant: Transfer Proposed

The Amatola Water Board (AWB) has failed to meet the essential minimum water requirements of 3.5 megaliters (ML) per 24 hours in Ward 3 and Ward 4 of the Ndlambe Municipality, consistently supplying only 1 ML1. This shortfall has necessitated the transfer of the Bushmans Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant to the municipality.

• The current water demand in the region is 3.5ML per 24 hours, significantly increasing during holidays and festive seasons.
• The municipality currently receives potable water from two sources: the Bushmans River Mouth and the Sea Water Reverse Osmosis Plant.

In May 2023, a technical task team comprising representatives from the Department of Water and Sanitation, AWB, and the Ndlambe Municipality was established to oversee the plant’s transfer1. The task team determined that the plant should be transferred to the municipality.

• While a draft agreement was prepared and reviewed, the Department of Water and Sanitation revealed that the RO plant had never been transferred to the AWB.
• This nullified the initial transfer process and the parties involved are now working towards transferring the plant directly from the Department to the municipality.

However, legal opinion provided by the Department of Water and Sanitation on March 13, 2024, concluded that AWB does not have the authority to transfer the right to use the plant to the municipality.

• The legal opinion cited the fact that the plant was never transferred to AWB, rendering the initial transfer agreement void.
• The opinion recommends that the Department of Water and Sanitation initiate the transfer and registration of the plant to the municipality.

In March 2024, the municipality recommended that the mayor write a request to the Minister of Water and Sanitation to expedite the transfer process.

Ratepayers Revolt has the following questions:

• How will a transfer of ownership raise daily production from 1 to 3.5 ML?
• Can the RO plant be operated economically?
• Does the municipality understand the root cause of the current operational problems?