BRIM Consortium
536 Schoeman Street Old Mutual Building Block A 1st Floor Arcadia 0083 PO Box 40193Arcadia 0007 Tel 012 440 9723/4 Fax 012 440 8137

Tradeworx 178 (PTY) Ltd trading as BRIM Consortium Registration number: 2003/018849/07

Directors: GH Croucamp, AJ Greyling, PD Naidoo, Z Manase

Ref: 0329/00

29 March 2006

Municipal Manager

KungwiniLocalMunicipality

P O Box 40

BRONKHORSTSPRUIT

1020

Attention: Mr J Gomba

Dear sir

DRINKING WATER QUALITY

Further to my communication of 28 March 2006 in the above regard, I can now report that the incidence of faecal contamination of drinking water was limited to an area in Zithobeni which is served by an elevated reservoir. Actions have already been put into motion to resolve the problem.

However, during our investigations, and during our involvement with Kungwini over the past year, certain problems have come to light which are reason for serious concern.

  1. The condition, operation and maintenance of the water treatment plants are not up to the required standard, and should be addressed urgently. A report on the main treatment plant in this regard was given to Mr Maake in July 2005. A copy of this report is attached for your attention. Various recommendations were made in the report, but the procurement of chemicals for which we are currently calling for tenders, is the only one of them which has been taken any further.
  1. The reservoir and chlorine contact tank at the treatment plant has clearly not been properly cleaned in years. Thick scum is evident against the walls, and hanging from the roof. The scum is probably the remains of flotsam from the dissolved air flotation (daf) bays, which has found its way into the reservoir through cracks in the filter media, which cracks have developed over time as a result of poor housekeeping. The reservoir and contact channels should be cleaned and sanitised on a regular basis.
  1. The one clear water pump, which has recently been completely refurbished, is seriously cavitating, which is extremely harmful to the pump. We are assuming that it may be due to a slight restriction on the suction side, which will probably be resolved once the reservoir has been cleaned.
  1. During the weekend of 25 March 2006, the plant ran out of Chlorine cylinders, and had to make do with cylinders which could not handle the required dosing rates, with the result that the rate of dosing was less than 50% of the required rate. Such a situation is perfect for the outbreak of disease. There should always be at least two extra chlorine cylinders on standby.
  1. During the week of 20 March 2006 a young man from Zithobeni, who was walking on the weir in the Bronkhorstspruit, fell into the water and drowned, in close proximity to the water intake to the treatment plant. His body could only be removed a few days later. During the recovery it was discovered that there was a dead horse in the water which was already decomposing, also in close proximity of the intake. The area around the intake should be protected against access by people and animals.
  1. Raw sewage from a spillage in Zithobeni is finding its way into the Bronkhorstspruit in close proximity and upstream from the intake. This spillage has reportedly been going on for several years without intervention. This problem should be resolved immediately.
  1. Quality control at all the treatment plants is seriously lacking. Chemical, physical and bacteriological testing should be carried out on a regular basis, but this is not happening. Kungwini is producing drinking water for about 400 000 people, which carries with it an enormous responsibility, which responsibility is sadly failing.
  1. Reservoirs and other water retaining structures in the system should be cleaned, flushed and sanitised on a regular basis, preferable once a year. There is no evidence that this is happening. Dirty systems absorb free chlorine in the system, which in turn renders the sanitation of the water ineffective. This was exactly the reason for this latest occurrence of faecal contamination.
  1. There seems to be a shocking disregard for safety at all treatment plants. People are working with dangerous materials and in dangerous conditions without any protective measures. We have noticed on occasion people working, while standing in water in which live electric cables were immersed. Along the same lines it has come to our notice that three newly appointed electricians are reluctant to work, because they have not been issued with protective clothing.
  1. Your operating and maintenance staff are all hampered in their efforts by a lack of proper transport. Many of them do not have any transport, and those who have must use vehicles which are in a poor state of repair.
  1. There is virtually no access control at any of the treatment plants, and this is a very unhealthy situation. Not only can it expose the municipality to vandalism and theft of municipal property, but it leaves the municipality vulnerable in the case of injury or loss by a member of the public.
  1. It is reported that developments around the dam are allowing untreated and partly treated sewage to enter the dam. We could not verify this, as we were prevented access to these areas. It is suggested that somebody with the proper authority investigates these allegations.
  1. During our refurbishment work on some of the installations, it emerged that maintenance staff is apparently pirating parts from some installations, to keep other installations going. This is a very uneconomical practice and could probably point to a deficiency in your supply chain management.

We are of the opinion that the water and sanitation infrastructure of Kungwini needs urgent refurbishment, and the implementation of best practice asset management principles to raise the level of operation and maintenance services provided. This could possible be achieved through outsourcing of the operation and maintenance of all treatment plants to a private operator, and we have already started with the preparation of tender documentation for this purpose, following a request by Mr Maake. But you cannot outsource the work with the plants in their current condition.

We are available to discuss a strategy in this regard.

Yours faithfully

J M Pienaar

On behalf of

BRIM Consortium

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