The head of eThekwini's Water and Sanitation department, Ednick Msweli, has assured residents that the Inanda Dam remains unaffected by the algae blooms that have been disrupting the city's water supply. Despite this, Msweli informed a full council meeting on Thursday that drawing water from Inanda Dam to alleviate ongoing water shortages in Durban's northern regions is currently not an option.
"The pumps at Inanda Dam, which Umgeni Water is responsible for using to transfer water from Inanda to replace supply from Nagle Dam, are contaminated," Msweli explained. "These pumps are undergoing commissioning and are currently being repaired. As a result, uMngeni-uThukela Water is unable to utilize the water at Inanda Dam."
The ongoing water shortages have been exacerbated by the reduced water supply from the Durban Heights Treatment Works. The city has reported that only one bulk pipeline is operational, leading to a diminished flow of water to eThekwini's reservoirs.
Both uMngeni-uThukela Water and the eThekwini Municipality have issued apologies to residents for the continued disruptions.