Umgeni Water, Cape Town in talks over constructing desalination plant
Umgeni Water says it's still discussing terms and conditions with the City of Cape Town before it can begin building a desalination plant there.
The water utility's Thami Hlongwa says the Department of Water and Sanitation asked Umgeni Water to investigate possible interventions to help alleviate the water crisis in the Mother City.
Hlongwa says they will need to be on the same page with Cape Town city officials before any work can begin.
The Umgeni System was not imposed on Cape Town.
— Nushera Raisa (@nushera) February 13, 2018
This is according to the utility’s Acting Chief Executive, Thami Hlongwa who briefed the media at Albert Falls this morning. #UmgeniWater pic.twitter.com/CSh4jxxj4T
"We are then trying to agree on the terms and conditions as far as the implementation of the desalination plant in that area. Particularly, they are the ones who are going to have to take the water and reticulate to their customers.
"There needs to be that agreement. We are basically crossing the t's and dotting the i's at the administration level. As soon as that is done - we will be able to move in.
"If however, we do not agree, we will not be able to move in there because someone will have to sign an agreement to take the water that we will be treating," he says.