Umgeni Water in talks to exempt treatment plants from blackouts
Umgeni Water says it's in discussions with municipalities and Eskom to see if essential infrastructure like water treatment plants can be exempt from load shedding.
The water utility says when load shedding hits, they are unable to pump drinking water to its reservoirs and the reservoirs of the municipalities it supplies.
The Umgungundlovu, iLembe, Ugu, Harry Gwala, King Cetshwayo Districts and eThekwini Metro are affected.
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Spokesperson Shami Harichunder says the issue is exacerbated during stage 6 load shedding when power supply interruptions are frequent.
"The situation is of great concern to Umgeni Water, with the exception of some plants that are excluded from load shedding, particularly Durban Heights, Midmar, and Hazelmere.
"The rest of the plants within Umgeni Water's operational area - and there are quite a few in the south coast and within the Umgungundlovu District, these plants are suffering badly because they are depending entirely on electricity to function adequately.
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"Large parts of the Umdloti area are left without water whenever load shedding, particularly when stage 6 occurs."
