Although water supply was restored to large parts of East London yesterday, many businesses, hospitals and private residences were still affected by low pressure in water infrastructure.
The Border-Kei Chamber of Business said losses to businesses due to the water crisis amounted to more than R400-million.
Most schools reported that operations were back to normal.
Frere Hospital CEO Rolene Wagner said the water pressure was not at the level required to supply the entire hospital.
“The hospital and the maternity unit are being fed by BCM supply, and supported by tankers from BCM and tankers from a private service provider. This will continue until there is adequate pressure in the system to run off the BCM line only.”
Wagner said only the laundry units were operating solely on BCM supply. On Monday the hospital switched over to its 440000l back-up reservoir system.
Wagner said during the night on Tuesday 250000l of water was delivered to the hospital’s reservoirs by BCM and the private service provider.
She said as a precaution the hospital had started off the day with only emergency and urgent operations being undertaken and by yesterday afternoon had reached full functionality in areas supporting theatre services.
Operations at East London’s Mercedes-Benz South Africa plant also resumed yesterday. The plant announced a shutdown at 2pm on Tuesday.
“Plans are in place to recover any losses without any impact to our production programme,” spokesman Asanda Fongqo said.
The Border-Kei Chamber of Business said the water cuts had “a dramatic impact on business in the metro”.
Chamber executive director Les Holbrook said: “The lack of communication and relevant information has led to speculation and damaging rumours, and stimulated knee-jerk responses by business. The resultant losses so far total R460-million and are likely to be higher as it takes time for the water to be restored and business to return to normal.
“Whilst we gather our resources and restart industry and commerce we call on our metro leadership to implement sweeping changes that ensure such a disaster never occurs again, and further implement a far-reaching communication strategy where every business and household is not left guessing what the actual situation is.”
Low pressure hampers many
The Border-Kei Chamber of Business said losses to businesses due to the water crisis amounted to more than R400-million.
Most schools reported that operations were back to normal.
Frere Hospital CEO Rolene Wagner said the water pressure was not at the level required to supply the entire hospital.
“The hospital and the maternity unit are being fed by BCM supply, and supported by tankers from BCM and tankers from a private service provider. This will continue until there is adequate pressure in the system to run off the BCM line only.”
Wagner said only the laundry units were operating solely on BCM supply. On Monday the hospital switched over to its 440000l back-up reservoir system.
Wagner said during the night on Tuesday 250000l of water was delivered to the hospital’s reservoirs by BCM and the private service provider.
She said as a precaution the hospital had started off the day with only emergency and urgent operations being undertaken and by yesterday afternoon had reached full functionality in areas supporting theatre services.
Operations at East London’s Mercedes-Benz South Africa plant also resumed yesterday. The plant announced a shutdown at 2pm on Tuesday.
“Plans are in place to recover any losses without any impact to our production programme,” spokesman Asanda Fongqo said.
The Border-Kei Chamber of Business said the water cuts had “a dramatic impact on business in the metro”.
Chamber executive director Les Holbrook said: “The lack of communication and relevant information has led to speculation and damaging rumours, and stimulated knee-jerk responses by business. The resultant losses so far total R460-million and are likely to be higher as it takes time for the water to be restored and business to return to normal.
“Whilst we gather our resources and restart industry and commerce we call on our metro leadership to implement sweeping changes that ensure such a disaster never occurs again, and further implement a far-reaching communication strategy where every business and household is not left guessing what the actual situation is.”
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