Xonxa dam finally flows to thirsty Komani

The 18,463  households in Komani are eagerly awaiting the delivery of water from an 89% full Xonxa dam after the first five million litres finally reached the town.

It has taken a staggering 16 years from conception of the plan to delivery of the first litre on Tuesday. The dam is 34km from Komani by road.

Shoddy work and technical problems dogged the project, said Chris Hani district municipality (CHDM) mayor Wongama Gela, who hailed the arrival of the Xonxa water as the beginning of the end of agony for the town and surrounds.

He said a supply test on Tuesday had seen the first flow into the Berry Dam in Komani.  

“Five million litres of raw water was released to Komani, signalling the near end of agony endured by communities and businesses as a result of drought in the area.

“The take-off of the project will gradually ease water cuts as all final preparations are complete at the water treatment works,” he said.

Gela said Komani has been getting water solely from the Waterdown dam since 2016, when the Bonkolo dam dried up.

“Komani is the most populated town in CHDM. It serves as the economic hub and a hive for employment opportunities.

“Reliable water service provision is imperative,” Gela said.

He said the R546m, 6-phase project was conceived in 2003, followed by a feasibility study conducted in 2006, with actual works on phase 1 starting in 2012.

“The project, funded by the department of water & sanitation, had to be implemented in phases due to its magnitude and financial constraints.

“Provision of water to Komani marks the completion of phase 5, which experienced many delays caused mainly by poor workmanship and technical challenges,” Gela said.

He said the Waterdown dam water level was at an all-time low of 16.8%. 

“In contrast, Xonxa is at 89%. CHDM has a long-term plan to construct a water treatment plant in close proximity to the dam to ensure supply of clean drinking water from the same source to surrounding villages,” he said.

“Komani residents are still urged to use water economically as drought still lingers on in our areas.”

Ken Clark, chair of Let’s Talk Komani, representing 27 organisations in the town, said everyone felt encouraged by the strength of collective action to prod the government and its contractors into getting the job done.

 “We are relieved our pro-bono efforts to fast-track the commissioning of CHDM’s Xonxa dam pipeline were successful and that our Berry dam is now filling up,” he said.

Clark said the water would nourish every segment of the community.

“Sadly, though, as long as the drought continues, our water from Xonxa will be expensive as transporting [pumping] it over the mountain is more expensive than when it comes from the gravity-fed Waterdown dam, which is now almost empty,” Clark said.

“We have been  encouraged to hear that the mayoral committee will be discussing the terms of reference for a private-public partnership with Let’s Talk Komani.

“It could result in fast-tracking the resolution of other urgent infrastructure issues that grossly compromise the wellbeing of our society, like water reticulation and sewerage works.”