NGQELENI WATER TREATMENT PLANT: RESTORING WATER SECURITY AND BUILDING RESILIENCE
 
Following a devastating stormwater disaster that severely affected the Nqeleni Water Treatment Plant in Nyandeni Local Municipality , O.R. Tambo District Municipality is undertaking rehabilitation and infrastructure recovery to restore the facility and strengthen its resilience against future flooding.
The disaster resulted in excessive surface-water runoff and flooding, damaging critical treatment infrastructure, electrical and mechanical equipment, access roads, drainage systems and associated services. This significantly affected the plant’s operational capacity and increased the risk of interruptions to the supply of safe and reliable potable water.
The rehabilitation project will focus on restoring the plant to full and reliable operation while introducing measures to better protect critical infrastructure from future stormwater events.
Key interventions include the repair or replacement of damaged pumps, motors, valves and electrical equipment; rehabilitation of treatment units and pipelines; improvements to stormwater channels, culverts and drainage systems; and the installation of flood-protection measures.
With an indicative budget of R2 million and an estimated duration of 6–12 months, the project is expected to improve the reliability of potable-water production, reduce operational disruptions and strengthen the resilience of this critical municipal infrastructure.
Ultimately, the project is about more than repairing infrastructure — it is about restoring water security, protecting public health and ensuring that Ngqeleni is better prepared for future extreme weather events.