eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal — The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has intensified its commitment to long-term water security through a coordinated portfolio of high-value infrastructure developments, targeting enhanced supply reliability and improved service outcomes for residents across the metro.
Central to this effort is the Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, which has now progressed into its second implementation phase with a total investment of R11 billion. The initiative comprises a new storage dam, raw water abstraction infrastructure, and a state-of-the-art treatment facility. When fully operational, the scheme will yield 100 megalitres of potable water per day, with 75 megalitres designated for direct distribution within eThekwini’s municipal boundaries.
Mayor Cyril Xaba confirmed during a Thursday media engagement that this volume will comprehensively serve southern localities stretching from Isipingo to uMkhomazi. “By meeting demand in these southern zones, we unlock capacity to redirect existing supplies toward central, northern, and outer western precincts—creating a more balanced and resilient network,” the Mayor stated.
The scheme’s first phase delivered essential raw water components, notably the Ngwadini and Goodenough systems. Phase 2 transitions focus to finished water delivery, incorporating a 100 ML/day treatment plant, gravity-fed pipeline infrastructure, and augmented reservoir storage. Although legal proceedings previously impacted timelines, the municipality announced last week that the contractor for Phase 2 of the Water Treatment Works has been formally appointed. Umgeni-uThukela Water has since reaffirmed its target to commence water delivery from the scheme by the close of 2027.
Unified Leadership Accelerating Service Delivery
Infrastructure coordination is being advanced through the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, which facilitates alignment across national, provincial, and local spheres of government. This integrated approach has produced measurable outcomes: for the first time in half a decade, the municipality’s primary bulk reservoirs maintained consistent levels throughout the recent holiday period. Treatment plants at Durban Heights, Wiggins, and Midmar functioned at optimal capacity, enabling continuous supply to households across northern, central, and southern zones—a pattern that has held steady in the months since.
Underpinning this stability are strategic investments in the Northern Aqueduct and the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Ntuzuma Pump Station, both of which have materially improved supply consistency in northern suburbs.
Southern Aqueduct Renewal: Modernising a Vital Artery
Simultaneously, progress continues on the R1.2 billion Southern Aqueduct Project, a 24-kilometre bulk water pipeline initiative. The undertaking involves replacing an aging 900mm concrete main—installed seven decades ago—with a modern 1,200mm steel pipeline. This upgrade is designed to enhance hydraulic performance and supply reliability from Durban’s central business district through to southern communities.
Serving roughly 1.2 million residents via a network of 33 reservoirs, the Southern Aqueduct represents one of the municipality’s highest-priority infrastructure interventions. Its objectives include strengthening the bulk transmission network, minimising non-revenue water losses, and elevating overall service standards.
Mayor Xaba indicated that multiple work packages under the Southern Aqueduct upgrade have already been finalised, expressing confidence that the full R1.2 billion initiative will reach completion by December 2026. “This milestone will deliver meaningful, enduring benefits to over a million residents in southern Durban,” he affirmed.
Current Implementation Status
- Work Package One has been successfully commissioned. This segment includes approximately four kilometres of newly installed steel pipeline, establishing connectivity between the Westcliff Reservoir, Chatsworth Reservoir 1, and downstream storage facilities in Umlazi.
- Work Package Three remains aligned with its schedule for commissioning by the end of May 2026.
- Preparatory activities for the concrete pipeline section along Northbourne Road in Westville are advancing, with pipe installation formally scheduled to begin on 27 May 2026.
Following a planned system shutdown and tie-in operations, the network’s temporary inability to function at full capacity necessitated the implementation of emergency water rationing measures. These restrictions are expected to remain in effect until 27 May 2026. Earlier preparatory activities experienced minor delays due to the complex relocation of fibre-optic and electrical utilities situated within the construction corridor.
Forward Momentum
As these interconnected projects advance, the eThekwini Municipality remains focused on maintaining open channels of communication with stakeholders and the public. Through strategic capital allocation, phased execution, and multi-sphere government collaboration, the city is building a more dependable, efficient, and sustainable water infrastructure foundation for generations to come.