Babanango Water Project launched to benefit over 250,000 households in KZN

During an inspection at the Ulundi Local Municipality, Minister Mchunu officially launched the Babanango/Inhlengile Spring Water Project.

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, announced a significant initiative to convert water from a natural spring in Babanango into high-quality drinking water, benefiting over 250,000 households in the Zululand and uMzinyathi District Municipalities. This project is part of the department's broader efforts to diversify South Africa's water resources to ensure water security.

During an inspection at the Ulundi Local Municipality, Minister Mchunu officially launched the Babanango/Inhlengile Spring Water Project. This emergency upgrade of the Babanango/Inhlengile Communal Water Supply Scheme is managed by uMngeni-uThukela Water. The project addresses the inconsistent water supply in Inhlengile, where community members discovered the springs and sought assistance from the department.

Initial scientific tests indicated that the spring water contained elements unsuitable for human consumption. Consequently, the department appointed uMngeni-uThukela Water to oversee the necessary upgrades. Construction has commenced to enhance the water quality, and the project is now 70% complete. Once finished, it will produce approximately 0.5 megalitres of purified water daily, serving communities in both districts.

The project's scope includes constructing a water treatment facility and a packaging plant to ensure the spring water meets SANS 241 standards for safe drinking water. Purified water will be transferred through a 6-kilometre pipeline to a 500-kilolitre storage tank, providing a reliable supply of fresh water to the communities.

Minister Mchunu emphasized that this project offers a more sustainable and dependable solution compared to alternatives like water tankers and boreholes. He stressed that managing water resources effectively is a core responsibility of the Department of Water and Sanitation, ensuring benefits for current and future generations. This project also supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to provide clean water and sanitation for all.

The fresh water supply from the Babanango springs is expected to reach the Zululand and uMzinyathi communities by the end of July this year.