Nod given to new water supply line
ROB KNOWLES
NOTIFICATION has been given of the environmental authorisation to supply potable water by pipeline from the Cannon Rocks Bulk Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) plant to service Alexandria.
An environmental authorisation was issued by the national Department of Environmental Affairs and provincial Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs (Cacadu Region), respectively. The decision was made on November 21.
The planned pipeline forms part of the Ndlambe Bulk Water Supply Scheme undertaken by Ndlambe municipality last year to provide potable water throughout the municipality.
Following the prolonged droughts experienced in the area last year, Amatola Water was appointed by the Department of Water Affairs (DWA), on behalf of Ndlambe municipality, to implement a regional bulk water supply project within the municipal boundaries.
One phase of this initiative was the centralised desalination of groundwater at Cannon Rocks to supply its own area as well as Alexandria, Boknes, Bushman's River and Kenton-on-Sea. It will exploit existing and new boreholes, located predominantly on municipal land in Cannon Rocks, in order to provide up to 7.5 megalitres (ML)/day of raw water to the upgraded BWRO water treatment works.
The pipeline will pump up to 5.5 ML/day of potable water, which will be reticulated to Alexandria via an existing refurbished pipeline which passes through the Woody Cape section of the Addo Elephant National Park, Boknes, Bushman's and Kenton.
Should residents or other interested parties wish to appeal the decision, then notification must be submitted to the Minister of Environmental Affairs before December 11 followed by a full appeal in writing by December 21.
Information and guidance on the appeal process is available in the Environmental Impact Regulations, Government Notice 543, which can be found at www.environment.gov.za (environmental impact management).
Appeals should be sent to The Minister, Department of Environmental Affair, Private Bag X447, Pretoria 0001, 2nd Floor, Fedsure Forum Building, North Tower, Corner Pretorius and van der Walt Streets, Pretoria, or by facsimile: (012) 320-7561.
