Babatas community will soon have water
9 November 2020
SIOC-cdt, in partnership with Gamgara local municipality and Kathu Solar Pant, officially launched the Babatas Water Project on 28 October 2020.
This is one of the biggest water projects undertaken by SIOC-cdt and requires an investment of over R25-million. The project duration, inclusive of borehole investigations, design, procurement and construction is envisioned to commence in January 2020 and completion toward the end of 2021. The project will provide water for 600 stands and reticulation for 300 stands (starting with the 300 current stands).
The Babatas Community Property Association (CPA) is mostly a rural residential settlement with their main source of income coming from small scale farming of animals such as cattle, sheep and game. It is also a residential community for people who commute on a daily basis to Kathu and Kuruman.
Water is of significant importance for personal and agricultural use and is currently a real challenge. There are currently no formal facilities and the community is not connected to municipal bulk services such as water and electricity.
One old borehole is connected to a concrete reservoir and is piped into three 10 kilo litre storage water tanks. When the water system breaks down, which is a regular occurrence, locals have to fetch it from streams some distance away as well as contribute income that they do not have towards the diesel fuel required for the borehole pump (when that option is operational).
Post unsuccessful approaches to funders and the municipality, the CPA, through the mayor’s office approached SIOC-cdt for assistance. Whilst this is a long-term project, the Covid-19 pandemic and the increased need for adequate access to water has made this a priority project.
A planning committee was established in 2019 to workshop sustainable solutions to the water challenge. The Planning Committee consisted of representatives from SIOC-cdt, Gamagara local municipality, Renewable Energy Investments South Africa (REISA), Kathu Solar Park (KSP) and the JTG Developmental Trust.
The final feasibility report was submitted to SIOC-cdt on 10 March 2020 and outlined current water demands, the expected population growth rates, the sustainability of the proposed solutions and the future adaptability into the municipal infrastructure.
Water is life and so, SIOC-CDT is looking forward to positively impacting the lives of Babatas community members through this project, hoping that the project itself will create job opportunity and for local SMMEs as well.
