Please bear with us, our water supply is affected by power outage - uMngeni-uThukela Water

Friday, February 2, 2024 – The Midmar Water Works is currently not operating because of an unscheduled power outage.

In a statement, uMngeni-uThukela Water said due to the power outage, they are unable to supply bulk water to parts of the uMgungundlovu, Msunduzi Local Municipality and the eThekwini Metro which are all fed from the Midmar Water Works.

Areas that have been affected because of the power outage include Howick, Hilton, Mpophomeni, Vulindlela, parts of Pietermaritzburg, Camperdown, Eston, Umbumbulu and parts of the outer west of eThekwini.

uMngeni-uThukela Water’s spokesperson Siyabonga Maphumulo said the outage was caused by Eskom shutting the power off for “maintenance work in the area.”Maphumulo explained that water treatment plants require electricity so that they can pump water and that, normally, outages are communicated in advance.

However, he said, communication could not be disseminated before the outage as he only became aware of the power being turned off when he contacted Eskom and found out about the maintenance.

Maphumulo added that he did ask Eskom when the power could be expected to be restored, but the power utility did not say when the power would be restored.