George – South Africa joined the world and celebrated World Water Day over the weekend.
On Saturday (March 22, 2025), the newly upgraded Garden Route Dam Raw Water Pump Station was handed over to George Local Government in the Western Cape to mark World Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina.
“The upgraded work at the dam and pump stations included not only increasing the raw water capacity to the balance dam to replace the old 600 600 diameter steel outlet pipes, but also fitting two 1250 kVA generators to ensure uninterrupted pumping during periods of power failure.
“This project is one of 12 sub-projects of the Water Security and Relief Work Project in operation in the municipality, worth more than R100 million and is funded by the Treasury Budget Facilities (BFI) through the Ministry of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG).”
The Department of Water and Sanitation will fund the municipality for the implementation of the project over four years through grants.
“The City of George, who is also an agent for implementing the project, has donated an additional R305 million to bring the total budget to R1.4 billion,” the department revealed.
“The multiphase project will begin in 2022 and is expected to be completed by December 2025.”
Minister Majodina said taking over the completed project in George city reaffirms the government's commitment to expanding access to safe drinking water for all citizens.
“The city of George is currently growing rapidly in its current daily drinking water demand of 38 megalitres per day, and is projected to increase to 106 megalitres per day over the next 50 years,” Minister Majodina said.
“Today is a demonstration of our commitment to ensuring we meet the increasing water demand brought about by rapid population growth.”
Minister Majodina said the project is an example of successful intersectoral cooperation between national, state and local governments.
She added that the project will ensure that local governments will ensure sustainable water supplies for future generations.
George Mayor Jacqueline von Brandis expressed his deep gratitude to the Minister and the Finance Department, saying it has unlocked the economic and socioeconomic opportunities for municipalities, including tourism.
“Today, we are celebrating examples of intergovernmental success,” Mayor Von Brandis said.
“We are here to showcase the excellent work and service delivery that we can work together to achieve.
“Our BFI grants have helped us make great strides to ensure that our growing cities are protected for the future.
“I would like to thank the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and Government Bonds for this investment.”
George City and Town currently provides water services to over 294 residents of 85 931 households in 28 wards, including coastal areas such as Pacarzdorp, Tenbaletu, Kreinklands, Wilderness, Victoria Bay, Herold Bay and Gwaing.
Over the years, municipalities have grown significantly in population, with 12 phases of the project increasing the water safety and resilience of the current population and maintaining future expansion of various regions within George.
“This project will also prevent sewage runoff through critical sewage pump station upgrades,” the department said.
“The core of this project is to increase the security of raw water supply to the Garden Route Dam and the Raw Water Balance Dam, and increase the capacity of two Water Treatment Works (WTW) that currently provides 38 megalitres (ML/D) to the community.
“Therefore, this project will increase this capacity to 60 ml/d through the construction of a new 20 ml/d expansion and an upgrade of the old WTW.”
The department said there will be an increase in raw water and storage through an upgrade of the Kaiamans River raw water pump station, which will pump water from the Kaiamans River to the Garden Route Dam, which enhances the availability and security of most raw water to George's current and future population.
The scope of the 12 subprojects involves:
New 20 ml/d water treatment adjacent to the old 38 ml/d water treatment plant works adjacent to the rehabilitation construction of the new sludge treatment plant in the old water treatment plant. Pacaltsdorp (West) Reservoir (West) New Reservoir, Towers, Pump Stations New Pump Station and New Reservoir in Thembalethu (West) Upgrade of the supply pipeline for the pump stations in Thembalethu (West)
The department said the city of George is being prepared for current and future residential and commercial developments east of George, with two other prominent future development areas east of Tembaletu and south of Pakarzdorp.
“The Water Security and Relief Work Project therefore ensures that water services are provided to new housing units and commercial and industrial sites,” the department said.
