Municipality to install eight generators amid energy crisis

30 May 2023

Municipality to install eight generators amid energy crisis

Eight generators are on their way to the greater Knysna area. Knysna Municipal Manager Ombali Sebola announced that the machines have been ordered and, once they arrive, will assist the municipality in delivering services to its residents during the foreseeable future of chronic loadshedding.

“Barring any unforeseen delays, we expect delivery of these generators by the end of May,” Sebola explained. “If all goes according to plan, they will be installed at strategic locations throughout the greater Knysna area by the end of June.”

These backup power sources will assist the municipality with the treatment and supply of water services to residents throughout the area. “Loadshedding continues to have a negative impact on our infrastructure,” he said. “The infrastructure that allows us to supply potable water and to treat wastewater are bearing the brunt of these extended periods without power. These generators will allow our pumpstations and other related machinery to operate properly.”

The generators will be installed at

• Sedgefield wastewater treatment works;
• Belvidere wastewater treatment works;
• Brenton wastewater treatment works;
• Bongani sewer pump station;
• Salt River sewer pump station;
• Ruigtevlei water pump station;
• Brenton water booster pump station, and
• Sedgefield borehole and booster pump station.

The procurement and installation of these emergency backup generators has been funded from the emergency funding released by The Western Cape Provincial Government to assist local municipalities in managing this problem. The total of R2.4 million allocated to Knysna Municipality through the Department of Local Government will be spent on obtaining and installing the generators.

“Our systems continue to take strain,” Sebola explained. “And, even when these generators have been installed and are fully functional, we must be mindful that those are not the ideal operating conditions for our sensitive infrastructure systems. I ask that all residents continue to use water sparingly at all times. Alleviating the strain on the system in terms of capacity will help to manage the problem and avoid potential health and environmental risks. So, please be mindful of the amount of water you flush into the system and limit your water usage. If we work together, we can flush the effect loadshedding has on our systems down the drain.”