Johannesburg: The Department of Water and Sanitation has confirmed that the maintenance, repair, and refurbishment of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Tunnel are proceeding according to schedule. Maintenance work, which commenced on 1 October 2024, is set to be completed within a six-month timeframe.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) is overseeing the maintenance operations on the South African side, while the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency (LHDA) is responsible for the transfer tunnels at the Muela hydro power station in Lesotho. The department is closely monitoring the progress of the repair work and is confident that the project will adhere to the planned timeline.

The department is also keeping a watchful eye on the water supply to communities under the local municipalities of Dihlabeng, Nketoane, and Mafube, which are situated along the Liebenbergsvlei and Wilge Rivers. These communities, directly benefiting from the LHWP, have
been impacted by the tunnel closure. Additionally, towns in the Setsoto and Mantsopa municipalities in the Free State, which rely on water from the Caledon, Vaal, and Rhenoster rivers, are being monitored as they benefit indirectly from the project.

To mitigate the effects of the maintenance shutdown, the department has launched relief intervention programs for the affected municipalities. These initiatives include upgrading water treatment facilities, raw water pumps, and abstraction works, as well as constructing new reservoirs and developing groundwater resources through the drilling and equipping of boreholes. These projects are deemed crucial for maintaining a sustainable water supply during the tunnel system shutdown.

Due to the closure, municipalities have had to enforce water restrictions, especially concerning irrigation activities. The department has also issued a gazette on water usage by farmers in the area, effective from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025. It specifies that water users on the lef
t bank of the Ash and Liebenbergsvlei rivers may extract water for agricultural purposes from 6 am on Mondays to 6 am on Wednesdays, while those on the right bank can do so from 6 am on Wednesdays to 6 am on Fridays.

The restrictions are deemed necessary to ensure adequate water supply during the tunnel’s closure. The department, in collaboration with the affected municipalities, continues to engage with communities through public education programs to promote responsible water usage and conservation during this critical period.