UMGENI Water and Mhlathuze Water are to reconfigure to form a single water board and, as a result, the name will change, Umgeni Water announced on SENS yesterday afternoon.
The statement continues: “Further to the announcement released on SENS on 8 May 2023, noteholders are advised that Senzo Mchunu, in his capacity as Minister of Water and Sanitation, has given notice that the change of name of Umgeni Water to uMngeni – uThukela Water will be effective from 1 July 2023 as confirmed in Government Gazette No 48833 dated 19 June 2023.
“The change of name follows the incorporation of the geographic area of operations of Umgeni Water and the former Mhlathuze Water as a result of an extension of the boundary of Umgeni Water to include Mhlathuze Water to form a single water board in KwaZulu-Natal and to facilitate the transfer of staff, assets and liabilities to Umgeni Water.”
Umgeni Water
Umgeni Water is an SOE, established in 1974, to provide water and related services to other water services institutions and other customers in its gazetted service area. The entity operates in accordance with the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997) and the Public Finance Management Act (Act 1 of 1999), among others, and is categorised as a National Government Business Enterprise.
According to Umgeni Water’s website, KwaZulu-Natal is the gazetted supply area of Umgeni Water and Mhlathuze Water, which straddles a total geographical area of 94 359 km2 and is home to 11.1 million people and 2.9 million households.
KwaZulu-Natal comprises one Metropolitan Municipality, 10 District Municipalities and 43 Local Municipalities. A total of 14 of these municipalities are Water Services Authorities (direct retail customers) as defined in the Water Services Act.
Umgeni Water focuses on service delivery and largely derived revenues from seven customers:
- eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality;
• iLembe District Municipality;
• Ugu District Municipality;
• Harry Gwala District Municipality;
• uMgungundlovu District Municipality;
• Msunduzi Municipality;
• King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
Umgeni Water’s customers are spread across more than 39% of KZN’s geographical area are and home to more than 52% of households.
Umgeni Water’s infrastructure assets in support of its bulk water services business comprises:
- Approximately 930 km of pipelines and 53km of tunnels;
• Fourteen impoundments;
• Forty-eight water treatment works;
• Eleven wastewater treatment works.
Mhlathuze Water
Mhlathuze Water is a state-owned entity established in 1980 that predominantly operates in the uMkhanyakude, King Cetshwayo and Zululand District Municipalities, according to its website.
Mhlathuze Water is supplied by three dominant water sources namely: Mhlathuze River, Lake Mzingazi and Lake Nsezi. The organisation’s business activities include raw (untreated), clarified (partially treated) and purified water supply; disposal of industrial and domestic wastewater; and scientific services, The organisation provides these bulk water services in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, according to its website.
The organisation says that its major clients include: Foskor, Richards Bay Minerals, City of uMhlathuze and Mondi.
