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Residents of Jericho in North West yesterday welcomed plans by the government to supply drinking water to their village in about two weeks.

The announcement to lay out a R2,8 million pipeline that will connect a reservoir to two boreholes to supply water to the village was announced by officials of Department of Water and Sanitation, provincial Local Government and Human Settlement, as well as Madibeng Local Municipality. Magalies Water, which was appointed as an implementing agent , has appointed a contractor to start with digging of a trench to lay pipes next week.

The contractor started his work last week by conducting a site establishment and he will employ locals to create jobs in the area. However, the first phase of the project will not employ as many people because of its small nature. However, more people will be employed in the second phase as it will involve massive development from Brits town to Jericho.

The laying of the pipes will form part of Phase One of the water project that will supply water from the existing boreholes. According to the plan that was unveiled yesterday, Phase One will be completed in about a month’s time before Phase Two is implemented. The second phase will include the yard connections of households in the village to enable residents to access water in their yards. A pipeline will be connected to the Brits Treatment Plant to ensure a regular supply of drinking water.

However, residents were asked to disconnect their illegal pipes that are currently negatively affecting the reticulation of water from the reservoir.

Lucky Fourie from the Local Government department appealed to the residents to be united to hasten the implementation of the water project.

Issued by Department of Water and Sanitation