Purified sewerage water, top, pours into the Olifants River at the Riverview sewerage treatment plant in Witbank. Should the plant suffer a power failure when a cable is stolen (it happens all over SA), there exists no back-up power supply. The result is that untreated sewerage would pour into the river.The design capacity is currently being exceeded, and the plant needs to be upgraded to 17Ml per day. The cost of upgrading and structural changes required will cost approximately R18 million. (Source: Emalahleni 2007 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) 19)
Klipspruit and Riverview sewer treatment plants are situated downstream of Witbank (Emalahleni) dam, and the possibility of recycling a portion of their effluent to the dam was investigated, and will yield a combined flow of 30Ml per day to the dam. The capital costs for such a system will be approximately R40 120 000.00. This approach will boost the yield of the dam. (Source: Emalahleni 2007 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) 17)