Challenges of reactive maintenance in water infrastructure at Lepelle Northern Water in Limpopo province

Abstract

Lepelle Northern Water has a mandate from the Department of Water and Sanitation to provide bulk water services in Limpopo province, South Africa. Currently, high water demand outstrips the supply, and the situation requires that infrastructure be resilient to environmental challenges, demand challenges, and economic challenges. The ageing water infrastructure needs an effective maintenance strategy that can respond to high water demand. Lack of water in the areas where Lepelle Northern Water operates necessitates immediate and effective action. The maintenance management framework and maintenance strategies such as Reliability Centered maintenance give guidelines on the processes to be put in place to respond to maintenance challenges. Stakeholders and communities are raising concerns about the interruption of water services while others showed their frustrations by vandalising the water system. This research investigated challenges and the impact of reactive maintenance on water supply. The study further established solutions to minimise maintenance challenges as stakeholders are affected by infrastructure failures. The study adopted a qualitative approach to collect data to address the aims and objectives of the study. Participants in the study were purposively selected and they were sourced from the four regions where Lepelle Northern Water operates. Structured interviews and questionnaires were used as the main data collection tools. Interviews were used to establish the understanding of participants on the strategic role of maintenance and their experience of the challenges of reactive maintenance. An important finding from the study highlights that a preventive maintenance strategy was the initial strategy adopted by Lepelle Northern Water. From the implementation of the strategy, departments were operating in silos and not supporting each other. Due to internal working conditions and external economic developments over time, there was a shift from preventive to reactive maintenance. A general observation was made that management had put in place Information iii Technology Systems, processes, standards, and procedures but there was no integration of systems. The study further noted that stakeholders are negatively affected by reactive maintenance and the ageing infrastructure was another factor contributing to water supply interruptions. This study, therefore, proposes the adoption of a preventive maintenance strategy by Lepelle Northern Water and that the strategy is integrated with other maintenance strategies. It further recommends future research to consider covering other South African Water Boards to deepen the understanding of the challenges of reactive maintenance in the maintenance of water infrastructure.