Western Cape Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell says progress is being made in addressing Knysna’s water crisis, as dam levels rise and emergency interventions continue. The update comes amid broader concerns about long-term water security in the Southern Cape.

Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, today said he is encouraged by the progress being made in addressing Knysna’s water crisis.

The Joint Operations Committee (JOC) tasked with overseeing Knysna’s water situation reported that the level of the Akkerkloof Dam has increased from 15% to 20.9%. Current water usage in Knysna is approximately 10.1kilolitres per day, translating into a water buffer of 17 days. This is a notable improvement from the 10-day buffer reported just two weeks ago.

Plumbing teams have repaired 29 minor water leaks, with no major pipe bursts reported in recent days. Water pumps across the system remain stable and are operating within their specification parameters. The Charlsford and Eastford pump stations are currently abstracting water from the Knysna River at a rate of 210 liters per second.

The Akkerkloof pump station currently operates at 44 liters per second, while the Glebe Dam pump station is also pumping at 33 liters per second.The JOC has further committed to installing 1 000 water meters per week going forward.This intervention aims to replace approximately 8 000 bypassed meters, which are currently hampering effective water management in Knysna.

In addition, the JOC is developing a fire hydrant repair plan to improve system integrity and fire-fighting readiness.“I am pleased with the progress being reported. While the immediate focus is on Knysna, the entire Southern Cape region remains water-stressed, and current weather forecasts for the Western Cape point to a dry winter ahead. Effective water management in all our towns will be critical in the year ahead. We cannot control the rain, but we have full control over how we manage the water resources at our disposal,” Minister Bredell said.

Knysna continues to face significant water challenges linked to a prolonged localised drought and long-standing infrastructure issues. The crisis has drawn comparisons to Cape Town’s “Day Zero”, prompting intervention from national government earlier this year.

Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina previously warned that low dam levels required urgent action, backing calls for Knysna to be declared a disaster area to unlock additional resources. “Immediate interventions are critical,” she said during a recent visit to the area.

Government has since committed R20 million in emergency funding to assist the municipality, alongside technical support to assess the refurbishment of the Knysna Desalination Plant and investigate long-term solutions, including the feasibility of a new small dam.

Department of Water and Sanitation Director-General Dr Sean Phillips stressed the importance of enforcing water restrictions to stretch remaining supplies, warning that restrictions “need to be reinforced”. He also stressed the importance of effective communication between the municipality and residents, particularly regarding water usage restrictions currently in place that have seen insufficient enforcement. “There is a level 4 water restriction which is a strong restriction, but they are not enforcing it enough. We need to stretch the remaining days of water; restrictions need to be reinforced,” he cautioned.

Gift of the Givers  spokesperson Mario Ferreira  said “we’ve mobilised three 35 000-litre tankers along with additional units to support hospitals, clinics, schools, and other key public services.”

amahle.luke@africannewsagency.com

Saturday Star

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