The Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Nqaba Bhanga is appealing to businesses and residents to continue using water sparingly as the city’s overall dam supply dipped to 16.03 % on Monday.
Bhanga was speaking at the Nooitgedacht site visit earlier to monitor the progress made with the implementation of the low water level scheme.
He says if water consumption is not reduced then the city will continue having water problems.
He added that this will go hand in hand with fixing water leaks around the Bay.
Bhanga says this is a partnership between the government and residents to ensure that taps don’t run dry in eight months.
He says the Nooitgedacht water scheme will be commissioned in September to make sure it can supply water to the eastern parts of the Bay.
This is important to ensure that the city does not reach day zero.
The Gamtoos Irrigation Board warned water users late last month that it cannot supply water adequately from the Kouga below the 3% watermark.
The Board oversees the dam's water distribution to the Kouga and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipalities, as well as to irrigation farmers in the Gamtoos River Valley.
The Kouga Dam, which opened in 1969 and last overflowed in 2015, had never dropped below the 6.5% watermark until the release of Monday's reading.
FEEDBACK VIDEO || NOOITGEDAGT / COEGA LOW LEVEL SCHEME pic.twitter.com/1risYI846U
— Mayor Nqaba Bhanga (@nbhanga) March 8, 2021
