Pixabay (stock image)
Nelson Mandela Bay’s main supply dam, the Kouga, is projected to run dry within six weeks. That's the dire warning from the NMB Metro if water consumption is not drastically reduced.
According to a statement issued by the Metro on Wednesday, the four main supply dams will all run dry within the next six months if the big winter rains don’t come.
The Kouga Dam is projected to run dry on the 1st of July and the Churchill dam a month later on the 1st of August.
At current rates of water- consumption, the Impofu Dam will run dry in October and the Groendal Dam in December.
The combined level of these four main supply dams for Nelson Mandela Bay is currently just over 12%.
The Metro says their aggressive communication drive to encourage a behavioural change towards water usage has not had the desired effect as water consumption habits have not changed from the average of 300Ml/day.
The Metro is required to use less than 250Ml/d as per the National Department of Water and Sanitation’s allocation.
Executive Mayor Nqaba Bhanga’s coalition government says repairing water leaks remains one of its top priorities and that it is working with internal as well as external plumbers from seven plumbing companies who’ve been appointed to help address the historical backlog in water leaks.
Metro spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki says they are grateful to residents who do save water and it is not their intention to punish residents. However, a decision has been taken to implement "Part C" water tariffs.
He says sadly, many residents continue to use water as if the City is in a normal situation and that this financial incentive to save water will hopefully encourage high water users to play their part.
The Metro already has several initiatives in place to combat the situation, including the sinking of Groundwater Boreholes, supplying water tanker trucks to areas that may run out and the construction of a pipeline to connect KwaNobuhle to the rest of the Metro supply which will hopefully be completed by November.
The Metro has also identified the top 100 high water users in the city, which includes businesses and residential areas.
They’ve been notified that flow restrictors will be installed on their premises.
Part C of the charges and tariffs:
Residential (Ex Vat)
0.3kl/p R19,63
0.3kl/p-0.5kl/d R30,00
0.5-0.8kl/d R60,00
0.8-1.0kl/d R100,00
1.0-1.6kl/d R150,00
1.6kl/d R300,00
ATTP (Assistance to the Poor) families
R19.64
Institutional and government departments
R22,45
Commercial/ industrial
R25,00
