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NMB Wakes Up to the Fact That “Ons is in die Kak”

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Urgent reduction in water consumption needed in NMBM as reservoirs struggle to meet high demand.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is urging all water users within the City to reduce water consumption immediately as water disruptions have started to affect several suburbs, as a result of the ongoing drought crisis.

This comes as the City’s dams continue to decline at an alarming rate with a total of 14.90% recorded from the major storage dams supplying the City on Monday, 9 January 2023.

As a result of the severe drought, NMBM cannot meet the water demand of 286 Megalitres a day resulting in water shortages.

The City’s approved abstraction volume by the Department of Water is only 230 Megalitres per day.

NMBM Executive Mayor, Cllr Retief Odendaal said as recorded on Friday, 6 January 2023, the low dam levels have caused a strain to the system leading to Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works (WTW) supply deficit.

“This has had knock on effects such as reservoir levels at Grassridge and Olifantskop reservoir, causing reduced flow to parts of the City specifically the east west transfer system. To mitigate the failure at Nooitgedagt WTW, increased supply was produced from Lorrie WTW. Efforts have been made by our teams to avoid any water disruption but Fairbridge Heights, Rosedale and Scheepershoogte reservoir have been affected,” Mayor Odendaal said.

Fairbrigde Heights reservoir is at 0 % and as such the reservoir zone is currently experiencing water disruption. The affected areas include Fairbridge Heights, Janssendal, Levyvale, Scheepershoogte, Strelizia Park, Valleisig, Van Riebeeck Hoogte, Vanes Estate and Winterhoek Park in Kariega.

“Rosedale reservoir is currently low and high lying areas in the reservoir zone are experiencing water disruption. Scheepershoogte reservoir is at 11 %, the reservoir zone will be experiencing low water pressure, affected areas include Despatch. Mitigation measures have and will continue to be implemented to ensure that supply to all areas is restored as quickly as possible. Residents need to reduce their water usage and use water sparingly for basic use only,” he added.

The current dam levels can be FOUND HERE: Dam Levels

The City has noted with concern that on Friday, the Impofu Dam recorded a low 7.27%, the lowest it has ever been since the dam was constructed in 1983.

“The pumps on the barge nearby the intake tower will soon reach the riverbed and will need to be moved. The new barge 6km downstream near to the dam wall requires electrical connections before it can be brought online. This will allow the NMBM to draw the last remaining dead storage from this dam. The drought situation is real and we need everyone to take it seriously and reduce their water consumption,” Mayor Odendaal said.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.