WITH main supply dam levels below 30%, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) appeals to residents to assist their efforts to reduce water consumption to at least 250 megalitres per day.
The NMBM experienced the same ordeal in August 2018, when 258 megalitres per day were extracted from the supply dams on average for that month. Currently, consumption levels are at an alarming 290 megalitres per day.
NMBM executive director for Infrastructure and Engineering, Dr Walter Shaidi, said the curtailment of consumption levels is crucial since further punitive tariffs were implemented when the dam levels reached 20% in the past. This predicament is currently staring the municipality in the face with average dam levels at 29.4% last week.
“These punitive charges are implemented during water shortage emergencies to ensure that we stretch our resources as far as possible. It is especially worrisome as we entered a period, until approximately May, that could be drier than normal, as per the predictions by the South African Weather Services,” Shaidi said.
According to him, they have been proactive over the years to supplement the water supply with the phased implementation of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works, and the improvement of the bulk water transfer infrastructure with the completion of the Motherwell, as well as the Standford Road booster pump stations and the drilling of boreholes among others.
He added, “Our 10-year business plan has been approved with a specific focus on reducing non-revenue water which means the municipality will be able to gain greater value from this treasured resource.”
The completion of phases one and two of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works increased the water treatment capacity from 90 megalitres per day to 140 megalitres, with construction of phase three currently in progress.
Expected to be completed by August 2021, the water treatment capacity of the Nooitgedacht Water Treatment Works will be improved to 210 megalitres per day.
Construction at the Loerie Water Treatment Works is also currently in progress.
