The drought-stricken Nelson Mandela Bay has experienced ample rainfall for the past few days, including in the catchment areas (see table below) that desperately need rain.
Despite the amount of rainfall the area has been experiencing, the water situation is still dire.
Garth Sampson at the Gqeberha branch of the South African Weather Service states that water conservation is crucial for the survival of Gqeberha.
“It doesn’t matter if it rains in the city; it must rain in the catchment areas”, said Sampson.
“The Langkloof dam must be at 65% full for the water situation to be alleviated.”
Sampson emphasised that “it is the mindset of the people that needs to be changed”.
“The people of Gqeberha are abusing water; over 307 megaliters are used daily. We should be using around 230 megaliters,” he said.
Sampson urges the public to “read their water meters every day” to ensure that they are aware of their water consumption.
“A collaborative effort must be made to save water in the city.”
For the latest dam levels, click here.
