GQEBERHA – Despite improvements in water supply to parts of Nelson Mandela Bay following the restoration of electricity to key water infrastructure, thousands of residents across the metro continue to experience low water pressure and intermittent water outages as the municipality battles ongoing challenges within its bulk water system.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) said yesterday, 30 June that the metro’s water supply network remains under severe strain after one of the remaining high-lift pumps at the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works collapsed on Monday. The failure has reduced pumping capacity from an average of 200 megalitres a day to about 180 megalitres, limiting the amount of treated water entering the distribution network.
According to the municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya, although power had been restored to the Elandsjagt and Kariega water infrastructure on Monday afternoon, “the system would take time to recover.”
Soyaya said, “The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s water supply system continues to operate under severe strain. Although electricity supply to the Elandsjagt and Kariega water infrastructure was restored yesterday afternoon, the road to recovery remains long.”
He added the reduced pumping capacity had left the water distribution network highly vulnerable to operational interruptions, with many communities continuing to experience low water pressure or intermittent supply.
According to the municipality, water supply has improved significantly in KwaNobuhle, where reservoir levels have recovered sufficiently for all consumers to receive water. Fairbridge Heights and Van Riebeeck Hoogte have also stabilised, while supply continues to improve in Rosedale, Kabah and Langa, although residents in higher-lying areas may still experience reduced pressure.
However, several parts of the metro remain under pressure. The Chelsea Reservoir remains critically low, while Emerald Hill has dropped to just 3%, resulting in ongoing water disruptions. Reservoir levels at Airport and Gelvandale stand at only 5%, with Greenbushes at 29% and Malabar at 10%.
The municipality said the extensive Gelvandale and Struandale supply zone, which includes Deal Party, Swartkops, Zwide, KwaZakhele, Algoa Park and Missionvale, has regressed due to high water demand, causing reservoirs to deplete rapidly during peak consumption periods.
“Most consumers in this zone are currently without water, while operational teams continue to monitor the system closely,” Soyaya said.
Although reservoir levels in Motherwell have improved to 51%, residents in higher-lying areas may still experience reduced water pressure while the system stabilises. The Chatty Reservoir system also remains unstable, with sporadic interruptions continuing despite improvements over the past 24 hours.
Numerous suburbs across Nelson Mandela Bay continue to experience low water pressure or intermittent supply, including parts of Rosedale, Kabah, Langa, Mountain View, Motherwell, Wells Estate, Bluewater Bay, Newton Park, Greenacres, Mill Park, Lorraine, Greenbushes, Walmer Heights, Fairview, Malabar, Gelvandale, Bloemendal Extensions, Chatty and KwaNobuhle.
Soyaya said municipal operational teams were continuing efforts to stabilise the system by deploying water tankers to priority areas, optimising pumping and treatment operations, monitoring reservoir levels, working with Eskom to safeguard electricity supply to critical infrastructure and maintaining chemical supplies required for water treatment.
He appealed to residents and businesses to continue using water sparingly while the system remains under pressure.
“Every litre saved contributes to maintaining reservoir levels and improving water availability across the metro. Residents are also encouraged to report water leaks immediately to assist in reducing unnecessary water losses,” Soyaya concluded.
