The three main reasons for the recent water crisis outage across Kariega were largely because of the prevailing drought coupled with scorching weather which resulted in water demand outweighing supply; the limited available water supply from all the water storage sources to Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality; and the unforeseen major burst in the main water supply line.
This is according to Councillor Roelf Basson from Ward 51, who last week with the assistance of the municipality’s water division worked around the clock to help resolve the water crisis to get water back into residents’ dry taps.
“We cannot deny that the water supply reticulation in most areas of Kariega is very old, which results in many leaks and bursts, and this is a huge challenge to our technicians at task,” said Basson.
According to him the reason why the water outage was scattered across Kariega is the way water gets distributed. KwaNobuhle and Rooihoogte get their water from Loerie Dam and should they be affected it will not affect other areas in Kariega.
Groendal Dam supplies water largely to Rosedale and the Kariega Central Business District and surrounds, and when the system is full it can supply excess water to certain areas in town. Van Riebeekhoogte is the bulk supply reservoir for the greater Kariega and via the Fairbridge Heights reservoir supplies the whole town and the higher lying areas such as Scheepershoogte Strelitzia Park, Winterhoek Park, Vanes, Van Riebeekhoogte and Fairbridge Heights.
The dams feeding water to Kariega are Loerie, Groendal, Springs and Gariep Dam via the Nooitgedacht water scheme. Springs water gets fed into the bulk supply of Kariega and does not supply a specific area.
“However, it is noteworthy for residents to know that Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality largely depends on the water supply from Gariep Dam via the Nooitgedacht water scheme.
“The dams to the western side of the metro are controlled by the Department of Water Affairs and the municipality cannot extract at its own will,” said Basson. “I have noticed that there are residents that are still of the view that water is freely available. It is not the case. Water is life and this source is scarce. We urgently need to protect and preserve it.
“Currently the residents of the metropole are using an average of about 50 mega litres of water more than what is supplied. With the completion of the Nooitgedacht water scheme, the yield would be higher and would assist us with the shortfall to some extent.”
Basson said he is very despondent with false information being spread on social media as it confuses the residents and when authorities provide information, it is regarded as untrue.
“Some residents believe social media and the false info as gospel. It is reckless and puts unnecessary strain on the authorities to continue providing service under most difficult circumstances,” said Basson. “The biggest misconception I think residents have of a Ward Councillor is that the councillor must get things done irrespective of processes. A councillor cannot interfere in the administration and can merely report service delivery requests and other problems and depend on service departments to do the work.
“Councillors are subjected to processes which must be followed to get work done. If technicians take longer than residents expected it should take, it is not the councillor not delivering or doing his or her work. I can assure you that we share the same frustration if work does not get done within a reasonable time.”
With regard to water tankers, Basson said those tankers made available last year by the Department of Water Affairs to Nelson Mandela Bay metropole on a loan basis for two months have long-since left. Private water tankers are currently contracted by the municipality’s Department for Infrastructure and Engineering and deployed as and when required.
“To overcome and manage this current long drought will require cooperation; and for residents to stand together and assist the municipality wherever possible. In this regard I appreciate the system whereby groups are formed within a Ward and the community acts as a support in reporting leaks, bursts and other matters relating to municipal service delivery,” said Basson.
