Water and Sanitation officials have intensified monitoring efforts as the water supply is at risk in the Western Cape as dam levels decline.
The provincial Department of Water and Sanitation said it meets once a year in November to assess the province’s water supply systems.
However, an additional meeting has been scheduled for the end of March due to dwindling dam levels caused by below-average rainfall in the region.
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The provincial head of the department, Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, said, “Normally, we meet once a year to look at how the system is behaving. However, because of the decrease of our dam levels, we are not going to wait for November. We are going to meet on the 31st of March to look at the system’s behaviour and that is what is going to guide us whether we are going to employ water restrictions.”
She added that municipalities may exercise their own discretion when it comes to implementing water restrictions.
NO DAY ZERO EXPECTED
The Western Cape is not expected to face a Day Zero scenario, despite ongoing water challenges in parts of the province.
The provincial Water and Sanitation Department provided an update on Tuesday, saying the province’s six largest dams are currently at a combined 48.8% capacity.
The Knysna Local Municipality remains the hardest hit, with the Akkerkloof Dam at around 29%.
However, residents have been assured that their taps will not run dry.
Bila-Mupariwa said efforts are underway to stabilise the water supply in the area.
“We don’t foresee a Day Zero at this point in time because the Department of Water and Sanitation, as well as the provincial government, we are in the process of finalising the project of augmenting the water supply by installing some of the groundwater boreholes and they are also pumping the water from other water sources to fill the Akkerkloof Dam.”
Meanwhile, Bila-Mupariwa said there’s also no immediate concern for Cape Town, although the Theewaterskloof Dam has dropped by 18%, and is currently at 47.4%.
“At this point in time, we are not close to Day Zero and I can say that confidently because we are monitoring the system very closely.”
Ntuthuzelo Nene
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