Authorities are watching water consumption, as dam levels are around 63%.
Mthubanzu Mniki, Spokesperson of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality emphasized the need to decrease water use, “our dam levels will get depleted should we not decrease our consumption urgently” he said.
He said the City has a daily consumption of 300 milliliters m/d instead of 240 – 250 ml.
This is as one of the main dams supplying the City (Impofu dam), is about 40% full.
After good rains last November 2023, the Department of Water Affairs and Sanitation reviewed restrictions that were applicable to parts of Port Elizabeth, also known as Gqeberha. Restrictions were lifted for Kouga/Loerie Sub System and Groendal Sub-System,but were kept in place for longer, for Kromme Sub-System, comprising of Churchill and Impofu dams and an upstream catchment.
Domestic water use should ideally be around 50 litres per person per day or 15 kilolitres per month for households.
While industry use is still to be determined, various researchers have previously published papers about water poverty, experienced by small holders in the Eastern Cape Province. They have also highlighted water rights as an ongoing challenge in the area, as well as exotic, non-indigenous plants and trees that suck up chunks of fresh water. (Tris H. Wooldridge, 2001, Mario Du Preez, SG Hosking (2002), Teresa Connor, Nonkoliseko Mtwana (2017).
Breakdown of dam levels (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality website)
Cover Picture: Barry Culligan