water sheddding Nelson Mandela Bay water crisis

[FILE] PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 11 2018: The Churchill dam is seen during Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani’s visit after heavy rains in the area on September 11, 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa – Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Lulama Zenzile)

Water shedding implemented in Kouga Municipality to stop taps from running dry

Water to Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, and the Greater St Francis area in Kouga Municipality will be disrupted for six hours seven days a week.

water sheddding Nelson Mandela Bay water crisis

[FILE] PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 11 2018: The Churchill dam is seen during Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani’s visit after heavy rains in the area on September 11, 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa – Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Lulama Zenzile)

Water shedding starts in the Kouga Municipality, Eastern Cape on Monday, 13 June. The rationing comes after the water level of the Churchill Dam, which supplies most of the affected areas, dropped below 10%.

WATER SHEDDING IN PARTS OF EASTERN CAPE

The towns affected by water shedding include Jeffreys Bay, Humansdorp, the Greater St Francis Area and its surrounds. The households and businesses in these areas rely on the Churchill Dam for water supply.

“We have been trying to delay the need for water shedding, but the situation is critical, and we cannot avoid it any longer,” said Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks.

Hendricks indicated that if no rain falls in the catchment area of the Churchill Dam, the taps in the region could run dry within the next three weeks.

The water to the affected towns will be switched off from 10:00 to 16:00 for seven days a week from Monday onwards.

“We know that it will be a difficult adjustment for the affected communities, but we ask that they bear with us. This measure is necessary to help keep water in the taps for as long as is possible,” said the mayor.

Hendricks added that Kouga Municipality would continue its programme to conserve and increase water supply to the region.

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