The inter-governmental collaboration between Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and the Department of Water and Sanitation has once again yielded positive results with 20 water trucks delivered to the City on Monday, 27 February 2023, to augment water supply resources as communities continue to experience water cuts due to the drought.

Through the intervention of Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, the department has instructed the Amatola Water Board to procure the services of water trucks to add to the City’s 23 water trucks that are already on the ground delivering water to affected areas.

During the official inspection and handover event at the Linton Grange Treatment Works, NMBM Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mkhuseli Jack said: "The Municipality understands that it cannot fight this drought battle alone and thus calls upon residents, business and civil society to urgently reduce water consumption now. The NMB drought has deteriorated to crisis levels, the total dam levels are currently at 12.16%. We are now left with approximately 184 days of water supply in remaining. Amongst other water augmentation initiatives and interventions identified by government, is the provision of additional water tanks and tankers.”

"These tankers are a visible reminder of the dire situation in which we find ourselves, they will also serve as a reassuring sight to our communities that the government is committed and working together to provide them with sustainable water supply. If we don’t reduce our consumption, this could soon be our norm. I request members of the public who will or are being served by water tankers to be patient. When queuing, abide by the rules and use our precious commodity, water, with respect.”

The City has warned that residents who reside in the ‘red zone’ areas are at great risk of being affected by the most by the intermittent water supply. The areas include:

Central (Gqeberha)

Deal Party

Fairview

Greenbushes

Greenshields Park

Humewood

Kariega CBD

Korsten

KwaZakhele

Lovemore Heights

Mill Park
Mount Pleasant
Neave Industrial
New Brighton
Newton Park
North End
Parson Hill
Schoenmakerskop
St Albans
Summerstrand
Walmer
Zwide
 
Eastern Cape Head of Department of Water and Sanitation, Portia Makhanya, said the City’s high-water consumption needed to decrease immediately in order to save the little water we have.
 
"Having observed the situation in terms of water consumption in the Metro versus the current storage levels, we have estimated that we will hit Day Zero in the next few months in certain areas supplied by the local sources. There is an urgent need that we use this water constructively by conserving water use and the demand so that we can protect the system from total collapse,” Makhanya said.
 
She said if all residents could abide by the 50 litres per person, per day restriction, the remaining water supply could last beyond July.
 
With the additional 20 trucks, the City will have a total of 43 water trucks on the ground.

To supplement the water supply into the Metro, additional water has been introduced into the water reticulation system through boreholes. As such NMBM is advising consumers to boil tap water before ingestion. With the addition of unblended ground water into our reticulation system , low dam levels and fluctuating reservoir levels the quality of the water is constantly changing and can not be 100 percent guaranteed. Through a system of blending water from different water sources, a blending ratio is used to meet SANS241: 2015 water quality standards. Currently due to the decline of the water supply sources such as the Churchill Dam (currently vulnerable/unstable) which has dropped below abstraction rates, resulting in the blending ratio not being met and therefore the water needs to be boiled as a precautionary act.

Residents are urged to adopt water saving systems including the following:
 
No baths, shower where possible or use a basin.
2 Minute showers in basin.
Small children – adults can wash in the same water after them.
Store water running from cold water tap before hot water runs, do not throw it away. Save it for later of the kettle.
Set automatic hand washers properly.
Place a cistern brick or 2Litre bottle in your toilet tank. The trick still works.
Business operators are urged to watch water consumption at work as employees are off setting their water use.
Install rainwater tanks
Wash your car in the rain and;
If it is brown let it down but if it is yellow let it mellow.

Ends.

Issued by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Communications Office.