NATIONAL DISASTER DECLARED AS NMBM DAM LEVELS APPROACH CRITICAL 40 PERCENT
Published: March 16, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
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In February 2026, the National Disaster Management Centre classified the drought affecting the Eastern Cape, including Nelson Mandela Bay, as a national disaster in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act, Act 57 of 2002, underscoring the severity of the water crisis facing the region and enabling coordinated national support measures.
Against this backdrop, the combined dam levels supplying Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality are now on the brink of dropping below the critical 40 percent threshold.
As of 16 March 2026, the Metro’s combined dam levels stood at 40.29 percent, dangerously close to levels where water security becomes severely constrained. Approximately 10 percent of dam capacity is classified as dead storage, meaning it cannot be abstracted through normal systems.
At the same time last year, in 2025, combined dam levels were 73.85 percent, illustrating the rapid deterioration in available water resources. The Metro’s largest dam, Impofu Dam, has declined from 55.86 percent last year to approximately 39 percent currently, a a direct consequence of below average rainfall, amidst the prolonged drought conditions plaguing our region.
Compounding the challenge is the Metro’s current water consumption, which remains significantly above sustainable levels. The city is currently consuming 373 million litres per day, approximately 93 million litres above the allocated limit, placing additional strain on already depleted water resources.
If consumption patterns are not urgently reduced, Nelson Mandela Bay could face severe supply constraints, less than three years after the devastating drought that nearly brought the Metro to Day Zero.
To respond to the crisis, the Municipality has activated and is implementing its comprehensive Drought Mitigation Plan, which outlines emergency interventions to stabilise water supply while reducing consumption.
Key interventions include upgrading infrastructure to maximise available water from existing sources, including improvements to abstraction systems and pump stations, expanding the capacity of the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works to reduce pressure on western dam systems, developing additional groundwater sources through strategic wellfields, implementing treated effluent reuse and alternative supply options, and accelerating pipeline rehabilitation and system upgrades to improve efficiency across the Metro. The plan also strengthens water conservation and demand management measures including pressure management, leak repairs, bulk metering, and intensified public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing consumption.
The Municipality has already invested more than R80 million during the current financial year to refurbish pipelines, rehabilitate pump stations and procure plumbing contractors to repair leaks and improve system performance.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Babalwa Lobishe, said the drought declaration reinforces the urgency of the situation and the need for collective action.
"Water security remains one of the most critical priorities for our Metro. The investment we are making in infrastructure upgrades and drought mitigation interventions demonstrates the seriousness with which we are addressing this challenge. However, infrastructure alone will not solve the crisis if water consumption remains this high. I am therefore making a clarion call to all residents, businesses and institutions to drastically reduce their water usage,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The Executive Mayor further made a salient call for collective action across society. "I am calling on all residents, political parties, businesses and civil society to work together with the Municipality in responding to this crisis. Water security is a shared responsibility. By adopting a water saving lifestyle and reducing unnecessary consumption, we can collectively protect this critical resource and ensure that Nelson Mandela Bay continues to function during this difficult period,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
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