Knysna on Brink of Water Crisis

Key Takeaways:

• The Akkerkloof Dam, Knysna’s main source of water, is only 15% full, leaving the town with just 10 days of water supply at the current consumption rate.
• The water crisis is attributed to years of infrastructure decay, maintenance neglect, and high levels of water loss due to leaks and illegal connections.
• A joint operations committee (JOC) has been established to coordinate the response to the crisis, including national, provincial, and local government bodies.
• The JOC is focusing on short-term initiatives to add additional water to the supply system, including the development of springs, refurbishment of boreholes, and investigation of a dam at the Charlesford catchment area.
• The municipality is urging residents to stay within their water limits and adhere to Level 4 restrictions, with top businesses warned to curb their water use.

Introduction to the Crisis
The town of Knysna is facing a severe water crisis, with the Akkerkloof Dam, its main source of water, at a critically low level of 15% full. At the current consumption rate, the town has only 10 days of water supply left, prompting a joint operations committee (JOC) to be established to coordinate the response to the crisis. The JOC brings together national, provincial, and local government bodies to assess water levels, plan interventions, and monitor progress. The committee includes the Knysna Municipality, the Western Cape Department of Local Government, the National Department of Water and Sanitation, and the Garden Route District Municipality.

The Road to Day Zero
The worst-case scenario, in which water use is not curbed and more flows out of the Akkerkloof Dam than what comes in, is referred to as Day Zero. This situation occurred in Cape Town in 2018 but was narrowly averted as taps almost ran dry. In Knysna, the JOC is working to avoid Day Zero, with Western Cape head of department for local government Graham Paulse warning that in the event of Day Zero, the reticulation system of water will be shut, and residents will have to fetch water from collection points in the town. Western Cape local government MEC Anton Bredell has announced that he will be seeking a declaration of a provincial disaster to expedite funds from the national government to alleviate the situation.

Emergency Measures
The municipality and province are working to avoid Day Zero, with short- and long-term solutions being urgently deployed. The current use of potable water from the Akkerkloof Dam is 12 megalitres per day, which is more than the water coming in. During the holiday season, this increased to 16ML per day. Level 4 water restrictions are in place, with each household restricted to 6 kilolitres per month, which in a household of four works out to 50l per person per day. The JOC is focusing on short-term initiatives to add additional water to the supply system, including the development of several springs with good-quality water, the refurbishment of seven boreholes, and the investigation of a dam at the Charlesford catchment area.

Infrastructure Decay
The water crisis in Knysna is attributed to years of infrastructure decay and maintenance neglect. More than 50% of the water being used is not accounted for and described as "lost". The original water infrastructure was built decades ago for a population of 60,000 people, and there are now in excess of 100,000 living in Knysna. The infrastructure has not been upgraded for more than 30 years, while the demand on it has grown hugely. Frequent pipe bursts and water leaks account for more water wastage, with breaks in water pipes occurring at least every two days, causing long outages for residents in various areas.

Long-term Failures
The current water crisis is not the result of a single incident or unforeseen event but is the cumulative outcome of prolonged management failure and underinvestment in critical infrastructure. Ward 10 councillor Peter Bester has been dealing with water leaks and outages for five years and has been warning the municipality that the day will come when Knysna runs out of water. Bester attributes the crisis to poor planning, inadequate budgeting, and a lack of accountability, with the municipality facing ongoing pipe bursts, failures in monitoring systems, staff shortages, inadequate tools and equipment, and a chronic lack of essential spares.

Conclusion
The water crisis in Knysna is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to resolve. The JOC is working to avoid Day Zero, with short- and long-term solutions being urgently deployed. However, the crisis is also a symptom of deeper issues, including infrastructure decay, maintenance neglect, and poor management. To address the crisis, it is essential to invest in upgrading the water infrastructure, improving management practices, and ensuring accountability. The municipality must also work to reduce water loss due to leaks and illegal connections and promote water conservation among residents and businesses. With the right approach, it is possible to avoid Day Zero and ensure a sustainable water supply for the town of Knysna.