Water crisis update

THE average water level for dams across the Western Cape keeps increasing slightly and is currently at 28.1%.

This represents a 1% increase over the past week.

In 2016, at the corresponding period, the average level was 68%. MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell said “We have been managing and fighting this drought for a number of years, having declared local disasters in five areas in January 2016 already.

“We continue to work on our contingency plans in the event of the drought crisis deepening even further.”

Bredell said two key elements of the action plan, includes the City of Cape Town’s recent request for proposals on augmenting current water supply for the city.

This has solicited a great response from the private sector. “Some of the options that may now be considered for further implementation by the City once the process has been completed, includes greater re-usage and extraction of ground water.

“The future role of desalination also remains a key topic of discussion at the moment. This may include mobile desalination plants across the province.”

He explained that experts from all spheres of government are actively involved in the planning and implementation of programmes to address the situation.

The province will be meeting representatives of the business sector tomorrow. Currently levels of major dams in the province remain very low.

Theewaterskloof is at 22% (2016: 47%); Voëlvlei is at 22.4% (2016: 51%) and Clanwilliam 28% (2016: 97%).

The provincial government continues to engage all relevant stakeholders, including the national Department of Water and Sanitation.