Mnquma taps days away from running dry

Communities would continue to receive water via tankers

The last dam in Mnquma will be completely dry by the end of the week if there is no rain.

Amathole district municipality spokesperson Noni Madikizela-Vuso confirmed to the Dispatch on Sunday that taps in Mnquma would run dry by September 18.

The municipality’s main supplier dams are all at alarming levels. Xilinxa dam, which supplies Butterworth, Kotana and Ehlobo, as well as many rural villages between Butterworth and Centane, is already empty.

Gcuwa Weir dam was sitting at 12% on Friday, MadikizelaVuso added.

She assured the affected communities they would continue to receive water through tankers but added they were expecting a few challenges in the distribution of water.

This would result in an intermittent water supply.

“Among the challenges are limited trips to fill tankers due to the distance between the source (Kei Bridge) and communities needing water, constant truck repairs due to bad roads, and insufficient number of tankers due to limited funds.”

Vuso said the much-awaited completion of the Teko Kona project by the end of September was expected to bring some relief, “albeit marginally”.

She said ADM was considering buying new trucks using the regional bulk infrastructure grant, but that process was still in its early stages.

“In addition, the department of human settlements, water and sanitation will assist, through Amatola Water, with water carting. But it is vital that communities use water sparingly,” said Madikizela-Vuso.

Mnquma was declared a drought disaster area in December 2015 and began rationing water in 2016. Soon after, in April 2016, then premier Phumullo Masualle gazetted a provincial drought disaster declaration.

By legislation, district municipalities are responsible for distribution and provision of water throughout the country.

Mnquma spokesperson Loyiso Mpalantshane told the Dispatch on Sunday that distribution of water was solely the responsibility of ADM.

“Amathole district is a water authority, they are responsible for provision of water. We are not in a position to assist.”

Business chamber Nafcoc’s Mnquma president, Zukile Mbelani, said businesses were already suffering under water rations, and now they would suffer even more.

“This also affects government services because departments like home affairs and social development don’t operate when there’s no water, and those are essential services to the community. So it is going to be worse now if the water runs out,” said Mbelani.

He said Mnquma’s water shortage had already resulted in the closure of Leopard Breweries, which manufactured traditional beers like Ijuba and Chibuku.

“The brewery retrenched more than 300 employees when it relocated to Durban,” Mbelani said. He advised businesses to look for alternative water sources and not rely on the government.