Holiday demand puts Knysna water supply under pressure

Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell has warned that Knysna’s water supply system is operating on a “razor-thin margin” as the town prepares for an influx of holidaymakers, urging residents and visitors to urgently save water.

Bredell on Tuesday attended a Joint Operations Committee meeting convened to address immediate water supply challenges in Knysna ahead of the festive season. The meeting brought together provincial, national and local government officials to assess risks and stabilise the system.

“We were informed today that the Knysna water supply system can provide 19.7 megalitres of water per day, while the anticipated peak demand during the holiday season is 17 megalitres per day,” Bredell said.

“While supply is marginally above demand, ageing infrastructure and high water losses mean this is a razor-thin margin. We therefore call on all residents and visitors to please save water.”

A key concern raised during the meeting was the low level of several reservoirs that form part of Knysna’s interconnected water supply network. These reservoirs are linked in series and rely on each other to function effectively, making it critical that minimum operating levels are maintained to prevent system failure.

Bredell said progress is being made to stabilise the system, noting that 188 water leaks have recently been repaired across the municipality. He added that Knysna Municipality will deploy seven plumbing teams throughout the holiday season to ensure that leaks and pipe bursts are repaired as quickly as possible.

The Western Cape Department of Water and Sanitation, working with other spheres of government, is implementing short- to medium-term interventions to address the challenges. Provincial Head of the Department, Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, said national government is also closely monitoring the situation.

“Further to this, the national government will closely monitor the situation of water supply challenges throughout the province,” Bila-Mupariwa said.

Bredell also warned that pressure on the water supply is having a knock-on effect on wastewater infrastructure, calling on households and businesses to act responsibly.

“We also call on the public and business community to be mindful of what is released into the wastewater system,” he said.

“With a water supply system already under significant pressure, the wastewater system is also affected, and blockages increase the risk of raw sewage spills into the environment.”

Authorities have reiterated that water-saving measures by residents, businesses and holiday visitors will be critical to ensuring a stable water supply in Knysna throughout the festive season.

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