The Knysna Municipality in the Western Cape has urged residents to drastically reduce household water consumption as the town edges closer to Day Zero, with usable water levels in the Akkerkloof Dam rapidly declining.
Municipal officials warn that the number of days of available water is becoming critically low, driven by below-average rainfall, ageing and failing infrastructure, and increasing demand.
Dwindling supplies
Residents have been advised to limit water usage to below six kilolitres per household per month in an effort to stretch dwindling supplies.
Knysna Municipality Director of Community Services, Johnny Douglas, said while the municipality is exploring alternative water sources, including the drilling of boreholes, public cooperation is essential to avoid a full-scale water crisis.
“Please conserve water. You need to try and measure or monitor your water consumption to not be above six kilolitres per household per month,” Douglas said.
“We’ll also now focus on those critical measures to identify where we have water wastage. Our law enforcement units are also going around focusing on those hotspot areas.”
Monitoring will continue
The municipality has indicated that stricter enforcement and monitoring will continue, particularly in areas with high consumption and visible water losses.
Residents are being encouraged to adopt water-saving measures such as fixing leaks, reducing shower times, limiting outdoor water use, and reusing greywater where possible.
Municipal officials say further restrictions may be implemented if consumption levels do not drop and dam levels continue to decline.
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