No improvement on water levels

There has been no improvement on water levels in Hazelmere Dam, which supplies water to the Dolphin Coast and eThekwini Metro.

This was according to Umgeni Water spokesman Shami Harichunder speaking at a joint press briefing with iLembe District Municipality and Sembcorp Siza Water, the water service provider of the Dolphin Coast areas, in Stanger on Monday.

Level Three water restrictions, which include a ban on the use of hosepipes and a requirement that all users cut usage by 30%, are already in place on the Dolphin Coast.

“Hazelmere Dam is currently on 43%. The little rain we have experienced has not been sufficient and has made no significant change. The truth is, if we do not start saving and we do not get a lot more rain, roughly 150 days from now there will be no water,” said Harichunder.

Siza Water technical director, Kobus Fourie, said generally residents have been supportive and responsible, however there have been cases of non-compliance.

“A minimum fine of R3 000 will be given in cases of non-compliance to water restrictions,” he said.

According to Ilembe district mayor Welcome Mdabe, eThekwini has started implementing water restrictions for areas in the north of Durban including Tongaat, Westbrook, Waterloo and Verulam.

“The Inanda Dam has also been augmented to use water tankers to fill up reservoirs to deliver water, but this too comes with its own challenges,” said mayor Mdabe.

Meanwhile the outlying districts of Ndwedwe, Maphumulo and Mandeni are already being supplemented by water tankers.

“There has been minimal improvement in Maphumulo with the Mvotshana River currently being augmented through the Hlimbithwe River. This has seen reduction in distances traveled by our water tankers, which mean the turnaround time is better now,” he said.

There has been no improvement the uThukela River, which supplies water to Mandeni, Sundumbili, some parts of KwaDukuza and some parts of Ntunjambili in Maphumulo.

“We are still providing water tankers in areas such as San Soussi and Doringkop and we fill up the reservoir every evening for the Ntunjambili Hospital,” he said.

Ndwedwe, which relies on Hazelmere for 70% of its water, is also being augmented through water tankers.

“The tankers get water from the Nsuzi River and Etete, which is a huge distance of about 150km therefore the turnaround time is again a challenge here,” he said.

Mayor Mdabe, who is also chairman of the local government body SALGA, said all districts had been instructed to report back to the provincial cabinet by February on two master plans: a water conversation and demand management plan and a desalination proposal.

“All districts are working around the clock,” he said.

Provincial government has set aside R293 million for disaster relief and the iLembe District Municipality’s share is to the tune of R70 million.

“Ilembe is still waiting for this. We are still using our own resources at the moment,” he said.

A detailed plan on how the district municipality will augment supply due to the influx of visitors for the festive season will be given in the second week of December.