WATER CRISIS: Bleak forecast as drought looms
Residents have since been urged to use water sparingly, and are cautioned the possibility of daily water shutoffs in Newcastle is a reality just around the corner.
Residents should brace themselves for water cuts.
With the Buffalo River ‘dried up’, this region is without one of its main raw water sources, and the Ngagane River is likely to follow suit.
This will leave the Chelmsford/Ntshingwayo Dam to carry the burden.
With its yield already being exceeded, and gates partially open to quench a parched downstream area, fears are the system cannot handle the strain.
“The six-month forecast is not good.”
Speaking at the entity’s AGM, chairman of the uThukela Water board, Dan Naidoo said although it seemed gloomy, there were concrete plans being tabled to water service authorities (WSAs).
Residents should note resources are simply running out.
Dundee has borne the worst of the limited water, staff from Northern Natal Courier explaining taps were shut off in the evenings in an attempt to salvage the situation.
Hattingspruit Dam is a shade over 30 per cent full.
Other smaller dams are dangerously close to empty, prompting uThukela Water to petition for raw water from the Zaaihoek Dam near Wakkerstroom to relieve the strain on Ntshingwayo Dam.
“Without these sources, Amajuba District and Newcastle would have a 44 per cent reduction in water.”
Mr Naidoo said rainfall sufficient enough to replenish the river systems was not expected until toward the year’s end, and weather patterns were described as unusual.
Acting Chief Financial Officer, Luiz Cunha elaborated on this.
“We were caught out by the drought. It was in the beginning of the wet season and rains were expected.”
Water restrictions across Umzinyathi last year were enough to save water, and a lack of scenario-building systems mean the region was unprepared for the severity of the drought.
“There is a big problem in Dundee and if we can’t get the megalitres, we are in trouble,” said Hannelie Hickley of uThukela Water.
Mr Naidoo did not elaborate on ‘concrete plans’ to reverse the situation, yet sources explained it had to do partly with the construction of more dams in catchment areas.
“However, building more dams is also not the answer.”
Residents have since been urged to use water sparingly, and are cautioned the possibility of daily water shutoffs in Newcastle is a reality just around the corner.
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