Alarm bells have begun ringing at uThukela, as the worst drought in 30 years continues to hammer Northern KZN. The possibility of ‘water-shedding’ is a real possibility for Ladysmith, as the Klip River has basically reached record lows.

Officials say they can no longer draw water from the Klip River to supplement the water pumped from Spioenkop.

Water restrictions – which resulted in the banning of watering your garden, filling your swimming pool and washing your car – were introduced earlier this year. But most residents have either ignored the restrictions or paid limited lip service to them.

With the clock ticking on an ever-decreasing supply of water for the town, the possibility of area-wide ‘water-shedding’ (which would operate very similarly to electricity ‘load-shedding’) is being considered by the powers that be!

‘Water-shedding’ could take many forms, but one thing is for certain: if residents think they have it bad now, they are in for a nasty surprise.

Every leak unfixed, every water sprinkler turned on and every car washed brings us one step closer to the water-less abyss of a full-scale drought!