The good news this afternoon is that the pumping of water from the Buffalo River has resumed.  Water pumping was cut earlier after the level of the river at the Tayside extraction point fell so slow that only the foot of the pump was submerged in the water.

This has resulted in a prolonged water cut as the Biggarsberg treatment works relies on water pumped from the river.

However, Nomonde Nzimakwe of Umzinyathi District Municipality, said water is again being extracted.

“Water has been released from the Zaaihoek dam near Volksrust and that too feeds into the Buffalo River. Normally it takes a week for water to reach us at Tayside.  We urge resident to save water and the crisis is far from over.

“Water supplies should be resumed as normal once the water works reservoir reaches a level where even the upper parts of town will be supplied – please be patient.”