While residents suffer water cuts, the dams dry up and the land thirsts for water, litres of the priceless commodity went to waste.

Umzinyathi Water cut off the water after a pipe appeared to suffer a break during excavations at the old showgrounds on Union Street.

The water ran and ran until a concerned member of the public contact Umzinyathi Water.  Although it is on private property, the water was cut to save the resource.

Residents are urged to ensure that all leaking pipes and taps are repaired.  Meanwhile, Donald McHardy dam, near Glencoe, is today a mere puddle.  The mud is cracking as the drought, said to be the worst in 70 years, continues.