DWINDLING DAM: The low level of the Bongolo Dam which has plunged Queenstown into a water crisis. Picture: ALAN EASON
2010/03/08 The worsening water crisis in Queenstown has reached such catastrophic levels that there is only one month left before the city’s Bongolo Dam dries up.
Queenstown businesses claimed that the dire water situation could result in lower production levels, which would ultimately lead to job cuts.
The Bongolo Dam level currently stands at a paltry 28 percent and was a last resort for Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) after Waterdown Dam, the main supplier to the city and surrounding areas, could not deliver water due to a faulty valve last week.
Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCB) and Water Crisis Committee member Peter Brill said the pipeline from Waterdown to Queenstown was on the verge of bursting.
He said a short-term solution was to lay a second pipe from Waterdown Dam to minimise the risk – but that could take six months if funding was obtained.
Another alternative was to supplement Bongolo Dam water by channelling water from the Berry Dam – but that would only supply enough water for a week.
The Chris Hani District Municipality earlier this year instructed Water and Sanitation Services of South Africa – the sanitation and water service provider – to slow down the flow of water from Waterdown Dam to minimise the chances of a pipe burst.
The district has been gripped by drought and last year CHDM wrote to the Eastern Cape government, who declared the area a disaster area.
CHDM spokesperson Thobeka Mqamelo said no financial support had been received from government to help relieve the dire situation.
Over R200 million was needed for the Xonxa Dam pipeline project, first mooted by the district as far back as 2001 as a solution to the problem.
A water crisis committee was also established to canvass funding for the Xonxa Dam project, but to no avail.
The Lukhanji Municipality in 2007 imposed water restrictions on all households, which meant no water would be supplied between 9pm and 4.30am.
Earlier this year, the restrictions were extended to businesses.
Residents and businesses have now called for financial intervention from the public and private sector.
Big industries in Queenstown like Crickley Dairy and award-winning business Twizza said they have been affected.
“It is worse now that the Waterdown Dam valve has a fault. They have to get a diver to fix it, but as for now we don’t know when. The fault is as bad as the feared bursts on the pipe,” said Brill.
Frantic campaigns on water conservation would be conducted to ensure communities save as much water as possible to make sure the Bongolo Dam lasts for a couple of months.
Lukhanji Business Forum chairperson Zwai Ngondo said businesses were saving water during the day in buckets in anticipation of cuts.
Crickley Dairy and Twizza owner Ken Clark said the crisis would affect the manufacturing of merchandise.
“I was guaranteed by Lukhanji that there wouldn’t be a problem of water when I wanted to start my business here and now a lot of people stand to lose jobs.” —
By MSINDISI FENGU, msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Water Rhapsody Conservation systems are able to save a given household up to 90% on their fresh water bill. During times of water shortages our grey water system for irrigation will enable you and your family to override council laws concerning irrigating of your garden. As long as you have the Water Rhapsody sign outside your home you are allowed to irrigate your garden. Through the installation of our flagship grey water system you are able to not only save on water ordinarily used to water your garden but to become part of the solution too. Johannesburg and Cape Town and all other major cities in South Africa are set to experience water shortages in the near future. If we all start saving water now we might just be able to avert this crisis.
1997 WWF Trust Award won by Water Rhapsody for the initiative shown by founder and inventor Jeremy Taylor in the creation of Water Saving systems that can save you up to 90% on your water bill.