With dam levels low, George residents urged to use water sparingly during festive season

George residents in the Southern Cape are urged to continue using water sparingly this festive season, as dam levels remain low.

The Garden Route Dam, George’s primary water source, is currently at a little over 50% storage capacity.

The municipality said that despite recording 12 millimetres of rain last week, it was not enough to stabilise dam levels or offset the city’s rising water demand.

Municipality's Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe: "Our water resources remain under pressure, and every drop counts. The executive mayor of George Alderman Browen Johnson has called on the community to pull together, saying this is a critical time for George, our dam levels are dropping, and demand is increasing."

With the combination of reduced rainfall and increasing population activity during December and January, the municipality emphasises the importance of consistent water-saving behaviour.

Mangqwengqwe added: "Every household, to business, visitors, to use water responsibly. Saving water now is our shared responsibility to secure George’s future."