Water resources across Knysna remain under strain

Water resources and infrastructure across the Knysna Municipality remain under severe strain.

The municipality's primary dam, the Akkerkloof Dam, is currently at 18% full, translating to an estimated 15 days of usable water at present consumption levels.

The municipal council has resolved to declare the Garden Route town a local disaster area, as the region faces an intensifying water shortage.

ALSO READ: Knysna faces looming ‘Day Zero’ as water supplies dwindle

The Knysna Municipality stated that river flows are still low and the recent rainfall is insufficient to improve dam levels or reverse current water security challenges significantly.

The municipality said this is due to water consumption remaining unacceptably high in the town.

Level 4 water restrictions are in place to avoid a Day Zero scenario.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina said her department will make available R20 million in emergency relief funding to help stabilise the town's water supply system.

While the provincial government is yet to decide whether to declare Knysna a disaster area, officials are set to meet this week to discuss the water crisis as well as the recent fires in the Overberg and Cape Winelands.