EC faces water crisis
Eastern Cape water authorities could find themselves in a “situation like Eskom” if they don’t urgently invest in water infrastructure, the Amatola Water Board has warned, writes Babalo Ndenze.
Acting chief executive Xola Bomela said on Wednesday the province had just enough water to last it until about 2030, and urgent measures were needed if the province wanted to sustain this beyond 2030.
Speaking at an educational tour of the water board’s Nahoon Dam facility, Bomela said the province and the water agency were faced with key challenges – and one of them was ensuring abundant water resources.
The tour was also attended by the national chairperson of the portfolio committee on water affairs, Maggie Sotyu.
“Because of ever increasing demand in the entire Eastern Cape, we have expanded the organisation to service the entire Eastern Cape,” said Bomela.
Bomela said a new study done last year showed how severe the water situation in the province was.
“Until 2022 to 2030 – we’ve got enough water until then. But we’ve got interventions in place. Dwaf is trying to save us from a situation like Eskom,” said Bomela.
Eskom has been slammed for reacting too late to an electricity crisis in South Africa which it is trying to rectify suddenly through steep tariff increases.
During his presentation, Bomela said the province was struggling to secure funding.
He said there was a “significant” capital funding shortfall totaling R1.4 billion in the Jikeleza area, East London and Sunshine Coast towns.
Buffalo City Municipality alone needs R280 million for a project to take water from Nahoon Dam to supply the west side of the municipality.
“There are lots of new developments like RDP housing (in that part). Our resources are adequate till 2022 unless reserves are implemented. We need to implement water conservation to ensure there is security. We will need to implement water restrictions in some parts with municipalities like Buffalo City. If we don’t do these we are headed for a crisis so we must work with municipalities,” said Bomela.
Bomela said there were a number of projects in place to alleviate water shortages, like the R124 million water service support project for rural schemes and a R80 million bulk water supply project which will span 30 years.
However, the drought stricken East Coast towns like Haga Haga and Morgan’s Bay are in need of R300 million, but they have not received the funding.
Read the full story in Thursday’s print or online edition of the Daily Dispatch.
8 Comments Already, Leave Yours Too
Again…wait until there is no water before people in authority catch a wake up, and then decide to quadruple the price of water to pay for their lack of foresight! Seems to be becoming a common scenario when service delivery departments, government or anyone in authority or holding the cards for that matter, needs money..Why must the people pay for the government/local authorities’ mistakes time and time again? If the man in the street makes a cock up, who pays for it to be fixed? Sure as heck not the government or local authority!
Unless our water authorities catch a wake-up, our Sunshine Coast and East Coast tourism attractions are soon going to be unviable, since there’s no visitor (even a Vrystaater) who is willing to shower in beer every evening during his holiday break. We are spending many billions on roads, trains, stadiums – what about the bloody water?
That’s another good point you have raised, Dorsbult. Why don’t they cut the spending for the 2010 World Cup and rather spend those billions on repairing and creating much needed infrastructure throughout our country? Last I heard, the poorest of the poor weren’t asking for stadiums to be built. They were begging for running water, flush toilets, and basic housing and medical care.
A lack of experienced management, mismanagement of funds and a lack of skilled engineers, thanks to Affirmative Action and having to meet EE targets is now resulting in a severe problem for those who need it most. I think someone must investigate the internal problems at AW a bit further, not to talk about the millionaires building with artwork all over that they’re all sitting in! And now they plead poverty, and blame a lack of funding! It’s a joke. Who’s next?
It was the best thing that ever happened to BCM, that we were never given this “wonderful privilege” of being a host city. None of these stadiums will prove economically viable, and all of them will continue to chow the local taxpayers’ money for years to come.
Roads, bridges, water, social infrastructure – halls, clinics etc.- that’s what we need more of.
It’s basic Economics 101 – the state must provide (and maintain) the enabling infrastructure, and then the economy will take care of itself. It’s all about the mobility of goods, people and services. We have spent R20bn on Gautrain and R20bn on stadiums, but our roads are going to pot (!) and our coastal resorts are out of water. How many years have we been waiting for the N2 between King and Grahamstown to be upgraded?
Roads going to pot(holes) perhaps? (no pun intended)… 
Priorities are so totally screwed up these days. It’s an absolute sin that soccer stadiums are more important than feeding the starving masses.
MIRKA,
Amatola Water has done wonderful work and none of this is their work. Put clearly, they are one of the best run governemnt utilities youll ever come across. they are a non-profit making organisation and they rely on government to provide funding for infrastructure. Already they have spent their own capital to see many projects through, hence they are highly commended for the sterling work they do.
Onsite Now
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