Knysna Municipality declares water crisis a state of emergency

KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipality has declared Knysna’s water crisis a local state of emergency.

At a special council meeting yesterday the council noted recommendations to create a joint operations centre (JOC) with the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), to address the water problem.

A joint statement by the Knysna Municipality, the GRDM and the Western Cape government said, “following extensive consultations and technical briefings”, the JOC was officially activated today, Thursday 15 May, in line with the Disaster Management Act.

The JOC ensures a co-ordinated, multi-agency response, supported by the following stakeholders: Knysna Municipality, the GRDM's disaster management directorate, provincial government, Knysna SAPS, Knysna Infrastructure Group, the Greater Knysna Business Chamber, municipal law enforcement, traffic services, fire and rescue services, Gift of the Givers, and AfriForum.

The director of community services, Johnny Douglas, formally submitted a report to council today, recommending the declaration of a local state of emergency in response to the infrastructure failures at the Charlesford and Homtini pump stations.

Affected areas

This affects the following areas: Concordia, Dam-se-Bos, Dinangwe, Fisherhaven, The Heads, Hlalani, Hornlee, Hunters Home, Knysna Heights, Paradise, Kaalkol, Kanonkop, Leisure Island, Lower Industrial and Old Place, Oupad, Rexford and Rheenendal.

“The declaration will allow for enhanced co-ordination, resource mobilisation, and technical interventions by provincial and national government,” said the statement.

The Garden Route District disaster management centre is to be mandated to co-ordinate the short-, as well as medium-term, intervention.

Special attention

The statement said a total of 13 water trucks will be delivering water daily across the affected areas of Greater Knysna. Two water trucks continue to service the Rheenendal area.

Once the system there stabilises, these trucks will be reassigned to assist the wider Knysna area.

A dedicated 3 6000-litre bulk truck will be operating as a mobile feeder, replenishing smaller vehicles and increasing pressure along Concordia Main Road and surrounding zones.

Special attention is being given to public service institutions such as schools, clinics, early childhood centres, old age homes and community halls, starting at 08:30 daily, said the statement.

Council was told that there could be possible overtime costs and additional funding.

Knysna-Plett Herald journalist Loyiso Dyongman reports that municipal manager Lulamile Mapholoba held a media briefing today, Thursday 15 May to provide an update on the current water supply challenges affecting the Greater Knysna area.

He said broken water pumps were the main cause of the water supply interruptions, and they are now fixing them.

Work was expected to be finished between Sunday or early Monday morning.

Water trucks

"We are working on the situation and we have water trucks that are delivering water to the communities. I'm happy that we started installing some of the pumps on Monday," Mapholoba said.

"But due to the issue of loadshedding there were some challenges that we identified. These are very big pumps we are talking about."

Residents have been urged to boil their water since it has a brown colour.

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