Knysna water crisis persists despite funding and rainfall

KNYSNA NEWS - Despite substantial government funding, infrastructure interventions and recent rainfall, the greater Knysna area continues to grapple with a water infrastructure crisis that threatens long-term water security and reliable service delivery.

For years, residents have endured recurring water shortages, pipe bursts, leaks and supply interruptions linked to ageing infrastructure and maintenance backlogs.

While recent rainfall has provided temporary relief to dam levels, officials warn that the underlying challenges remain unresolved.

The National Department of Water and Sanitation recently allocated R20m in emergency funding to support groundwater development and reduce pressure on Knysna’s strained surface water resources.

Provincial interventions have included leak repairs, replacement of bypassed water meters and improvements to water management systems.

Although these measures, together with recent rainfall, have improved water availability and boosted storage levels at Akkerkloof Dam, authorities caution that the municipality’s water system remains under significant pressure.

Municipality outlines recovery efforts
Providing an update on Monday 8 June, Acting Municipal Manager Manqoba Ngubo said the municipality remains focused on ensuring residents have access to water while long-term solutions are implemented.

“Our technical teams and service providers have been working around the clock to restore functionality to affected systems and ensure continuity of supply,” he said.

The municipality deployed water tankers to assist residents affected by recent supply interruptions in Hornlee and surrounding areas.

Two tankers operated over the weekend, while four were deployed on Monday to supplement supply where needed. Ngubo said a recent interruption affecting the Bigai Reservoir was caused by damage to the motor control centre serving the Vigilance Pump Station.

The damage is believed to have resulted from a telemetry system fault and repairs were expected to be completed shortly.

Telemetry failures under scrutiny
According to Ngubo, failures within the municipality’s telemetry system have contributed significantly to operational challenges experienced across the water network.

The telemetry network remotely monitors and controls 46 reservoirs and towers and 55 pump stations throughout the greater Knysna area.

Charlesford Pump Station milestone
The municipality has also reported progress at the Charlesford Pump Station, a critical component of Knysna’s water supply system.

Pumpset 1 was installed and commissioned on 6 June and is now fully operational. Pumpset 2 remains operational at reduced capacity, while Pumpset 3 has reached the end of its service life and will be replaced within about seven weeks.

Ngubo said the combined output of Pumpsets 1 and 2 is currently sufficient to meet Knysna’s daily water demand, reducing the municipality’s immediate dependence on Akkerkloof Dam. “The successful installation of Pumpset 1 marks a significant milestone in restoring resilience to our water supply system,” he said.

Hope for dam recovery
The municipality also addressed concerns regarding Akkerkloof Dam, which currently stands at 17.6% capacity.

Akkerkloof receives water from both the Charlesford and Glebe pumping schemes. Engineers have recommended a gradual increase in pumping output at Charlesford until 12 June to ensure system stability following the installation of the new motor.

A new pump commissioned at the Glebe Dam Pump Station on 6 June is also supplying water to Akkerkloof. Municipal engineers expect dam levels to begin recovering during the week. Once both schemes reach full operational capacity, storage levels are projected to increase by between 0.5% and 0.7% per day.

“The recent rainfall has been welcomed, but residents should understand that dam recovery takes time,” said Ngubo. “The encouraging news is that key infrastructure is now coming back online.”

Long-term challenges remain
Greater Knysna’s water network includes three dams, nine water treatment schemes, approximately 42km of raw-water pipelines, more than 400km of potable water mains, dozens of reservoirs and over 50 pump stations.

Maintaining and upgrading such an extensive network requires sustained investment, ongoing maintenance and improved asset management.

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