KZN drought situation
The drought situation in KwaZulu-Natal is taking a turn for the worse. This emerged when the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube met with Mayors from affected Municipalities.
The province will see water restrictions being in imposed by the municipalities in order to contain the drastic effects of the prevailing drought, gripping KwaZulu-Natal. Many of you will recall that in March 2015 we gathered at the Dube Trade Port to give an update on the drought situation in various parts of our province. Once again today we felt it necessary that we convene to share with you the latest on the gravity of the drought situation and its impact. We have recently conducted an assessment on our various water sources across the province and the outcome is indeed deeply concerning. With KZN’s traditional wet season already over and no significant rainfall in the forecast, the drought is now firmly rooted and the province faces a looming water crisis situation. Unless each one of us acts their part in conserving water we are starring in our face a crisis of calamitous proportions”.
The current drought situation has resulted in the level of dams dropping. Let me paint you a scenario according to various districts within the province.
Ethekwini and iLembe supply system.
Hazelmere Dam which is the major source of supply in some areas in the two municipalities has once again dropped to about 32%, with minimal rainfall expected over the next four to six months. Supply from the dam is only possible until a level of 15% has been reached. Presently the consumption is approximately 45 Ml/day. At this rate, the dam level is dropping at about 1% every four days and the remaining useable storage within Hazelmere Dam will be depleted in about 60 days.
You will recall that Water restrictions have been imposed on all users of the Hazelmere system since the latter half of 2014. These restrictions were increased in intensity as the dam level started dropping until they reached a Level 3 restriction of 30% in October 2014. Despite all these efforts only partial success was achieved in reducing the level of water consumption from the dam.
The water supply situation from Hazelmere Dam has now become critical. Therefore, in order to extend the water supply from Hazelmere Dam for as long as possible, it has been acknowledged by all affected parties that it is necessary to increase the restriction levels as the storage levels decline and to utilise more mandatory methods to enforce these restrictions.
Affected areas: Water restrictions, as outlined in this plan, are applicable to all areas that are supplied directly from Hazelmere Dam, which entails the following water supply zones:
eThekwini MM:
- Waterloo
- Verulam
- Westbrook
- La Mercy
- Seatides
- Frazer/ Greylands
- Belverdere
- Canelands
- Nyaninga/Dube Trade Port
- Ndwedwe
SembcorpSiza: Entire concession area from Zimbali to eThethe
- iLembe DM: Groutville to Ntshawini
- Honolulu/eThethe
- Ndwedwe
Restriction Plan:
The following actions are to be undertaken:
- A new and immediate restriction of 50% of consumption is to be imposed on all areas mentioned above.
- A technical committee, comprising of all affected parties, is to convene on a weekly basis to assess the situation and agree on the level of restriction to be imposed going forward.
- The Hazelmere Water Treatment Plant will be operated by Umgeni Water in such a manner as to only produce sufficient potable water to meet the daily overall quota as determined by the restriction level agreed to at that time.
- The water produced will be supplied by Umgeni Water to eThekwini, iLembe and SembcorpSiza proportionately to their pre-drought consumption less the restriction amount. In other words, they will each receive a daily quota which has previously been agreed to.
- The municipalities of eThekwini, iLembe and SembcorpSiza will individually apply whatever measures/strategies they deem appropriate to ensure that their daily quota is optimally utilised and any shortfalls on that day are addressed.
- A new quota will then be supplied to eThekwini, iLembe and SembcorpSiza the following day to be distributed in the same manner as described above.
- In applying the new stringent water conservation measures eThekwini, iLembe and Sembcorp Sizawill exercise due care in terms of identifying critical and strategic facilities (eg. Hospitals, clinics, airport, fire stations) within their respective areas that cannot afford to have a disruption to their water supply, and ensure that they are adequately provided for.
Amajuba:
Ugu District Municipality
Parts of Ugu District Municipality fall under the Umgeni Water System that is not in distress. However, the small towns in the District are mainly served by small schemes that are impacted by the drought.
The town of Harding in Umziwabantu Local Municipality that is served by the Harding Dam has water levels at 15%, affecting the town of Harding. Other sources of supply in Harding Local Municipality are in distress, KwaMbotho and KwaNyuswa Wier have no water (0%),
The Vulamehlo Weir is at 40% affecting the water supply to Vulamehlo. It is clear therefore that Ugu DM is also affected by the drought. Water rationing on the Vulamehlo system in place.
Umzumbe River that feeds the Ndelu and Assissi systems are currently on low flow and river diversion to abstraction points have taken place. Mtwalume river is also on low flow.
Drought Interventions
- WCDM is being implemented in all areas to reduce pressure, and to detect and repair leaks.
- 30 Water tankers are operational to the areas of Vulamehlo, Umzumbe, Ezinqoleni, HCM, Umdoni, uMuziwabantu
- Emergency intervention to Weza plant required and is in planning stage.
- The Municipality has a drought committee in place to monitor systems and develop interventions.
Uthukela District Municipality
The entire district is affected; the levels at the Klip River which supplies water to town and other areas under Emnambithi/Ladysmith Municipality has dropped such that there is a projected decrease of 40% from the abstraction.
Indaka areas are supplied from the Oliphantskop Dam is severely affected with patches of sand which can be seen inside the dam. In Okhahlamba the water has pushed back/away from the abstraction point.
Interventions
Water Tankering is being implemented in Ward 1-4 Indaka Local Municipality; Ward 5-8 Umtshezi Local Municipality; Wards 23-26 Emnambithi Local Municipal Area
Umkhanyakude District Municipality
Umkhanyakude is largely supplied by small systems that are linked to rudimentary schemes. The District has limited bulk infrastructure to enable it to draw from major water resources. All systems are constrained. As at May 2015 the Pogolopoort Dam was at 60% full, while the Hluhluwe Dam was at 48.1%. Lake Sibaya that supplies Mbazwana has dropped considerably.
A large portion of the Umkhanyakude District Municipality is supplied by production borehole schemes that have failed due to resource and infrastructure related issues.
Umfolozi River that supplies Umtubatuba Local Municipality has very low levels of water affecting the greater Mtubatuba area including KwaMsane, St Lucia and Mpukunyoni.
Hluhluwe River abstraction is also presenting problems. The affected areas include Hluhluwe and surrounding communities that is, the entire Big 5 False Bay Local Municipality and part of kwaHlabisa Local Municipality. Provision has been made for the refurbishment of the Water Treatment Works (WTW) and abstraction point.
Interventions
Emergency measures are being implemented in the Umfolozi River System, Boreholes have been drilled and equipped. Wells to be sunk. Greater Mtubatuba affected including KwaMsane, St Lucia and Mpukunyoni
Harry Gwala District Municipality
The District is supplied as follows:
- 57 schemes are reliant on springs
- 40 on boreholes
- 33 on river abstractions
- 2 Schemes are supplied from dams.
The water in the river systems is at an average of 50% less than the previous years an indication of imminent water shortage problems.
Kokstad, Creighton and Ixopo areas are affected by the drought.
The Kokstad system is under severe pressure with water leaks in the Shayamoya and Bhongweni area further heightening the problem. Water restrictions in this area has been implemented.
The Creighton systems is now able to produce 50% of the day.
Interventions
Water restrictions are being implemented as follows:
- Kokstad Area: Shayamoya Weekly (21h00 to 4h00) and weekend (10h00 to 14h00).
- Bhongweni Weekly (22h00 to 4h00) and Weekend (10h00 to 14h00).
- Prison Weekly (22h00 to 4h00).
- Creighton Area: Weekly (22h00 to 4h00)
- Ixopo Area: Fairview Weekly (19h00 to 4h00)
Umzinyathi District Municipality
Umzinyathi is severely affected by the drought. Lake Merthley which is the only source that supplies the town of Greytown has water levels at 27%.
Dundee and Nquthu which are supplied from the Buffalo River and a few small dams has dried up. Water is now supplied through augmentation releases from Ntshingwayo Dam.
Msinga and Tugela Fery is supplied from the Tugela River which is not affected. However, the treatment plant does not cater for more than 16 wards.
Greytown – water is opened at 5 m until 8 pm, then closed since Jan 2015. Reduced production from 5000 kilo litre per day to 2800 kilo litres per day.
4 Boreholes drilled and are equipped by next week.
Interventions
The Municipality is operating 50 water tankers in the following areas: Endumeni 8, Nquthu 10, Msinga 20, Umvoti 12. 64 Static Water tanks installed Greytown and 40 in Msinga.
Umgungundlovu District Municipality
The most affected areas in Umgungundlovu District Municipality are Umshwathi LM, Richmond LM and to a less extent Umngeni Local Municipality.
Umgeni Local Municipality
Ligdeton is small stream passing the farmers and has no adequate raw water coming to the water treatment plant. Thus, most of the time the Water treatment plant is shut to increase raw water storage.
In Mpophomeni (Howick), the current Umgeni water system is highly constrained as it serves Vulindlela and Howick and urgent upgrading of the system is required to cater for growth, the community has threatened to arrange a march. In the meantime UMDM intervened by fixing internal leaks which was also a cause of interruption of supply.
Richmond Local Municipality
Bealau dam Richmond: restrictions from farmers to abstract water ) new Umgeni bulk pipeline is to be commissioned before end of June launch of the project is 23 June 2015
Umshwathi Local Municipality; Makeni River that supplies uMshwathi Local Municipality has very low levels of water.
Appelsboch hospital in uMshwathi: the dam level is low and most of the time abstraction is stopped to increase the level at that time water tankers fill the reservoir and challenge is we take same trucks serving the community and this renders areas supplied with water tankers without and water tankers delivering water.
Nkanyezini, Manyavu: UMDM use to get water for other parts from Ethekwini and currently Ethekwini cannot supply due to their side also being highly constrained by greater demand. Mitigation is to implement new water Scheme but there is land ownership challenge
Mpofana LM
In Bruntville the current system is highly constrained with upper areas not getting water during peak hours.
Muden: all streams that community could rely on are now dry
Zululand District Municipality
Klipfontein dam that supplies the towns of uLundi and Vryheid towns and its surrounding rural communities with water. Ward 11 and 12 settlements rely directly from the supply system of uLundi treatment works. As things stand, the dam level is sitting at 53,53%. The current arrangement with the Department of Water and Sanitation is that only 4m3/s of water is released from Klipfontein through White Mfolozi for uLundi Water Treatment works. Under normal circumstances (if there is no drought), 20Ml/day is treated but that has been reduced to 17Ml/day. DWS is responsible for the operation of the weir and have recommended that no environmental releases should be allowed on the system but the gates are not water tight and are working on them.
Uthungulu District Municipality
uMfolozi Local Municipality
The Municipality is supplied through two main sources that is, Lake Nhlabane which is at 15% and the Mzingazi Lake is at 18%. In both sources no abstraction is happening.
uMhlathuze Local Municipality
uMhlathuze City is supplied through three (3) lakes i.e. Lake Nsezi with water levels at 46%, while Lake Cubu and Msingazi are at critical low levels with no abstraction taking place currently and is currently supplemented by the Goedetrouw Dam. water levels is at 38%. Thus, the only viable source is Lake Nsezi. The Phobane/Goedertrouw Dam that is supplementing supply to the City of Mhlathuze is at 38% and heavily restricted. It is being supplemented by the Tugela River emergency pumping scheme.
Umlalazi Local Municipality
The local municipality is fed through Amatikulu River which has dried up and no abstraction is happening.
Mthonjaneni Local Municipality
Melmoth dam is at 28% but the dam is heavily silted up.
Interventions
All towns are on level 3 water restrictions. They only receive water during certain hours.
Areas in Umlalazi, Ntambanana, Nkandla, uMfolozi and Mthonjaneni are all fed by water tankers. The district has installed approximately 1900 jojo tanks throughout the district, and the monthly operating costs is R5.3 million.
Amajuba DM
Balele Dam is 35% full and this is affecting Utrecht town although there is another supply that comes from Ntshingwayo dam which is used as a back up in case Balele dam runs empty. Abstractions are monitored by DWS.
Restrictions are done at the Steildrift line and Waterval line and a formal communication has been distributed to the Utrecht residents to save water.
Spring protection (perennial) is currently being done through MWIG funding and the project will progress until 2015/16, this project include boreholes as well which are having good yields. The project will be completed in December 2015.
Boreholes refurbishment will be done in the 2015/16 through the MWIG funding. An amount of R10m has been made available for new boreholes, borehole refurbishment and spring protection.
Impact on Agriculture
Drought has affected the farming fraternity much later in the growing season and had a more pronounced effect on the small scale enterprises with strained resources. The prolonged drought is thus affecting water supply and agricultural production in the province. The eastern parts of the Province received below normal rainfall during 2014 and the 2014/2015 summer rain season started late. Large parts of KZN rural areas are entering crisis-level drought conditions. Recently it has been noticed that the agricultural sector is being hardest hit by the continuing drought conditions with reference to the growing season where small farmers face crop failure and the death of animals through lack of feed and water. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has conducted an assessment of the magnitude of the continuing drought conditions in the Province.
- 9 638 farmers have negatively been affected by the continuing drought conditions.
- Of these farmers 5 566 have lost a total of 36 6248 large stock units (LSU).
- The majority of 30 969 LSU were cattle.
- 4 426 farmers reported crop losses of which 584 recorded sugarcane yield losses, 3 668 recorded cash crop losses and 174 recorded losses in vegetable yields.
Many farmers are financially stretched as a result of the increasing input costs and a protracted period of low returns on production and the impact of the dry conditions.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has drafted a Drought Relief Plan to assist farmers with a subsidy on the procurement of production inputs.
Government Interventions to mitigate drought impact
You will recall that the Honourable Premier declared the drought districts as disaster areas. Subsequent to that the National Department of Water and Sanitation made available an amount to the tune of R352million, which they are using to assist municipalities. This money we are informed is being utilised for the procurement of water tankers by DWS, drilling of boreholes and immediate interventions.
The National Disaster Management Centre has allocated and amount to the tune of R24million which has been allocated to four districts to date.
Conclusion
Colleagues from this presentation, it is very clear that we have to manage our resources today to ensure that we can still enjoy them tomorrow.
Everyone can now see what we mean when we say KZN is a dry and water scarce province just like the rest of the country. Sometimes, people do not see the full extent of the problem. It’s time for everyone to acknowledge that there is not an endless supply water. The time for us to look beyond the water we can see coming from our taps has arrived. We must conserve water or face very serious risks. If we waste water, someone will go without. And if we waste too much water, our cities and industry won’t be able to produce. There is something that each one of us can do which is to take measures to ensure our conversations shifts from how we should use less water to how we must use less water.
I appeal to everyone citizen of this province to change their behaviour and monitor their water usage; to save water; and to prevent waste. To wade through this crisis we need everyone to play their part business and domestic users. Without water there nothing each one of us can do and no one can run a business. If we all want to see water in our household in the immediate future we must all work to save every drop now. Nothing will happen without us acting on this challenge.
