Despite significant rains at the weekend, Nelson Mandela Bay is still not out of the woods with regard to the water crisis.
Two of the largest dams that supply the metro – Kouga and Impofu – remained at critical levels of about 31% on Tuesday.
The need for residents and businesses to continue to save water was stressed by municipal officials and politicians during a visit to some of the catchment dams on Tuesday.
Churchill, which is among the smallest of the dams, was at 95.93% while Groendal was 48.2% full.
However, the overall picture is not so rosy, with all the dams – including the Kouga and Impofu dams – sitting at a combined average of 39.96%.
Water and sanitation director Barry Martin said water restrictions would not be lifted.
“I believe water restrictions must be maintained for people to remain vigilant and save water at all costs,” he said.
“We have a drought every four years.
“In the western part of the Eastern Cape there are no significant rivers.
“These are the resources that we have and we must use them properly.”
Martin was speaking during a site visit to the Impofu and Churchill dams.
“Going forward it has to be a way of life at all times to save water, not just in times of water scarcity,” he said.
“If we save water even when there is plentiful water, it can last longer.”
Martin said the dramatic increase in water levels at the Churchill dam did not mean the drought had been broken.
“It doesn’t help us all if the dam levels are rising to lift all restrictions and then six months down the line we’re back where we found ourselves before,” he said.
“That would be a very wrong message to send from a water management point of view.
“The Impofu is one of our major dams and was constructed in the mid-80s – this dam is so large that you can fit three Churchill dams into it.”
However, Martin said the downpours had left the catchment areas wet, which meant that even insignificant amounts of about 10mm to 20mm of rain would see dam levels rise further.
“A way forward has to be very calculated and practical so that what water we have we maintain,” Martin said.
He said the city’s ageing infrastructure was a problem.
“With infrastructure of 100 years old we can’t say everything has been solved.
“We are also therefore always susceptible to leaks, but responding to the leak within a reasonable space of time is key,” he said.
Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani, along with his mayoral committee and speaker Buyelwa Mafaya, chief whip Bicks Ndoni and the EFF’s Zilindile Vena, also visited the catchment sites.
The portfolio heads who tagged along enjoyed the views and took selfies at the dams.
Bobani said the rains were proof that the new government had to take over.
“This rain was waiting for this new leadership – under the leadership of Trollip it was dry. It was a must that we take over so we must bring in the rain,” he said.
Bobani also urged residents to continue saving water.
Infrastructure and engineering portfolio head Andile Lungisa said Bobani would announce comprehensive watersaving plans later this week.
“It’s clear that our ancestors agree with this new government ... when it rains, it’s a sign that our ancestors approve,” Lungisa said.