Save water or pay a penalty

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Like the rest of the Western Cape, Mossel Bay has experienced poor rainfall during the last few winter seasons.

This has affected Mossel Bay dams. They were 80% full in 2017 and are just more than 60% full this month.

Mossel Bay Municipality appeals to residents to use water extremely sparingly to avoid having to pay the punitive tariffs that come into effect as soon as dam levels fall to below 50%.

Despite recent winter downpours, dam levels continue to decline and the municipality is investigating whether any water is illegally being withdrawn from its sources. In this regard, meetings are taking place with the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Mossel Bay gets its potable water from the Wolwedans Dam. This dam is now 60.60% full. The dam level has shown a steady decline since April 2018, when it was at almost 90%.

In one week the dam level dropped from 61.84% on 29 July, to 60.60% on 5 August. The Wolwedans Dam has a capacity of 24 630 Ml, compared to the Ernst Robertson Dam's capacity of 410 Ml.

While the Ernst Robertson Dam this week is at 90.90%, this figure is also down from 96.19% on 29 July. The Ernst Robertson Dam, however, is merely a feeder dam for the Wolwedans Dam. The Klipheuwel Dam, with a capacity of merely 4 450 Ml is at 55.95%. Jointly Mossel Bay dams have a capacity of 29 490 Ml. With the constant decline in dam levels, the municipality is considering the possibility of operating the desalination plant at a low capacity.

This, though, is an expensive option to safeguard the town's water surety. The availability of the desalination plant nevertheless ensures water security for the greater Mossel Bay area.

The Western Cape is supplied with water by 44 main dams. On 12 August these dam levels were collectively at 64.7%.

A graph showing a constant drop in Mossel Bay area dam levels during 2018 and 2019. Graphic: Thys Giliomee