MOSSEL BAY NEWS - While the rest of the province is facing the worst drought in memory, the dams Mossel Bay depends on for potable water have for the first time this year exceeded the 2017 levels of capacity.
The average level of dams across the Western Cape for the week starting 26 March is 18.2% (2017: 25.6%). In comparison, Mossel Bay's main dam levels are encouraging, with the Ernst Robinson dam at 100.41%, compared to 86.68% at the same time last year.
The Klipheuwel dam is at 84.92%, compared to 75.56% last year.
The Wolwedans dam, which supplies most of the water for human consumption in the greater Mossel Bay area, is currently at 90.3% in comparison to 89.94% last year.
Groundwater
Despite the good news for people in towns, the water availability for farmers, especially in the Herbertsdale and Buisplaas areas, have reached a critical stage.
It will be proposed to council at its monthly meeting today, Thursday 29 March that approval is granted for water restrictions to consumers supplied from ground water resources.
Drought affecting farmers
In Herbertsdale three boreholes were equipped to deliver between 3,5 and 5,0 litre per second. Two boreholes are currently in operation and are able to deliver 0.931 litres per second (in August when surface flow dried up in the Langtou River) to 1.35 litres per second (in October 2017 when good rainfall was received).
Buisplaas
Two boreholes have been equipped to deliver between 0.31 litres per second and 0.91l/s, but the current total yield for the two boreholes is between 0.56 and 0.68l/s.
Severe cuts in consumption
It is expected that domestic consumers in Herbertsdale and Buisplaas will be expected to a limit water consumption by 45%, while farmers and other agricultural consumers in this area will be expected to cut consumption by 60%.
The minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell, has urged consumers in the drought-stricken Western Cape municipalities not to slow down their water savings efforts.
"We want to reiterate that the drought remains in full effect and consumers should keep saving as much water as possible."
Bredell says the province - with very few areas being the exception - continues to be in distress, in particular the agriculture sector.
"The disaster management centre continues to manage the provincial response to the drought on a daily basis.
We are working closely with our national colleagues in the National Disaster Management Centre and the National Department of Water and Sanitation in monitoring and managing the situation moving forward."
Agriculture
The MEC of Economic Opportunities, minister Alan Winde, delivered his 2018/19 budget speech for the Western Cape Department of Agriculture this week.
He stressed the important role of agriculture which contributes R54 billion to the provincial gross value add.
A total of 52% of all provincial exports come from the agriculture and agri-processing sectors. The financial impact of the drought is set to cost the sector up to R5.9 billion and continues to have an impact on job security in rural areas.
The department has spent more than R100 million in the past year in relief funding, mainly to buy fodder for livestock in line with national regulations.
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