Water crisis looming in Middelburg
Water levels in Middelburg continue to drop as residents are still being urged to use water wisely and save wherever you can.
The latest readings at Middelburg Dam was 43% – a critically low level that would put all residents in a dire situation if it does not rain soon.
The past two years have been regarded as the driest in years with many areas around the country already facing the worst drought in decades. These include areas in Natal and the Free State where taps have run dry.
Middelburg could be next as the dwindling water supply reaches critical lows.
Speaking to www.mobserver.co.za, Editor of Kroon Nuus, Ms Tharine Hurter, said that the situation in Kroonstad is unbearable.
The town has been without water for more than 16 weeks and more than 190 000 people within the Moqhaka Municipality rely on on water tankers that deliver water to the town up to three times a day.
The water is filled into JoJo tanks, from which the community fills their own containers upon collection.
“Our daily demand is 35 Million litres of water, but at the moment we only receive 1 Million litres of water. People are forced to make due with the little they get,” said Ms Hurter. “The entire sewer system cannot function properly and there are several maintenance problems”.
The biggest hurdle for residents is water for domestic use, such as washing, cleaning, and bathing.
Ms Hurter stated that the entire situation started with mismanagement and the inability of the Moqhaka municipality to maintain basic systems such as pumps.
“If the dam was kept to capacity it has the ability to provide water to the entire community for up to two years But this was never done.
Even when it rained, there was no effort to collect water through a pump system. Instead, all that water was lost,” said Ms Hurter.
Despite the massive challenge to the Kroonstad community living in such harsh conditions, Ms Hurter said that people have had no choice but to become self-reliant and help each other where they can.
“There’s a spirit of Ubuntu in the community. People are helping each other. Residents with boreholes and generously sharing as much as they can and surrounding farmers are assisting numerous institutions, such as Old Age Homes,” she said.
Ms Hurter also commended the sterling work by Middelburg resident Caroline Van Saasen of Water Shortage South Africa, who works tirelessly in ensuring drinkable and tank water reaches communities all over the country that have been hit by severe water shortages.
Other towns in desperate need of drinking water and tank water include Vryheid, Koffiefontein, Fauresmith, Rooigrond, Sannieshof and Delareyville.
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