Water supply planning crucial say experts

URGENT pleas for proactive water supply planning in Zululand were heard at a jam-packed quarterly Mhlathuze Catchment Management Forum meeting held at the Richards Bay Civic Centre yesterday.

There was agreement that if a strategy to boost water supply is not implemented sooner than later, Zululanders could suffer another severe drought going into 2015.

Representatives from water utility Mhlathuze Water, the City of uMhlathuze Municipality, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Department of Water and Sanitation, among many other significant stakeholders, attended the meeting to tackle various pressing concerns regarding Zululand’s sinking dam and river levels.

Only two months after Lake Mzingazi (Richards Bay’s fresh water source) hit its lowest level in more than 50 years, water levels again dropped by 11% this past week.

‘If we do not get extensive rain next year, water levels will drop low,’ said Mhlathuze Water Operations Manager Simphiwe Xulu.

Xulu said although water is made available from other sources such as the Tugela transfer scheme, the scheme is currently only contributing 15% capacity – far from enough to maintain dam levels.

Ward 1 Councillor and ex-City Engineer Frik Bosman said nothing had been done on the scheme in the last 20 years since it was constructed in the mid-90s.

‘We won’t clear the 50ML/day mark.We are not expecting any heavy rainfalls. We are heading towards a crisis if we don’t put proper plans for adequate water supply in place right now.’

Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZCCI) member and development professional, Frans van der Walt, highlighted that until a strategy for increased water supply is set in place, any further industry development will have to be stalled.

‘If the current situation is true, we cannot even consider further expansion of industries.’

Calls were also made for municipalities to inform community members to restrict their water use immediately.