New pumps are being installed, plumbing teams are fixing leaks, and boreholes are being refurbished — all to make sure there’s enough water for residents and visitors during December. As thousands of holidaymakers prepare to arrive in Knysna this December, the Western Cape Government is taking action to tackle the town’s ongoing water crisis. With worries about the strained water supply and the risk of taps running dry during the busy festive season,Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell said the provincial government will co-chair a Joint Operations Com-mittee (JOC) with the Knysna municipality.
With worries about the strained water supply and the risk of taps running dry during the busy festive season, This partnership aims to stabilise the water supply and ensure that both residents and visitors have access to this essential resource. He said the committee will manage the immediate water crisis and support the Garden Route town through the busy holiday period. Bredell said the decision followed engagements with Knysna’s political leadership, who acknowledged that the town is facing a serious water challenge.
Level four water restrictions are currently in place in Knysna, limiting non-essential water use as pressure on the supply intensifies during the holiday season. “The mayor, together with his mayoral committee members, agreed that Knysna is facing a water crisis during the immediate holiday season and that all stakeholders must work together to stabilise and fix the town’s water supply challenges,” Bredell said. He said the JOC’s immediate priority is to reduce the risk of water shortages over the coming weeks, when demand traditionally spikes due to increased tourism and temporary population growth. “Once the immediate crisis has been stabilised, attention can then shift to resolving the underlying infrastructure and management issues that contributed to the current situation,” Bredell said.
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