WC govt: Garden Route water supply strained but 'Day Zero' not expected

The Western Cape government is concerned, but not panicking, about the strained water supply in the Garden Route.

Dam levels in the Gouritz River catchment area, including the Little Karoo, Central Karoo and coastal areas, were currently at just over 51%.

The Knysna Local Municipality had been hardest hit, with the Akkerkloof Dam sitting at around 29%.

However, officials said they did not expect a "Day Zero" scenario.

The provincial Water and Sanitation head, Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, said work is underway to stabilise the water supply in Knysna.

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This includes the installation of boreholes and pumping water from other sources to support the Akkerkloof Dam.

A water specialist had also been appointed to assist the municipality in addressing water shortages.

"All spheres of government are holding hands; the Department of Water and Sanitation is supporting the municipality in terms of groundwater to augment the current water security," said Bila-Mupariwa.

Meanwhile, dam levels across the Western Cape are sitting at around 49%, a significant drop from the over 65% recorded during the same period last year.