Western Cape dam levels double from last year

The average dam levels in the Western Cape have doubled from 22.6% in the comparative week last year to the current level of 45% recorded on Monday.

However, Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Minister Anton Bredell urged consumers to continue to use water responsibly, even in areas where there may be no water challenges.

“While recent rainfall in the Karoo region has brought slight relief to some parts, the rain has not been sufficient to break the ongoing drought,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Engineering News, 11 February 2019

Gift of the Givers given green light to drill boreholes in water-scarce Makhanda

The Makana municipality has given the green light to disaster relief organisation Gift of the Givers to start drilling boreholes as a medium-term solution to the Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) water crisis.

The town has been without water for the better part of February.

The NGO's chief executive, Imtiaz Sooliman, says this was necessitated by a "need for a faster system for water sustainability". Sooliman said the drilling rigs would hopefully start moving in on Monday because their rigs were currently deployed elsewhere across the country. He said the operation would be at the cost of Gift of the Givers.

Engineering News, 15 February 2019

Umgeni Water to cooperate with SIU on investigation

Under a proclamation issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is preparing to undertake an investigation into various allegations of infractions at Umgeni Water, in KwaZulu-Natal.

Umgeni Water on Wednesday said the SIU would receive its full cooperation and the required support to enable it to conduct its work without hindrance and also bring to finality matters under scrutiny.

Engineering News, 13 February 2019

The above reflects a summary of certain news articles published during the preceding week.

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